Rhodesian Ridgebacks
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Rhodesian Ridgebacks
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POTENTIAL OWNER questionNaire HERE
They are virtually impossible to resist. The innocence, the breath, the . . . well . . . just darn cuteness. From this page you will be able to link to current or upcoming litters of Ridgebacks from HPK-Tropaco. Breeding and whelping a litter is an arduous process. From start to finish, it takes a great deal of time, a full range of emotions and, often, a large piece of one's bank account. It is certainly not for the faint-hearted. It's a lot like what is said by baseball players, poker players and others about their professions: Hours of boredom sprinkled with moments of sheer terror. Experienced breeding dogs
can make breeding a simple process. Introductions Even more fraught with potential peril is the whelp. Again, when it all goes right, you're barely more than an "assistant" and statistician. When things go "wrong," to any degree, that's where experience is key. We firmly recommend that anyone whelping a litter for the first time have a very experienced Ridgeback breeder assist them, as well as having a veterinarian who is "on call" in case an emergency trip is necessary.
After that, there's the three weeks of no-sleep, super-superheated nights (to avoid canine herpes, the puppies have to be kept warm since their own "thermostat" and fever response don't kick in for about two and one-half weeks). You'll be right beside the whelping box to ensure mom doesn't accidentally roll over or step on her new puppies. Every movement, every squeak requires attention. That being said, there is nothing in the world more adorable, or beautiful, than a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy! Our puppies are sold on written contracts. To see a sample, click here. Before you buy any puppy, please go to www.sdrrc.org or www.rrcus.org and learn what to look for in a reputable breeder. Here it is in a nutshell. To be a reputable breeder, at a bare minimum: 1) Both sire and dam must have OFA clearances on hips and elbows. This should be verified www.offa.org; and 2) at least one of the parents must be an AKC conformation champion. Again, these are the minimum. Most reputable breeders also test eyes (CERF), thyroid, cardiac and, more recently, submit DNA to screen for degenerative myelopathy, a tragic disease of the spinal cord. |
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• Send mail to
hghayek@hpk-tropaco.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
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flirting, mounting, a tie, you're done! However, if one or the other is
shy, or if the female is "snarky," it can make for a long (and sometimes
personally painful - Ouch!) process. Care must always be taken to avoid
injury to either, from a variety of causes.