In response to last night’s BBC 1 Documentary entitled ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’, we would like to make the following statement:

1.       The BBC stated “…In fact it’s been known for decades that the ridge is a mild form of spina bifida that can cause serious health problems…”

THIS IS COMPLETELY UNTRUE.

This statement made by the BBC is completely inaccurate, wrong and damaging to the breed. What they should have said is that in some rare instances a condition called Dermoid Sinus can found in Ridgeback puppies. Dermoid Sinus itself is akin to Spina Bifida in humans, NOT the ridge. If puppies are bred by experienced, responsible and knowledgeable breeders the sinus is found at birth and the puppy put to sleep, before it suffers later in life.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are in fact one of the healthiest pedigree dogs you can own, as they are made up of scores of different breeds of dog, including an African wild dog (who provided the ridge). Therefore they have a huge gene pool, and  really are a pedigree mongrel in this respect and have the same hybrid vigour.

2.                 The BBC stated “10% of puppies suffer from Dermoid Sinus”

They have not published where they obtained this statistic from, and we believe any statistic relating to Dermoid Sinus is purely heresay – there is NO official route of reporting when a Ridgeback puppy is born with Dermoid Sinus. It is purely guesswork.

3.          Ridgeless Ridgebacks

The BBC Documentary interviewed the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain, along with another well known Ridgeback breeder. They stated that they supported the RR Club of GB’s ‘Code of Ethics’ that contained an instruction that “any ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies shall be culled at birth”.

We would like to state for the record that we have, as known to many people, not been members of this Club for many years. Our main objection to the Club was that healthy dogs, albeit without a ridge, were culled when they were healthy. This is not, and never has been, ethical and we disagree with this idea wholeheartedly.

The BBC quoted that “1 in 20 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are born without a ridge”. Again, another completely misleading and wholly inaccurate statement from the BBC. Where do these ‘figures’ come from? There is no form of reporting a ridgeless puppy being born in the UK.

From our experience, it is far, far fewer ridgeless puppies who are born. When, on the very rare occasion, we do have a ridgeless puppy we find a home for them. They make wonderful pets, and for goodness sake – they don’t know they haven’t got a ridge do they?! Ridgeless puppies are the same as ridged puppies in every way except cosmetically. They shouldn't be bred from and can’t be shown – but as our puppies are sold primarily as fantastic pets, who is to say that a ridgeless puppy won’t have a long and happy life and make a wonderful pet?

On a final note – the documentary made a very big point regarding ‘in-breeding’ in pedigree dogs, quoting that pedigree dogs were often mated father to daughter, brother and sister, etc.

We DO NOT and NEVER HAVE practised in-breeding within our breeding programme. There is no excuse for in-breeding. Genetics are a very big part of being a responsible breeder, and with in-breeding the risk of health or mental problems being passed on is huge. We therefore take the view that this should never be done.

If you have any questions regarding Zejak Rhodesian Ridgebacks or our beliefs, please do get in touch with me on (01483) 427479 or by email to jellis8@sky.com  

And if you’re from the BBC…perhaps you’d like to make public where you obtained your statistics from, and why you felt the need to make completely inaccurate and wrong statements regarding the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Jackie