When considering the addition of any dog to your family, the first step you should take is to find a reputable breeder. If you have done your research and believe that a Ridgeback might be the breed for you, search for a breeder that is committed to a code of ethics that includes health screening and proper socialization of the puppies, such as the RRCUS Code of Ethics. You should look for breeders that strive for excellence in their breeding animals, as evidenced by the earning of AKC Conformation Champion (Ch) titles as well as participate in other events such as lure coursing, agility, obedience, or therapy dog work. Reputable breeders strive to breed to the offical Breed Standard: www.akc.org/breeds/rhodesian_ridgeback/index.cfm
Reputable breeders health-screen their dogs. At a minimum, the breeding stock should be certified as being free of hip and elbow dysplasia by an independent registry such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). The breeder should be able to provide you with documentation of these clearances upon request. In addition, most breeders also screen for proper thyroid function and for cardiac, vision and hearing problems.
Not every puppy in a litter is “show potential”. In Ridgebacks, there are some cosmetic faults that disqualify a puppy from being successful in the show ring. Most common is that a puppy is born without a ridge – yes it is possible! It is completely untrue that the ridge “grows in” during the first few months of the puppies’ life. If it isn’t there at birth, it will never be there. Sometimes puppies may have a ridge, but a “crown” may be missing or the ridge may be shorter than the standard requires. Some other cosmetic faults may include an off-set bite, a kinked tail, or excessive white. Rarely, a Ridgeback may even be a “non standard” color such as black and tan or brindle. At Maijani, we have a Black and Tan puppy from a recent litter named Memphis that will stay with us but will not be bred.
Some puppies are born with a congenital defect called a “dermoid sinus”. Breeders look for these at birth as well as while the puppies grow, but they can be difficult to detect. Luckily, this condition can be corrected by surgery but if left undetected can turn into a life-threatening problem.
At Maijani, our dogs and puppies are raised on a combination of high-quality kibble and raw food. We follow Dr. Jean Dodd’s vaccination protocols and use both traditional veterinary care as well as alternative therapies including chiropractic care and homeopathic and herbal remedies. We work closely with our puppy owners to help them make the best decisions for their dogs regarding issues such as nutrition and health care. Our puppy people know they can call us at any time for any reason and we will gladly help them work through any problem.
We put extensive time and effort into the planning and rearing of our puppies. They are raised in our home and are regularly handled and loved, and when old enough get supervized interation with our other dogs and children. Because we are concerned about our pups, all our dogs are placed in their new homes with a contract that outlines our expectations for the placement as well as our committments to our puppy owners. If approved for placement, we will walk through our placement contracts in advance of our puppies going home to be sure all questions are answered and addressed prior to a puppy being picked up.
If you would like to be considered for a puppy, please complete the Puppy Questionaire on the "Contact Us" page. Because we breed infrequently, it's best to get on our waiting list in advance of a planned litter.
