Arifi News Articles

Marketing for Breed Education

As a breeder, do you know what your competition is? Not only is it other, ethical breeders of Ridgebacks but it is a host of unethical breeders; backyard breeders who do not do any testing or guaranteeing of stock, people selling "ridged" cross breeds, even breeders who indiscriminately place their puppies without spay/neuter contracts or sell to pet stores. Unfortunately, they know how to market their puppies often better than we do.

Education is our best ammunition against backyard breeders. Explain OFA, Cerf, BAER and Thyroid testing. Explain your contract and how you will be available for help for the life of that puppy.

Other ways to make yourself known to the general public as an ethical breeder with quality dogs:

• Watch the local classified pet adds for people selling or those wanting to buy "purebred Rhodesian Ridgebacks."
• Make your name and number known to local animal control services as a resource when they pick up Ridgebacks or crosses.
• Put up fliers at local veterinarian and other bulletin boards as a source of Ridgeback information. (You don't always have to have puppies available to be of assistance in this area-just be willing to give information and have phone numbers handy.)
• Place classified ads advertising breed information and rescue.
• Host puppy socialization groups if you have the space (and the patience). Have fliers of purebred dog rescue there and emphasize the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Another key element of being a responsible Ridgeback breeder is participating in breed rescue in whatever capacity you can. Rescue is vital part of maintaining breed integrity. Allowing more, low-quality dogs into the breeding population not only cripples the integrity of the breed but it decreases the local value of your puppies. Many potential pet buyers will turn tail when told the pet price, knowing they can get a $150 pet down the road. Along with educating the buyer of breed characteristics when they call about your Puppy, offer reasons why your pet, although more expensive, is going to be a better buy in the long run.

Even Ridgeback enthusiasts who do not breed can participate in education. Follow up on dogs in your area that are advertised for sale; ask them questions, give breed information if requested and put them in touch with your local rescue coordinator. It makes the regional coordinator's job a lot easier and it establishes you in the community as a responsible, reputable Ridgeback owner.

This article was first published in the newsletter
of the Northwest Rhodesian Ridgeback Club,
'Back Talk, November/December 2000.

by Elizabeth Moattar

It was my first litter. I was desperate to do everything right. My bitch was an AKC champion, Junior Lure Courser and had all the recommended genetic testing: hips excellent, elbows clear, eyes cerfed clear and thyroid normal. I analyzed potential sire's production records, read all the whelping books, consulted old-time breeders and conditioned my bitch. Finally the day came that she whelped nine beautifully ridged puppies. I felt as if I had been given a gift better than gold. The lifter was raised in my kitchen. I scrutinized my waiting list and I sobbed as each puppy went to their new family.

I received that first phone call when the puppies were four months old. "I don't think my puppy can hear me," she said. "Oh, he is just being an independent, aloof Ridgeback," I said. Within two months, I received three more such calls. I had the whole litter tested for deafness and four of the nine were deaf in both ears (bilaterally deaf). It never occurred to me to test for deafness because supposedly it doesn't run in our breed.

I was heart broken for the puppies and guilt ridden for their owners. I owed it to them to research the cause and prevalence of deafness in our breed. Then I wanted to present my findings to the Ridgeback community in hopes of sparing other families the grief that I had caused. I approached the issue on two fronts: scientific information available and information from long-time breeders. As I researched deafness, my motive grew to concern for the breed.

I went to the main source of scientific research in the area of deafness, Dr. George Strain at Louisiana State University. Dr. Strain, who is a noted neurophysiologist who has financial grants from the AKC and the Dalmatian Club of the U.S. to do research on deafness in dogs stated:

Congenital deafness in dogs (or other animals) can be acquired (caused by intrauterine infections, autotoxic drugs like getamicin, liver disorders, or other toxic exposures before or soon after birth) or inherited. Inherited deafness can be caused by a gene defect that is autosomal dominant, recessive, sex-linked or may involve multiple genes.
      When deafness is uncommon in a breed, affected dogs should not be bred, but this does not mean that all related dogs are at risk and must be retired from breeding. An understanding of simple autosomal recessive and dominant patterns, can allow the breeder to make informed decisions and likely avoid future deaf animals without sacrificing a breeding line that has been shaped over many years. However, extreme caution must be used when line breeding of dogs related to deaf dogs, whether the deafness is unilateral or bilateral. To make these decisions in an informed manner for breeds with known deafness, it is important that advantage be taken of hearing testing facilities. Unilaterally deaf dogs can not be detected by other means, and these dogs will pass on their deafness gene.

It is crucial to the health of the breed to understand the fact that a dog can be unilaterally deaf and it would be impossible to detect without testing, even for his owners. These dogs could be breeding and breeders would be unintentionally passing a deaf genetic link.

I am here to say that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed with known deafness. I consulted breeders all over the U.S. and have verified seven recent litters with deaf puppies and have heard rumors of more. It appears that deafness has existed in Ridgebacks for quite a while but was kept hidden from outsiders to protect reputations. If this continues, deafness my spread in Ridgebacks as it has in Dalmatians and Irish Setters. BAER testing is a scientific way to stop the spread of deafness in our breed.

The BAER test (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) detects electrical activity in the ear and in the brain. The response is measured with a computer through very small electrodes placed under the skin of the scalp. Each ear is tested individually. My puppies evidenced no sign of pain, but some had apprehension to the wires around the face. The test took ten to fifteen minutes. Sedation or anesthesia was not necessary. There is nominal fee, usually under $50 per puppy. Puppies can be BAER tested as early as five weeks, before they go to their new homes.

As a first time breeder, I learned many things from old-time breeders: like as a breeder, you have the potential to bring immense joy or tremendous sorrow into the lives of puppies and their families. However, with all due respect, I hope the old-time breeders can learn something from this newbie: BAER test! Breeders should insist on proof that the dog or bitch to which they wish to breed has been BAER tested and also have the resulting litter BAER tested. Only this and cautious breeding will stop the spread of this dreadful defect that does exist in our breed.

The litter is one-year old now and all four deaf puppies are in their original homes. Their families treasure them. Living with a deaf Ridgeback is a topic for another time. Thank you Vanessa, Ryan, Cia, Rob, Kimberly, Peter and Cheryl for loving these dogs even more because of their handicap.

This article was first published in the newsletter of the Northwest Rhodesian Ridgeback Club, 'Back Talk, November/December 2000.