Zeus will be 6 months old soon, and cant believe how quickly time has flown by! He has changed our lives and I have to say for the better. We are both much fitter since going for walks everyday. He runs around the meadow happily off lead, & recalls fantastically! We actually talk now instead of slumping in front of the TV!

He is the most affectionate dog and loves to cuddle on the sofa, he is great with the cats and despite numerous attempts on his part they are still refusing to play ball with him! He is hilarious and make us laugh everyday. He is a real thief and often a brown blur will speed past with various objects like shoes, boxes, my handbag, anything that is not bolted down! We are totally useless at telling him off as he looks hilarious running round the house with my handbag and thinks its a great game! The funniest to date was finding him in his crate with a tin of whiskers & a can of lager! luckily unopened!

We are besotted! I have recommended the breed to everyone that will listen and have to say that getting Zeus has been the best decision that we have ever made.

He is top of his class in puppy school, and will do absolutely anything for cheese! So, training has proved relatively easy and I am so proud. He loves to be near us and will just follow us around and either sit on your feet or cuddle with his head on your lap, and now at almost 5 stone we realize he is not going to be a small boy so are using that excuse to buy a bigger sofa! Attached are some photos of Zeus, and look forward to meeting up with you all again for another walk with his Dad, although not sure you should allow me near the pups as wont be able to restrain myself from wanting another!

________________________________________________________________________________

Jackie,

I hope everything is going well and your most recent litter are in fine health. I just thought I would drop you a quick email and some of the latest pictures of Rafiki. He's just about to turn four months old and he's he absolutely amazing. I think its safe to say that choosing a Ridgeback from you was one of the best decisions myself and my girlfriend, Alex, ever made. We are so pleased with him.

Every time we take him out we are bombarded by people who just adore him. He's just started going to his classes and I think its safe to say he was the star pupil and was only too eager to show everyone how obedient and well behaved he is -even if he's not quite as angelic when he's back home :-).

He's just been to the vet and was weighed in at a whopping 18.6 kg!!

He's taken to the house very well and even if mummy and daddy did originally say he wasn't allowed upstairs he's managed to wrap us round his little finger. One of his favourite places in the house is at the top of the stairs - I think its so he can admire himself in the long mirror! He also loves his crate and didn't take very long at all to realise that the toilet is outside, not inside.

All in all, we are so, so, so happy with him and I'm pretty sure he's happy with us. I think you'll agree when you see the pictures that he is a very handsome puppy and will turn out to be an absolutely stunning dog. I'll be sure to bring him over to you in a few months like we said so you can see how he's getting on and in the meantime we'll continue to plug Zejak to as many people as we can.....my dad probably being the first to take up the RR challenge!!

Thanks again,

Simon & Alex.

________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Jackie,

It's taken a while for me to finally get to grips with computers, e-mails etc but now I have and thought I should fill you in on Xante's progress.

She is nearly 20 months old and an absolute joy to have in the family. It's still hard to believe the tiny creature we visited at five weeks has grown into such a beautiful, docile, well mannered girl. She attracts a lot of attention and people asking for your details. She is fairly well trained but has recently "found" her nose and I've seen more pheasants flying then ever before! She really has got a wonderful temperament; she lays down on the floor with my daughter, when Zoe suffers from migraine. Xante seems to know when to be playful and when to be calm. I can't imagine owning another breed of dog.

We try and keep up to date with your website and are already keen to see Chobe's pups. Very exciting news.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and all the very best for 2009,

Catherine Bacon and family.

________________________________________________________________________________

What a beautiful puppy. I cannot believe that each puppy we have had from you has been absolutely gorgeous and settles in immediately. Shows no sign of fear just really well rounded fantastic temperament dogs. I would also like to commend you in using airpets. They are the best. They really care about the animals well being. I only found out this weekend from Cheryl that when you sent us Pumba she took it home with her for the weekend and this is what prompted her to get a ridgeback from you.

Simba and Pumba are so funny. They were terrified to begin with but last night the ice was broken and Pumba and Zazu finally played together. Sassy our little cross has been a segregate mum from the start. I had forgotten how many sleepless nights one gets with a new puppy. It is like having a baby again.

Anyway you are to be commended on your breeding ability and the care that you take of your animals. It certainly shows when they arrive.

I will send pictures later.

Much love

________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Jackie

Here are our babies in their horseblankets! – It’s freezing at night there now and they are proving invaluable!

Also to say that Sabi is just the best! In every way she is perfect and because the builders have been in (still are!!) she is so socialised and not frightened of anything - in fact she is on holiday at Mum and Dad's because we have just had all the floors screed - and they say she is an absolute angel!

She is such a joy to have and already used to the horses and so bidable! We are just thrilled with her.

Also because she is so good we have hardly used the cage that Mum persuaded me to buy - literally used twice.

 Anyway hope alls well your end

Mel x

________________________________________________________________________________

Jackie,

I thought that I would send you a quick note about Duke (Zejak Wakiru).

He has reached his first year and has been a joy to both Emma and myself over this time. He is very well behaved and we have had great fun in teaching him new tricks, which he picks up very quickly. He currently knows his left from right; plays dead and knows to wait for his food no matter how close he is to it or how tasty it’s going to be!!! His temperament is brilliant and when introducing him to our new born nephew was very gentle, although a little worried when the baby started crying .

He is enjoying his walks around the countryside and on the beach, but he is wary of the sea – he doesn’t like it when it moves towards him! Out and about he is very active, but once we are home there is no where he would rather be than asleep in front of the fire with a nice meaty marrow bone by his side should he wake up and want to nibble on something!

Thank you for letting us have him, he has been everything we expected and more

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie

Just wanted to say what a fantastic little puppy Chester is, and let you know how he's getting on. He was from Zulu and Jenga and is the spitting image of his dad; everyone comments on his beautiful colour. He really is a beautiful boy, and has brought so much joy into our family!

He's nearly 4 months now, and we like to take him out and about with us, sometimes just walking around the streets, and also for a good run and play in the park. The one thing that has surprised me the most (having had other breeds of dogs previously) is the amount of attention he gets - just walking him to the shops today, one man was over the moon at seeing a ridgeback, made a real fuss of him, and then thanked me for stopping! I also got stopped by a group of strangers at the pub who asked if I could bring him over, and then tried to encourage us to stop for a drink - they thought he was marvellous!

He's the star of the park, and people who I've never met before, know all about Chester from other dog walkers, and have been looking out for him desperate to see him!! I really can't believe the reaction he gets, and he just takes it all in his stride, and will put up with as much fuss as people want to give him!

His training is coming on really well too, he's completely housetrained now, he sits, goes down, plays dead, and rolls over (thanks mostly to my daughter Lauren!). What we have learnt after much trial and error, and confusion on both sides is that when we ask him to do things and are clear with our instructions, he catches on very quick, it's just when we don't ask him properly that we all end in a muddle! We had a one to one trainer come round the house this week just to assess him and see how he's getting on before starting puppy training classes in September, and she was very impressed by him, he conducted himself admirably!

We are so pleased with him Jackie, and I know there will be blips now and again, especially when he gets to adolescence, but we will take it in our stride, and no doubt call you if we need to! But he makes us laugh, and when he's up to no good (shoes are never safe around him!) he looks so comical, we can't help laughing even more!

Hope you like the pics, we'll keep in touch and let you know how he gets on!

Jackie, Stef, Lauren & Chester

xxxx

________________________________________________________________________________

Just wanted to let you know how delighted we are with the new addition to our family – he has fitted into to our home and family as if he has been here all his life! After a couple of disrupted nights (the odd whimpering and need for reassurance) Gibbs has settled remarkably quickly and now sleeps through the night from 9pm to 6.30pm (doing a wee in his crate which is half bed and half newspaper) but waking up to do anything more serious outside in the garden – fantastic!

Here are a couple of photos – he seems to know what the camera is and poses like a professional. Our children are learning what fun it is to have a dog in the house but are still careful to let sleeping dogs lie and to enforce appropriate discipline when it comes to chewing toes, furniture, clothes, and anything else he can find! Our vet has checked him out and agrees that he is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve enrolled in dog training classes which start in January. However we have already started training at home and he knows his name and comes when called.

Thank you so much for picking Gibbs out for us – he’s perfect!

Will keep you posted with developments

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie

Long time no contact. Hope you had a Very Merry Christmas. We did.

My name is Samantha O'Sullivan and my family and myself bought a pup from you in July 01. Tia was born to Zebe.

Tia is still with us and is just so perfect! Most of the time she’s in a calm submissive state of mind, until myself or one of the boys excites her. She’s always easily calmed with a simple command. Tia always listens to us, and is respectful to our person space. She loves going to the park and has boundful energy to burn. The other dogs in the park don’t know how to deal with her, so she’s more than often in trouble with them. Her recall skills are highly tuned, even in mid flight as you told us. Tia is so gentle with the boys.

Thank you for selling Tia to us, she's just the best.

I'll send you some photos of her as soon as I find my digital camera-it too has gone for a walk.

Oh, Tia loves Jordan our now 15 yr old X breed. When she was younger, she'd pull him by the base of his tail to get him to play. Or she'd grab him by the collar and take him for a walk around the garden. She doesn’t do this any more to him. Tia isn’t bothered by the cats either!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie,

Can’t believe its Tao's first birthday on the 11th, he is well and truly part of our family. He's all we talk about, has he been fed? Has he been for a walk? Have you played with him?.

He is a handsome specimen, everyone comments and generally very well behaved, not as good as yours, but we are getting there. One habit we cant seem to break is jumping up at people, any tips? We have done a lot of homework on training and obedience together with watching Caesar Milan and I sure we will get there in the end.

Tao has recovered well from his op, you can hardly notice the scar, he constantly amuses us. 

Look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Pamela & Tao

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie

Just to let you know that the puppy settled straight in and has made her self right at home. She has a lovely outgoing nature and is always very busy! I am thrilled with her and have called her Lola, as she maybe a show girl one day!

She gets on very well with Milo, cat, chickens etc. Thanks very much. Am very tempted with the new litter but Nicky has said no!

Regards  

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi there Jackie

I wanted you to know how wonderful Tango is and what he has been up to!

We trained for our Canine Good Citizen’s Award. We were unable to do the scheduled test, due to all that was going on with my family. However, we will do our test in the Fall. Everything stops in the summer here, as it is so hot.  He did very well in the training. He is so lovely that I’m thinking of doing some therapy work with him.

I am forwarding some pics of Tango that my sister-in-law took. My hubby scanned them and I can’t figure out how to save them to my desktop....so it is easier to just forward the e-mail to you!

Let me know how you think he looks!



Cheers,

Alison and Tango, Bermuda 2008.

________________________________________________________________________________

2006 Testimonials:

Hi Jackie,

We've just seen on your site that Buzi has had a litter, so thought I'd give an update on her sister Kaya, who's over the moon to be an auntie!

Two years in, and she is still bringing us lots of entertainment, and is quite the celebrity around our local parks being one of very few ridgebacks in the area. Everyone we meet comments on how beautiful she is, and we have to agree!

We had a bit of a scare in the summer when out walking she was attacked by another dog for no reason, and was bitten on the hind quarter, needing a few stitches and an overnight stay with the vet, but has recovered nicely and had suffered no long term problems. Unfortunately not all dogs have been as well bred as our little girl...

Attached is a few photos of her, hope you like them and we'll be sure to come and see you when we're ready for a little brother for her...!

Best wishes,

________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Auntie Jackie,

I thought I would bring you up to date with all my goings on as it has been a while. Where to start.... I have qualified for Crufts 2007 and am very excited, well I think Mum is more excited than me to be honest. I have managed a first, two seconds, two thirds and a few reserves which isn't too bad. I am three in February and have steadied off at a respectable 38 kilos. When I am on walks with mum and the other dogs, they are all aware who is in charge.  That's right, the big orange one. I have also managed to eat and destroy my way through to bed number sixteen. Not all mine I admit, some were Archies, but hey, all is fair in beds if you ask me. My two new beds are from 'Cozies', I have not even had a nibble of these, which in itself is a miracle. I am in season again at the moment and its a struggle, I have to wee at least five times in the night. Of course mum has to get up to open the door, sometimes dad does but not that often. I can't understand the complaints of tiredness, I mean its me who has to go outside in the rain and cold to go!!!!!!! And I don't get that must sleep either, but I try to stay focused, after all one does have ones appearance to keep whilst out on the walks, even if it is on the lead at the moment.

Well love to all,   

Ruby (& Bronja) - November 2006

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie,

Just thought I would drop you a line to say how our beautiful ridgeback is getting along.  She is now 15 months old and is just a joy to us.  She has really settled down into a lovely quiet lady, and likes nothing more than to snuggle up on her very own couch in our lounge.  What a spoilt lady!!  She is brilliant with the kids (all 4 of them) and is real loving and loyal member of our family.  We would at some stage in the next couple of years love to get another ridgeback from you as a friend for Indy, so lets hope you will still be having more adorable puppies then!!!  As you can see, Indy loves sunning herself on our garden furniture!!

Regards,

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie,

Thought you would like an update on Tusker who was 2 this July.

He is son of Merlin & Sunny and is the best looking dog in the neighbourhood, and when we collected him you told us he would be very red and as you can see he is!

We tragically lost our previous dog in a road accident and didn't believe that we would ever replace her but we have. When we collected him you told us not to put him on our beds to sleep at anytime - thank god we listened to you as now he would take up the whole bed!

He is funny, loving, naughty, a brilliant guard dog and as you can see likes lifes luxuries - prefers my leather settee to his bed which isn't fun when three of you are trying to watch the tele- he doesn't leave a lot of room!  He adores my son and they have fun times teasing each other (as boys do).

We could not have wished for a more brilliant dog for our family and would like to thank you again for our big boy.

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie,

We thought we would send you a quick email and give you a progress report on Floyd who is 11 months now. We picked him up from you on Boxing Day 2005 and you said when we took him he was going to be a big dog and the vet agreed with you the first time she saw him too. Well, he was weighed last week at 41kg and according to the vet is in perfect condition but still has more growing to do!

Despite his size he is a big softie and constantly badgers us for kisses and cuddles, we have 4 kids of 14, 8 and two 6 year olds who climb all over him, play hide and seek and use him as pillow to watch TV. He gets very excited whenever he sees any of us after an absence (even if it is has only been 5 minutes while we have been upstairs) and wags his tail so much we have decided he looks like he is doing a canine version of the Salsa as he comes towards us. We are trying to teach him to bark when he wants to go out and come in from the garden, as at the moment he just jumps up and down. The only time he does bark is when he is playing chase the hoover, the broom, the lawnmower or the rake.

He is certainly a character and very well behaved most of the time apart from when he feigns deafness, usually when he is trying to get on the sofa and we catch him. I have noticed in your photos that quite a few ridgebacks sit in an almost human way with their bottom on the seat and their paws on the floor, we call it the “three paws on the floor rule”, in other words he can’t really be on the sofa if he can still put 3 paws on the floor!!

He loves footballs and ball games and running through the river where he goes for his evening walk. He is good with other dogs and loves to play but gets a bit scared if they try and chase him too much, especially the little ones.

I expect you can tell from all of the above that we love him to bits, we get loads of comments when we are out and people are always stopping us to comment on his good looks. We read loads of ridgeback books when we got him and our favourite quote from one of them sums up Floyd to a tee “ The Ridgebacks desire to please his owner is often overridden by his desire to please himself!”

Thank you very much for breeding such a lovely and unique family dog.

Regards

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Jackie,

Just a quick note to give you a progress report on Ruby. She's just over five months now and as you can see she's growing well and starting to look like a Ridgeback. The gangling, wrinkled puppy has been replaced by a rambunctious monster! She's reasonably well behaved, impeccably so when her food is involved and seems to get on really well with other people and dogs. Her best friend is a Fell Terrier called Worm who loves getting through the fence for a quick boxing match most evenings. She's well on the way through her teething and the fangs are almost fully grown. Hopefully then our plants/fence/feet will get a rest from being chewed. Of course we're biased, but she's such a handsome pup and it's amazing how many people stop to ask about her on walks. That Ridge is the source of much fascination - one youngster asked if she was a Labrador with a scar! - and the wrinkly face is enough to win most people over straight away. I'll admit that getting a puppy was even more work than we'd thought it'd be, but the pleasure she has given us and the joy from watching her change almost day by day has made it so worthwhile. Thanks for all your support and advice - just knowing there is someone there if we need help has made things easier. I'd love to add to the pack in the future (bigger house permitting!) and would have no hesitation in coming back for another Zejak puppy!

Many thanks once again, Dom Holtam, East Sussex. - July '06

________________________________________________________________________________

So thank you very much for our addition to the family, hope you remember us,
love from the Hills (Keith, Kim, Katie and Keith) - July '06

________________________________________________________________________________

Sam is our 10 month old baby.

Since his birth, he and Jabu have been firm friends. The attached pic was taken last Friday, the first real day of Summer, when they were enjoying a bit of sunshine together.

Paul G - May '06

________________________________________________________________________________

Merlin ; Son of Miko & Zen too!!  is settling in really well now, everybody stops us & comments on what a good looking dog he is, he is very friendly when out on the lead , and loves to play with other dogs ! A greeting from Merlin is a sight to behold, its more of a dance than a tail-wag, He is growing well & shows promise of being as big as our previous Ridgie Griffin. He loves his walks especially at night when the park is ours & he can chase imaginary Lions......hope they are imaginary. Hope one day to have a house big enough to get him a brother.

All the best.
Keith/Sylv/Merlin - April '06

________________________________________________________________________________

Just a quick email to say hi. Murdock is 11 months old (although the photos were taken a month or 2 ago) and such a character; bright, inquisitive and comical. He's a constant source of amusement to us whether he's chasing his tail, watching birds or listening to Jack Johnson (he cannot be distracted when Jack is singing). He loves his daily walks and enthusiastically greets all that he meets along the way including people, horses, cats and dogs (although he isn't sure what to make of pheasants). He's such a handsome chap too - we are stopped on an almost daily basis by admirers. As a quick learner he was the star pupil at dog class early on, although the crown has slipped a little in recent weeks as he's got complacent.

It was nice to read the email on your website from Safi, Murdock's sister.

We are delighted that Murdock is part of our family and would love him to have a brother or sister (one day). He is a happy, loving and confident puppy.

We've attached some photos of him enjoying the Wiltshire countryside.

Best Wishes
Catherine & Dave - March '06

________________________________________________________________________________

Just thought that we the Clark family would send you a little hello. Nelson will be 2 in February and is growing up just great. He loves everyone he meets, we could couldn't ask for a better dog. He is so full of life, we have just come back from Bavaria and he had such a great time, we take him everywhere we go, even our holiday to Italy last summer!

We also are thinking of getting a friend for Nelson possibly nearer the end of the year. Will you be able to help us?

Thank you again.
Sarah & Anthony Clark - January '06

________________________________________________________________________________

Hi Aunty Jackie,

Hope you and all the other Ridgebacks are well, we would love to hear from you.

Safi
x
(Kate and Charlie) - November '05

________________________________________________________________________________

Kind Regards, Nicola - November '05

________________________________________________________________________________

ZULEKA ZUA ZEJAK (Jambo). So naughty, but so nice! Our precocious teenager to the end! We could trust you with our lives, and for 12 and a half years we loved you as you did us. We'll never forget you!

Robert, Beatrice, Stephanie & Celine  (Westgate-On-Sea) - July '05

________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you Jackie for breeding a fabulous Dog.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Well this is all,
Ruby - March '05

________________________________________________________________________________