Zejak Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Kennel Club Accredited Breeder
Our 'Puppy Pack'
Food:
We like to feed our dogs the following:
|
Age of puppy |
Preferred food |
| 7 weeks to 11 weeks | TBA |
| 12 weeks to 6 months | " |
| 6 months to 12 months | " |
| 12 months to 18 months | |
| 18 months + | " |
| Older Ridgebacks | . |
With young puppies, you should be very carful how much you feed, a general guide is usually on feed bags, but be a bit careful with that as usually it is too much for RRs. They tend to always need a smaller amount of food. Please keep your puppy lean & mean!! A fat puppy does not mean a healthy puppy, and just as in humans, obesity may cause health problems, whilst young these can be growth related problem, and in later life, will place undue stress on joints and internal organs including the heart and lungs. If you keep in mind the shape of a greyhound & NOT a Labrador you will be on the right track! Ridgebacks should always look fit & athletic.
As a guide our young dog Yogi started off at 7 weeks old having 70 grams of food 3 x a day and by 6 months this had increased to 250g twice a day.
I am not recommending the expensive dry foods any more, such as Purina Pro Plan Puppy Athletic, as we have noticed that a lot of pups seem to be stimulated to grow too fast on it. This has resulted in growth problems. I feel that sticking to a natural diet as possible, either meat & biscuit, or maybe "BURNS" dry food would be a better bet. We never had any problems years ago when we fed that way.
Exercise:
After your puppy has had it's necessary vaccinations (which are now done at 8 and 10 weeks old), we recommend that you start puppy socialising classes (they're a great way to make 'doggy' friends for you, and great for learning how to train your pup - remember they're not tiny forever, they grow into a large dog that needs correct handling. Your vet will normally have details on classes in your area, and you should attend from when your puppy is 11 weeks old.
It is also a good idea to take your puppy out in the car as much as possible, so that they get used to travelling. Start with really short journeys, & if he is sick try to do them early morning on an empty tummy for a while. I always travel a puppy in a small crate in the car while they are young.
As Ridgebacks are large dogs, it is important not to over-exercise them at a young age, as their bones are not fully calcified until they are 18 months old. However, once they reach 18 months they will be able to run for hours - which will keep you fit! They need taking out for at LEAST an hours exercise each day, which should include both road walking and free running. (Of course they would prefer more) And if you can manage to take them out beside a bike or horse that is even better! The rest of the time an adult Ridgeback will be happy lazing around either in front of the Aga or out in the sunshine, because as adult dogs they are incredibly lazy and undemanding! (BUT mention W.A.L.K, & wow, transformation!)
When a pup is 11 weeks old we start off with a 20 minute socialising walk twice a day, and we take our pups around the town on a busy Saturday, to the local market, station, supermarket etc, so that they are out & about meeting people & dogs from a young age. You can also visit the local park & have a short walk off lead when they need to use up some energy! You may gradually increase exercise until by 6 months they can tolerate half an hour a day and by a year old 1 hour.. By 18 months they can have as much as you want to give them! If you combine the formal exercise with mooching about the garden, as well, then that should be enough for a young pup.
Socialising:
Try to get the puppy used to seeing different people, especially children and men. It is also a good idea to take them out for a walk on a lead to get them used to any farm animals if they live near you, and to parks to meet other dogs. Also try to take them to the local market, high street, level crossings and also on/near buses and trains.
Practice recall in your garden and house before letting them off a lead. It is best to practice recall when they are young and vulnerable so they feel insecure; then they won't want to leave your side when you take them out for a walk! I always let my pups off a lead from 11 weeks old, & never have any trouble getting them to come back. Treats always help with this – if they think you have food, they won’t stray too far! When we are out exercising young RRs we play silent hide & seek, & take different paths and change direction as much as possible to make them keep an eye on us, this develops their instincts to keep you in sight while out.
Recommended reading:
"THE RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK TODAY" By Stig Carlson. ISBN No; 1 86054 089 9
'The Practical Dog Listener' by Jan Fennel - A fantastic book, essential reading for the new Ridgeback owner. AND "THE SEVEN AGES OF YOUR DOG" by Jan Fennel both Available at www.Amazon.co.uk. We INSIST you read these books before taking a puppy home!!!
Also "CESAR'S WAY" By Cesar Millan (ISBN No;
978-034-0-93330-5 ) He is a dog trainer with a difference! Absolutely amazing man; watch him on Sky 3 at the moment PLEASE!!!!Essential equipment for your new puppy:
Fold-flat Dog Crates: These are fantastic, and provide somewhere for your puppy to sleep, get away from it all, and also stop them from chewing the furniture when you're out! They are available from a company called 'DOG HEALTH" www.doghealth.co.uk
0800 074 4302 or they sell on ebay with a "Buy it now" option. The size you will need is large or X large.Another address for crates, & dog guards is http://www.barjo.co.uk 0118 989 0204 in Wokingham, Berks. They build fantastic fitted dog guards for the car as well. Providing a Bespoke service that is second to none!
Veterinary Bedding: This easily washable fleece bedding can be used anywhere, including inside of the crates (see above for details). Available in numerous colours/patterns. This bedding is available from dog health as well- see above for contact details.
For further information on caring for your new puppy, please contact us or talk to your vet.
If you do end up having a puppy from us then we will give you a more comprehensive booklet with hints & tips for living with your ridgeback, a diet sheet, as well as the food that your pup has been eating and a piece of bedding. Before you come to collect your puppy we will give you a 'Shopping List' of things you need to get before you take your new puppy home with you. We supply 6 weeks free insurance with "Pet Plan" , and your puppy will be identified with a tattoo in its right ear, registered with the "NATIONAL DOG TATTOO REGISTER"
and, of course, your puppy will be Kennel Club registered too.New Puppy 'Shopping List':
We like
to help our new owners be prepared for the day when their new arrival
goes home with them. We provide all new owners with a Puppy Shopping
List, which details essential equipment and items you will need for when
your puppy goes home with you.
Our
contract:
Our contract offers
peace of mind to us and to new owners of our puppies. We love our dogs
and our puppies and want to ensure that they go to a good, caring,
responsible home. The contract states that we will ALWAYS take back one
of our puppies if it is needed and will find a new home for them.
KC Endorsement:
All of their Kennel Club
papers are endorsed with "Progeny not eligible for registration"
to ensure that our puppies remain as pets, not breeding stock for puppy
farmers. They are sold purely as family pets with outstanding temperaments.
Breeding Ridgebacks is not something that is "fun" and "easy" - it
requires lifelong dedication, in depth knowledge of genes, bloodlines
and breeding, and is VERY hard work (trust us, we should know!). It is
stressful, difficult and needs thorough research and a good reputation -
otherwise you could easily find you are left with a whole litter of
un-sold puppies at 8 weeks old, which isn't a situation anyone would
like to be in. There are many things that could go wrong during the
whole process for both the bitch and puppies (i.e. problems during
labour, mastitis afterwards, pyometra, dermoid sinus which needs
checking for by a knowledgeable person every week, puppies not feeding
and needing to be bottle fed or worse still tube fed, the bitch not
producing any milk or being a terrible mother etc etc)...breeding
Ridgebacks isn't always straight forward, and for the safety of the
bitch and the puppies knowledge is key! Take it from a family who knows
the stresses and sleepless nights only too well...!
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