I realise this was posted quite a few months ago but please do tell, what exactly is wrong with the Rhodesian Ridgeback?
I myself am a qualified vet and I own a ridgeback, and I can quite safely say he is one of the happiest and healthiest dogs I’ve met (which has been an awful lot considering I have treated far too many to actually count).
I appreciate you are only 13 years old and therefore have obviously not conducted much, if any, research into the subject. I think you were defending your breed, which is quite admirable at your age,but please do not ‘bad mouth’ other breeds in the process.
In general the the ridgeback is one of the healthiest breeds available, no breed is entirely free of ailments but then again neither are humans! In my experience it is without a doubt healthier than the NM as I have yet to have any in for more than a vaccination. Not only that through my breeder I have had the opportunity to meet many other ridgeback owners and breeders who have all reiterated the same statements regarding health. I can only assume you are referring to the program televised by the BBC which in actual fact included your breed the Neapolitan Mastiff. Their statement on ridgebacks was later withdrawn and an apology issued!
But back to my main point, the above article has clearly been written by someone who is uneducated in this topic and unwilling to learn. I have just returned from Crufts’ and all of the dogs I had the privilege to meet there all had happy wagging tails and looked in fantastic condition. I know from past experience that outside appearance is NOT everything; but generally if you have a dog which has a gleaming coat and is actively enjoying itself, it is more than likely very healthy. Without a doubt the dogs at the shows are treated better than their human counterparts! The exhibitors of any dogs at dog shows are all for the dogs. Their dog is first and foremost their pet; their loyal companion and their best friend. People do not buy a dog just to show it.
I have never wanted to show any dog, all I ever wanted was a dog of my own, which fortunately I now have. He is the loveliest dog I’ve met; he has the sweetest nature and is a typical ridgie.After observing dogs in the ring I’ve come to realise they actually enjoy it and therefore I am beginning to show my boy. I’m sure I’m saying the exact thing as other exhibitors when I say; as soon as he does not enjoy showing, I’ll stop showing him. At the end of the day he enjoys it more than me right now, as to be honest it’s more nerve-racking for the owner than the dog – my boy is only too happy to get a ridiculous amount of liver; get fussed over by other owners and then get to play with all his doggie friends!
As for any of the health problems in dogs; everything that can currently be done has been put into action. Unless you are in this industry you will not know all of the rules and regulations being placed on dogs to prevent breeding. Currently many of the breed clubs request health tests before they will certify the dogs to breed. For example; my boy’s mum has a near perfect hip score which is why I chose a boy from her litter, I did not base on looks or Ch titles. The reality of it is however; the breeders who are investing their time and money into these tests are the ones who are breeding show quality dogs. Therefore the dogs who are benefiting from these tests are the future show dogs.
These health problems can not be bred out within a few years. It has taken decades of breeding to develop these qualities and it will undoubtedly take many more to eradicate them from breeding lines. This is of course providing everyone invests in these tests – not just the show breeders, the ‘common Joe’ as well. More people own dogs which are not from show lines than those who do!
Judges do not, and probably never have, picked a genuinely unhealthy dog as a ‘winner’. Breed standards often require the dog to look ‘alert’ – again from experience I’ve yet to see an unhealthy dog look ‘alert’. More often than not an owner will not take their dog in the ring if it could be detrimental to their health! I’ve seen more than one person withdraw their dog as it was slightly off colour; even after I’ve checked it over and said ‘it’s no more than eating too many tripe sticks’ or ‘it’s only a nicked nail, it’s not painful any more’!
The bottom line is, as humans we have created all of these different dog breeds; each looking vastly different than the next, but in order to preserve each of these breeds we had to interbreed. At present we know far more relating to genetics and disease than even our grandfathers did and we can therefore act accordingly. It is people in the veterinary research field; veterinary profession; and all of those breeders who are kennel club accredited, who are actively having their dogs/bitches health tested and only breeding to other health tested dogs/bitches; who are fighting to preserve these wonderful animals. At present we are doing everything we can to save our best friends and it would be so much more helpful if the general public who are also breeding their dogs would participate in these tests and neuter their animals if they do not meet an acceptable standard.
As a side note to ‘Dogsie’; the people who buy dogs to look ‘cool’ are the ones who are contributing to the dangerous dogs of this country, not the show dogs! The show dogs are without a doubt some of the best trained dogs on the streets – the people who own these dogs already have them micro-chipped and have 3rd person liability insurance! I agree with Kate here when I say my ridgie is very cool – he looks ridiculously intimidating but he greets everyone with a lovely lick on the cheek! The owners of dogs like ours have a vested interest in the breed and are doing everything in their power to preserve it! Also showing a dog does NOT increase demand on it. Showing dogs in movies increases demand on it! I had never been to a dog show until a few months ago. Not to mention the majority of dogs being shown you have probably never even heard of! For example; Basset Fauve de Bretagne, Kooikerhondje, Griffon Bruxellios, Coton De Tulea, Swedish Vallhund, Komondor or the Schipperke – could you tell me what any of these look like without googling them? I can guarantee you I’ve seen each of these at shows but I’ve hardly seen them walking the streets of anywhere near me!
Also to ‘Helen’; the vets are not’keeping in good with their clients’, we are asking them to invest vast amounts of time and money into developing healthier dogs. Unlike uninformed people we know that this will never be an overnight fix and in actual fact, it is vets who are at the forefront of diagnosing these health problems and making them manageable for the animals concerned. Vets are doing everything they can, not just concerning dogs but a variety of animal health problems which have resulted from the ignorance of humans – do not insult an honourable occupation, you sound like a woman who is sour as she did not manage to achieve her childhood dream. Not one person or group of people can rightly be blamed. Everyone is entitled to accuse blame but in reality everyone could easily be blamed – that includes those who are blaming others.
