We have a card from Natalya on our refrigerator.
My husband has fallen in love with Oscar.
"Why don't we have one of THOSE? That dog looks terrific".
Would people please share their ridgeback experiences.
Thanks!

Never enough photos of Oscar. I could watch him watching paint dry. He sounds like an entertaining housemate, to say the least.

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

Never enough photos of Oscar. I could watch him watching paint dry.

Ooooo, new photo shoot idea!!

~Natalya

 Quote: meredith hamilton

Never enough photos of Oscar. I could watch him watching paint dry.

Yup. Me too... what a face.

Natalya, is Oscar larger than most RRs? He looks almost Great Dane"ish" in size.

Barbara,

The standard calls for males to be in the 85lb range, though there are no penalties for running a bit larger, so a lot of dogs do. Oscar is from pretty stocky lines, so his big bone has him at 95-ish, but he's in good shape, not overweight - I would say any RR at or above 100, at a healthy weight, is too big though. They were "designed" to be big and strong, but also wickedly athletic and surprisingly agile for big dogs - the larger/heavier they are, the less able they are to out maneuver prey like lions... and of course the formidable Squirrelus maximus. The females can be quite a bit smaller, more like 65-75lbs...

If you'd like to see some gorgeous examples of the breed, here's a photo gallery by a very well known German RR breeder and photographer - it's split into dogs and bitches - there are some breathtaking canines in there:

Gallerie Karin van Klaveren

*Different countries have different preferences - you'll notice a lot of really richly red dogs in that gallery - here in the states, a lot of breeders strive for a more medium wheaton color, or go lighter, into blondes (I much prefer a darker red wheaton, myself).

~Natalya

 Quote:

For anyone who hasn't seen enough of him,
here's Oscar's flickr album for more pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33795483@N00/sets/72157606293951146/

LOVE these pics of Oscar! Seriously, he is the most photogenic dog I have ever seen. I think his coloring is the ideal for me.
If I were going to get a Ridgeback, I would be taking his picture, and sayin' I want this guy, right here!
To me, he is what I think of when I think of the ideal specimen of a Ridgeback.
I secretly swoon over his pictures.... well, maybe not so secretly anymore!

We are NOT getting a serious dog, because we couldn't even get a decent farm dog, because I have been told for years that we are going to sell the farm, husband will retire, we must be unencumbered, we are going to travel etc. etc.
Now I'm telling hubby he can have an Oscar when he retires. Maybe it will do the trick!

My grandmother had a ridgeback x when I was young and it was a great dog. I have always loved the breed. If I was going to get a hound breed it would definately an RR.

How is Oscar, BTW, Natalya?