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PUREBRED PASSION:
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK SYDNEY LEE: Taking the Ridgeback Lead
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BREED NOTES:
- Height: 24-27 inches
- Average Weight: 75-90 pounds
- Temperament: Possess strong hunter instincts. Good natured and excellent with children. Early understanding and control of this breeds large and powerful potential is required. Intelligent, authentic and loyal to their family. The breed needs socialization and training and firm owner leadership to become the excellent companion that they are capable of being.
- First Entered in Westminster Kennel Club: 1957
- Member of the Hound Group
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Holding the leash with confidence is no easy task when Kala, a 77 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback, is on the other end. Sydney began training two days after her ninth birthday. Carol Pompeo, a champion-winning owner/handler and long term Ridgeback enthusiast, is proud of her granddaughter. "She has natural ring skills that generate buzz. You have to be confident working with a Ridgeback. They are exceptionally bright and more than anything they want to please their owner," says Carol.
Sydney talked to WOOF Patrol
TM about honing her dog-handling skills.
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SYDNEY LEE: It takes practice and a regular schedule to develop the focus Kala needs in the ring. He's eight months old now and there's a big difference from when we started. At four months I began working with him. From the start, there was a clear understanding that when the special lead went on him that this wasn't playtime. It's hard to explain how he knew that but he did. Ridgebacks are very smart. However, outside of class, on his own time, he is a brat. We love him but he has to be watched ALL the time. He's strange that way because in class he is an angel.
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Carol and her husband Pat, have raised eleven Ridgebacks over the years, Kala is their twelfth. In 1982, Ebu - owner/handled by Carol - was entered in Westminster Kennel Club Show. The odds against winning in any category were not great. However true champions ignore odds and enter the ring winning with passion and confidence in their stride.
CAROL POMPEO: Ebu sized up his competition right away and sent a glare to the front runners letting them know to back off. This was his turf and he was taking home the ribbon.
Showing reveals the dog's true nature. It's more than physical beauty that the judges are looking for. They want to see the breed standards that match temperament and personality as well as size, weight and structure. There's a great deal to factor into how a champion pulls off a win. That day I just had a feeling. I was so proud of him. He was so determined to win.
Ch. Graymours Ebu Matumbi - 1982 Best of Breed at The Westminster Kennel Club Show
(Ebu was ranked top 5 Ridgeback in the country 3 years straight and top 10 for 5 years.)
Judge Rules In Favor of RIDGEBACKS!!!
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While TV's Judge Alex renders impartial decisions in the courtroom, his dog bias is pure Rhodesian Ridgeback. He has owned two. Reinhold, his first Ridgeback named after the executive producer of the television show Cheers, passed away, but he still remains close in Judge Alex's thoughts. |
Judge Alex Ferrer, Yvonne Conza & Tyson |
WOOF Patrol
TM met Judge Alex while interviewing him for an
Animal Fair Magazine feature. Stella, a Yellow Lab and Tyson, a Chihuahua-Terrier mix, were by his side that day.
He loves his two pooches. The difference in size between his current breeds makes for a great photo. But there's still a strong desire for a Rhodesian to reenter his life.
Ridgebacks, like Judge Alex in the courtroom, must be capable of dazzling a lion into complete submission. Their efforts are to take control of a situation and to even the odds in a world that often requires clever and well-thought out strategy.
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JUDGE ALEX: Reinhold was very protective of our family. I don't remember him ever biting anyone but he had a bark that would put the fear of God into anyone at the door. One time when a stranger walked into our back yard (meter reader), the hair on his back stood up and the guy had to leave VERY quickly. A friend of mine from law school made me aware of Ridgebacks and convinced me to get one.
I still miss Reinhold and hope to someday get another Ridgeback. Reinhold lived 8 years and unfortunately had to be put to sleep because of cardiac myopathy, a hardening of the heart muscle. At one point he weighed 136lbs but when he got down to his lean, muscular "fighting weight" he was 106. I think I told you that when I would come home, he would stand on his hind legs, put his paws on my shoulders and lick my face, until I broke him of THAT habit! And I'm 6'1 so that puts his size in perspective. At Christmas time, we would put little reindeer antlers on him and go door to door in our neighborhood and pass out holiday cookies. Everyone loved him.
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History of the Rhodesian Ridgebacks:It's believed that when European Boer settlers arrived in South Africa in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, they brought with them such breeds as the Mastiff, Great Dane, Bloodhound, Pointer, Staghound, and Greyhound, among others. These settlers needed a dog that could withstand both hot and cold temperatures, limited water and rough bush while performing the duties of guard dog and hunting dog. By breeding their dogs with native tribal hunting dogs, distinguished by a ridge of hair growing in the opposite direction along the top of their back, they produced just such a dog.
In Africa, Rhodesian Ridgebacks were used in packs because of their impressive hunting abilities. They were very effective against lions and often referred to as the African Lion Hound.
Distinctive Feature of a Ridgeback: Reverse-hair coat ridge-marking
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Carol Pompeo, Sydney Lee and Judge Alex share a love for Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The breed is known for the well-defined muscular body that moves with radar-like alertness in their environment. At all times this breed knows their territory and role within the pack. They are intelligent and devoted to their family.
The photographs sent to us by Syndey Lee and Judge Alex capture how this breed's strength is warmly companioned with overwhelming gentleness. Kala is very kid friendly and Reinhold was pure pooch-confection with all toddlers, in particular with Kristen Ferrer. |
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