Backcountry Ridgebacks

Usually someone else shoots the group win photos…but when I get to shoot, I like the candids. Here’s another Group 3 that someone didn’t want to pose for.

One of Tolby’s biggest challenges has been the presence of Cora, who is the #1 bitch and is at almost every show he’s been to. He’s gone opposite sex to her more times than I can count.

Finally he beats her twice and on top of it goes Group 3 twice in the weekend! Thanks judges Denise Flaim and Terrell Udenberg!

So honestly, that picture of Tolby pretty much says it all. If you get a Rhodesian ridgeback from a quality breeder and put the time into them, they are one of the most fantastic breeds of dog that you’ll ever come into contact with.

Let’s explore a few of the top breed characteristics:

• They have the energy to keep up with you all day but are content to lie around and do nothing. This is certainly not true of some breeds who need constant exercise.
• They are loyal with their family but not opposed to having visitors.
• They will love you more than most breeds, always ready to climb on the furniture and they love to be with you. If the door is open they’ll come with you.
• Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not have excessive grooming requirements. Even with a show dog I just give him a quick bath and let him air dry and touch up his nails. But the ones we’ve had that were just pets did not have to have anything beyond occasional nail trims.
• For a larger dog, if well bred, they are fairly healthy. Breeders should screen for major inherited diseases before breeding, and outside of those, they’re healthy dogs who generally live over 10 years, and often beyond 12 or 13 years.
• They are intelligent and easy to train. A ridgeback does have an active brain, but I’ve found that I can almost tell them what I want or give them a quick look and they seem to pick up directions. At the same time they can also get themselves into trouble with that brain.
• Just about everyone thinks that having a dog who was developed to hunt lions is cool. And yeah, if I was a dog, I’d want a cool job too.

So yeah, I love the other dog breeds that we’ve had, but the ridgeback holds a special place. And we’ve been lucky to have good breeders in Arizona and New Mexico who have provided us with amazing Rhodesian Ridgebacks for our life in Colorado.

Handsome Tolbs hanging out on the stair landing. We’ve moved out of the house but ran over to do a quick inspection prior to closing.

Tolby competed in his first Rocky Mountain Hound Show. Didn’t win the big prize but he made every cut, including over the #1 dog and the #1 bitch.

Here he is competing with Barry Oelrich. Wendy tells me that “he’s moderate in a way that appeals to everyone”.

After going Best of Winners twice in the weekend, Tolby has completed his Championship.

Wendy showed him on the second round, on the first round there was a conflict and Mark Russell stepped in, and he won. This dog has won multiple times with random handlers, he’s a natural!

Someone definitely deserves a treat!

CH Aziza’s Backcountry Toblerone

Tolby definitely enjoys the time he gets to play and hang out with his show dog friends, but as soon as he gets home, he’s all about his brothers, especially if he can climb in the bed with them.

Kathleen Russell, the amazing breeder friend from Krystal Ridge, who bred our boy Zastrow; sent me to Wendy Oelrich who showed Tolby’s uncle, Cash to #1. This is Barry Oelrich practicing with our now 7 month old Tolby.

Both Barry and Wendy seemed pleased with how he did.

We live only blocks from Dick’s Sporting Good Park. Most of the dogs in the neighborhood are being brought inside, and here’s Tolby. 11 weeks old and he started off watching, then fell asleep to the sound of the fireworks. Every dog should be this cool.

Rohan and Theo both grew up with an adult ridgeback around. Zastrow the ridgeback predated both of them. So I think they know what’s coming. In the meantime, they’re going to win the wrestling against this puppy.

Theo is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and Rohan is a Standard Schnauzer. While Backcountry Ridgebacks is dedicated to telling the story of our ridgebacks, and especially Tolby, the other dogs are an important part of the story and happy to talk about their breeds as well.