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Stage One

Newborn puppies are first assessed at birth. Pups ruled out as show potential include ridgeless, those with extra crowns, very short ridges, greatly offset crowns, crowns placed lower than one third of the distance along the ridge, excessive white, dermoid sinus, colours outside of the breed standard (such as grey, blue, brindle, black, and black and tan) and any other anomaly that would disqualify or greatly inhibit their show career.

Ridgeless

In the rescue circles these puppies are lovingly called “slick.” They are a Rhodesian Ridgeback in every way, but they possess no ridge. Some breeders cull these puppies; that is, they are put to sleep shortly after birth.

A “Slick” Ridgeback is every bit as capable as their ridged counterparts and they are sometimes sold at a lower price. All “slick” puppies should be spayed or neutered.

Extra crowns

The ridge is a simple shape. It is described as having the appearance of a saber. It should start at the withers and extend to the hipbones. The top of the ridge should have two crowns only and they should be in line with the other. Any extra crowns or swirls on the ridge are a fault. Some unsavory breeders will tell buyers that the extra crown is nothing to worry about, or that it will go away. An extra crown will not go away and these puppies should be sold at pet quality prices and should be spayed or neutered.

Very Short Ridges

A very short ridge, one that is less than ¾ of the length called for in the standard is typically classified as a short ridge.

Greatly offset crowns

The two crowns ideally placed at the point of the withers should be symmetrically placed. Some show dogs today have slightly offset crowns of up to one inch. Crowns offset by greater than this amount may be considered pet quality.

Crowns placed lower than one third along the ridge

Any puppy with crowns placed lower than one third of the distance along the ridge should be evaluated as pet quality puppies.

Excessive white

This subject is the source of great contention among authors and breeders. While some experts feel that white feet, white chests and bellies are acceptable, others contest strict adherence to the standard, which states:

“A little white on the chest and on the toes is allowable.”

If a breeder has assessed a puppy as show potential and it possesses excess white, ask to have the puppy evaluated by an unbiased breeder. Simply emailing a photo of the puppy in question should be sufficient.

Dermoid Sinus

Breeders often cull Dermoid Sinus or DS puppies. The dermoid sinus is a well-documented condition that is specific to a few breeds, but most especially to ridged breeds. The DS is an inversion of skin that is generally located over the spine. A DS is detected either at birth or while the puppy is still very young.

A severe DS will affect the quality of life of a puppy and those severe cases should be humanely euthanized. Minor cases of DS that will not affect the quality of a dogs’ life should have the DS removed at the breeder’s expense.

As with ridgeless puppies, these puppies are sometimes sold at less than pet quality prices.

Colours outside the breed standard

Unsavory breeders attempt to trick the novice puppy buyer by using words such as “rare” or “unique” in describing puppies born a colour that is outside the standard. Several shades of colour can appear in the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Permissible colours are light wheaten to red wheaten.

Increasingly, dark and very dark red dogs are appearing on the show scene. The uneducated judge will sometimes award these “prettier” shades of coat over a correct coat colour. While dark red and very dark red is not presently being penalized in the show ring, breeding two dark red dogs together should be discouraged.

Colours more obviously outside of the breed standard include black, black and tan, blue or gray and brindle.

Other anomalies

Puppies born with cleft pallets usually fail to thrive and are typically humanely euthanized. Less severe cases of cleft pallets can sometimes go undetected. Surgery for this deformity is possible but comes at great expense to the owner and suffering to the dog.

Other birth defects may include pups born without a tail or bob tail, deafness, or other types of deformities.

Stage Two

Puppies who are deemed show potential at birth are then reassessed in earnest at about eight weeks of age. During this stage of development the general balance and structure will be similar to what a person can expect to see upon the dog’s maturity.

Why do some breeders use the term show quality while others use the term show potential? No breeder has a crystal ball that will tell a person how, exactly, a puppy will mature. Savvy breeders will elect to use the term “show potential,” meaning “this dog, in all likelihood, will develop into a dog capable of earning its conformation championship.”

Casual methods of evaluation do not account for personal bias or as some would say “kennel blindness.” The most effective method of evaluating puppies that is consistently praised by breeders is called “The Hastings Method.”

Developed by a breeder in the Pacific Northwest of USA, Pat Hastings has been evaluating puppies of all breeds for decades. The Hastings method looks at each part of the puppy on its own and then as a unit. Further, this method assesses temperaments. This feature helps breeders to match temperaments to individual lifestyles of the owners. For example, a quiet, laid-back puppy is perhaps more suited to a senior owner or docile family. Conversely, the pup that is constantly on the go, picking puppy fights and stealing toys may be more suited as an agility prospect. Universally, the happy, wagging, active puppy is favoured as a show prospect.

The puppies are ranked according to their suitability as a show prospect. Pick of the litter means that that puppy ranked number one. Pick bitch is the number one female. Pick dog is the number one male.

However, for those seeking a companion dog, don’t be misguided into thinking that a lower ranking puppy will be any less of a companion. Remember that these evaluations are done to determine show potential. There are other methods for evaluating temperament alone and the results can differ greatly.

A breeder who does not assess a litter at about eight weeks or tells a puppy buyer that a dog has been assessed as show quality at an age younger than six or seven weeks should be questioned strenuously as to why. Puppy buyers seldom know their rights when buying their first show potential dog, but it is up to that same puppy buyer to educate themselves. If one is mislead by an unsavoury breeder, it is ultimately the buyers’ responsibility.

The poorest decisions are made on impulse. To obtain a suitable show potential puppy, a buyer should expect to go on a waiting list. It is not unusual to wait six months to one year or longer for a show potential puppy of merit. This is especially true in Canada where breeders typically breed less often than our US counterparts because of a more sparse population base.

Stage Three

Stage three assessment is the final phase of determining whether a puppy reached its anticipated potential. This stage is typically attained when that puppy or adult dog has obtained its conformation championship.

Where lingering debate occurs is when a puppy is awarded its championship yet it is not fully matured. A balance dog at nine months of age may continue to develop into an unattractive adult. A bitch that is feminine with free flowing movement at seven months could turn into a lumbering behemoth by the time she reaches 15 months.

If a person attained a championship title on a show potential puppy, then that puppy was accurately assessed. However, attaining a championship is not an automatic determination that a dog is breeding quality.

Is My Dog Breeding Quality?

Not every champion is breeding quality.

In making a determination about whether a dog is breeding quality, breeders should rely both on their own assessments as well as those of their peers. Several questions should be asked in making this determination.

• Is the dog a champion of record?
• Is the dog of sound temperament?
• Is the dog free from genetic defects?
• Is the dog going to maintain or improve a standard for which the breeder wishes to be known?
• Is there a demand for the dogs’ puppies?

To determine if a breeder is making sound choices about the breeding quality of their dog, a simple exercise in projections is helpful. By writing an epitaph stating what one was (will be) known for, this starting ground, or ending ground as it were, becomes the benchmark by which all future decisions are made. Such an epitaph may read:

“The breeder was known for consistently producing sound dogs, with dynamic movement, skill in performance, beautiful running gear, deep chests with adequate fill, good ridges, correct colour, moderation in type, sound dispositions and loyal companions.”

With this type of solid starting point a breeder need only work backwards to determine the course of their breeding program.

Breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks of merit requires long hours studying pedigrees, becoming familiar with other reputable kennels, and making the best choices for your brood bitch, stud, puppies and the breed in general. Those people who breed solely for profit are held in low regard by the Canadian Rhodesian Ridgeback fancy at large.