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My first experience with a Rhodesian Ridgeback was on my family’s farm in Africa as a small child. My family wanted a dog which could be trusted with children, be loyal to our family, be clean around the house, easy to care for and big enough to scare intruders. I left Africa in my mid 20’s and moved to North America. I remember going to dog shows and would seek out the Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Seeing Rhodesian Ridgebacks again at various dog shows brought fond memories of my early childhood years spent in Africa back to me. I never really forgot this wonderful breed. Many years later in 1999, my husband Douglas and I visited Santa Fe, New Mexico during their annual Indian Arts festival. In the course of our stay in Santa Fe we saw a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback at the festival. After we returned home I started my research on what it would take to own and eventually breed Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
We were especially fond of the African Rhodesian Ridgebacks who for the most part were bred to be working dogs. The majority of the African Rhodesian Ridgebacks have to be strong, so they are more muscular than their North American counterparts, fast and quick thinking to survive the jobs for which they were originally bred. We prefer the dark red wheaten colored Rhodesian Ridgebacks with the dark faces, typically not readily available elsewhere in North America. We lived on a 160-acre farm in the Texas Panhandle area, so we knew we had plenty of room for Rhodesian Ridgebacks. We imported our first Rhodesian Ridgebacks in early 2002 from a wonderful breeder and mentor Adoree Louw of Danntrig Kennels in Kempton Park, South Africa.
After a few years of living with our own Rhodesian Ridgebacks, we are still learning from them each day and about them every day. Our lives with them have always been exciting, whilst discovering the mysteries of this breed -- stubborn and strong willed, yet also intelligent and loyal, showing total devotion to the family unit.
Our mission is to make a positive contribution to the entire Rhodesian Ridgeback breed.
Doug and Mari Rice
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