Quote: enrique muniz

So my point was, the OP was mentioning a pup, which that in itself is a crap shoot, and second an *off* breed (RR), which would make it nearly impossible to do the job.

Personally, I agree with you 100%. When it comes to SchH, Ringsport, Police work, SAR; to me, the work is too demanding and the investment to great to not start with a dog that doesn't show great promise from the start.
One of my points is that, unfortunately, nowadays once you get away from the GSD and the Malinois, you're pretty much in 'off' breed territory. In our club we have GSDs, Malinois, Giant Schnauzers, Dobes, American Bulldogs & Dutch Shepherds, and its nice to have that kind of mix, especially since they are all pretty darn good examples of their respective breeds.

I agree with you there John. In my club, there are mainly GSDs and Mals. 1 member has 2 Dobes, and I'm the only person w/a Boxer. My club was thrilled to know I had a Boxer! Funny, but I'm sure that may have given me a little edge in getting in.

On the breeds, yeah that makes sense. The Dutch was pretty much right in the GSD at the moment. And as far as PB & AB I didn't mean to say they should've been in the original 13, I just meant they are 2 breeds that participate often now and look great. Funny that the GD was in the original 13, unless they were a smaller version. They seem too clumsy, but for police work, I can see how their appearance would make someone not even try to challenge them.

If you really want to compete and at the top levels, you should go with a GSD or a Mal (and I personally think a Rott can do just fine ).

What I have an issue with is the attitude that those without the “elite” breeds should not attempt to train. It is an attitude that discourages people from training their dogs, and not understand what the sport is really about. When people (and their dogs) are excluded, they will find a reason to say it is a bad thing, it’s not right, but an ego thing. You get the anti-bite training people that just don't get it. People that say their dog is too aggressive, instead of teaching control.

 Quote: John Haudenshield

I'd also love to see the day when a Dobermann, Giant Schnauzer or Rottweiler with great nerve, courage, hunt & prey drive is more common than not. And finally, I love to see the day when breeders that a producing working prospect puppies can justify that statement beyond the the titles that show up in the litter's pedigree.

Exactly! It is about testing the genetics and ability of a dog. The ability tested is valid for many other working breeds as well. Just because their have been few actually breeding for the original character and ability of the breed does not mean that the good breeders should not breed and be given the opportunity to test (it will create more that are bred for working ability and not just conformation.) It is about working with a dog and building a bond that transcends their own inclinations. It teaches control that is lacking in so many dogs today.

No it is not easy. Far from it, and so much more so with an “off” breed; that just means more of a challenge and more commitment to the work. The time needed to train and hopefully trial is immense. If an owner is realistic of their goals and is willing to put the extra time into their dog, they will end up with a better dog for it, both for breeding and living with.

Many of the original purposes for a breed have been lost to them. As a direct example, the RR owner cannot go chasing down lions today. So how are the responsible breeder to test for that courage and control? And most GSDs don't herd or gather sheep. We are left with the opportunities given to us. We make do with what we have, and if that means SCH, agility, OB or SAR well then by all means, do something!

The only valid reason I heard from the other thread that any able dog should not train is a lack of helpers. As uncommon as the sport is, that is a very valid concern. The only way to fix this problem is for the sport to become more popular and have more people learn. I don’t know if that is necessarily a good thing either though. But to add a few more breeds, and their handlers, adds to the number of people that can learn the skills needed to be a helper. Like Alex mentioned, his club would add more only if they were willing to help.

I kept hearing as reasons that a person should not train that that breed is that they are too stubborn, too aggressive, too smart, etc. None are valid reasons. In fact those are all very good reasons to train! Tell me the dog has no drive, tell me it is too nervy, tell me it does not have the physical ability. If a dog has the drives necessary and the conformation necessary, and an owner that is realistic and willing to commit, and a club is will accept them… Go for it! (And that is a lot of ands!)

In its home continent, the mighty Africa, Rhodesian Ridgeback has distinguished itself as a hunting dog for use on a wide veriety of game ranging from lions, leopards, jackals, baboons to antelope, which they are capable of tracking and hunting trought their speed. Ridgebacks have evolved into a silent hunting dog, with a specific technique which demands courage and endurance. Hunting in a pack of dog they could detecd lions, single out an animal and surround it. Taking turns they would hit the lion each time from a different side, evading lions paws or jaws with great speed and agility. In such a manner they would keep the lion pinned down until their master, the hunter arrived, allowing him to take a shot from with safety. Only a curageous, agile and fast dog could survive such a game, and only the best did.


Their main purpose was the guarding of native villages and their masters live stock from predators. Only later on have they evolved into a dependable dogs, apropriate to be companions and watch dogs on large properties. They also toke on the role of guard dogs in South African diamond mines.

Outside its native land, these dogs were often used for hunting purposes, most often as blood hounds, rarely to hunt wild boars. Interestingly, in Australia these dogs are being used to succsessfuly hunt down live wild goats in order to scientificly study them. And in Tasmania they are being used to hunt Cangaroos, which have bred out of control.

When Rhodesian Ridgebacks were intridouced to Europe, they were immediatly being used for a wide variety of roles and purposes. Ridgeback is quickly valued as a house dog, companion dog, watch dog for personal protection. In some countries Ridgebacks are used as police tracking dogs. And in Canada they are also being used as dogs to aide blind people. They are also very succsessfull in agility and since they are fast runners, they are also used as track dogs.

This is off of the Croatian Ridgeback site.

Very Interesting