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My love for the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed started when I was just a teenager. I grew up on a very large Midwest farm. It was home to a herd of Angus cows, a sixty cow dairy, a hog operation, a feed lot, and we row cropped corn, soybeans, wheat, and bailed thousands of bales of hay each summer. It was a great place to spend an incredible youth. Being the typical farm boy I was always dragging home a stray animal to take up residence on the place. There was always room for another mouth to feed around our place, especially if you did not mind a little hard work. One summer, a buddy of mine wanted to adopt a new dog, so we headed off the local dog pound to find him a new friend. But as we walked in the door I spotted the most incredible dog. He was four to five months old, was a very interesting yellow color (which I know now to be light wheaten) had a livernose and the most phenomenal set of golden eyes I had ever seen. They seemed to look right into me and I could not leave there without this dog in the back of my truck. The lady at the pound said that he was a Rhodesian Ridgeback but he was born without a ridge down his back so he was up for adoption. It did not matter to me that he did not have a ridge, he was mine and we headed off to the house. From the very first moment we arrived at the house Luke exhibited all the best qualities of the breed . He was extremely intelligent, incredibly obedient and easy to train. He wanted to please. Before long, Luke had set about one of the tasks the breed was bred for and that is protecting his village which included every kid, cow, chicken and cat on the place. From that point forward there was not a cow that I worked, a row of corn I planted, a bale of hay that was put in the barn, or a Sunday evening of family time that he was not there for. Luke was the most athletic animal I had ever seen but at the same time the most gentle and loving family pet you could wish for. Growing up on a farm I had gotten used to animals coming and going, but I do not mind telling you that when Luke passed away (around age 11) I sat down and cried the hardest I had in my life. Luke was a true friend and he is missed to this very day. From that first encounter with a ridgeless, livernose Rhodesian Ridgeback, my love for Luke, has grown into a commitment to own, breed and show the best Rhodesian Ridgebacks possible. As with any reputable breeder of registered dogs, I have established a well-organized program with definable goals. I have turned these goals into a Breeding Mission and they are as follows: Temperament Temperament is the first and foremost consideration when I breed and must never be compromised, this goes without saying. For me the challenge of breeding lies in producing the best possible dog in temperament, health and conformation. When I decide on breeding pairs, I consider very carefully how to match the disposition characteristics of the parents. I believe that the secret of producing a socially stable and well-balanced dog lies in weighing the different aspects of the social characteristics of their parents. LionHeart Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very sociable and friendly Rhodesian Ridgebacks. I have heard people say that the breed was originally intended to be sharper and more reserved dogs, but it is my opinion that I should breed a dog that is able to comfortably be a part of modern society. My puppies are always raised inside the house and are socialized with children and the adult dogs of the pack. Health Luckily, the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed in general is a very healthy breed. There are bound to be some health issues with virtually every breed. In order to attempt to breed out a problem in a bloodline, I believe that a responsible breeder should never perpetuate any issues, and dogs with genetic issues should immediately be spayed or neutered and not be permitted to enter the breeding population. I also strongly believe that it is critical to maintain the diversity of the gene pool to keep health problems to a minimum. In order to broaden the gene pool, I strive to use many different sires in the breeding program as possible, rather than the same sire many times over or simply repeating combinations. Using a variety of individuals in a breeding program is favorable to the breed as a whole and keeps health issues to a minimum. Conformation Many different aspects need to be considered when making the choice of what dogs to place together as a breeding combination. I have a good idea of how my ideal dog looks and I strive to realize that image through our breeding program. I also try to be as critical of my own breeding as possible and continually evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of my dogs with the aim of improving the breed and capitalizing on the strengths. Fortunately, I own several females with outstanding conformation, which represent an excellent breeding base for the LionHeart breeding program. I have enjoyed my many years with the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed immensely and the dogs that I have living with me are valued family members. It is also very rewarding for me to be a part of so many lives through my association with these fine animals, and a pleasure to have gotten to know all the puppy families. I look forward to you joining this group and experiencing the joy of having a Ridgeback as a valued family member. I assure you your life will not be the same. R. Wayne Ashabraner LionHeart Rhodesian Ridgebacks |