| Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 |
About Us . . .
Paradigm Rhodesian Ridgebacks
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While there are many reputable high volume breeders, having
multiple litters per year, we are not in the 'business' of breeding
dogs. In fact, we've only bred three litters since 1994, keeping
a puppy from each litter (Ella, Dinah and Eva). For us, breeding
a litter is a tremendous responsibility, requiring an enormous
amount of time and energy to not only plan a breeding years
before it occurs, but to also provide a life-time support for all of
our puppy owners. It is our desire that you have a Ridgeback
that will bring joy to your lives and become an inseparable
member of your family.
Several years in advance of a breeding, we spend hundreds of
hours researching the background of potential stud dogs -- we
do not own or have a stud dog on the premises. We not only
evaluate whether the stud dog comports with the AKC
standard for Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but whether he also has
the strengths where our girl is weak and vice versa. While all
breeders should be well-versed in understanding the proper
conformation and movement of a Ridgeback, an independent
measure -- albeit subjective -- is showing the dog to its AKC
Conformation Championship at AKC dog shows. You should
ask prospective breeders whether the dam and sire are AKC
champions.
The dogs we use for breeding are all AKC champions. While
we believe that "breeding stock" should be AKC champions, we
personally don't spend a lot of time beyond that in showing our
dogs, because our free time is limited. Notwithstanding, our
breeding program is quite successful from a RRCUS National
Specialty 'show' perspective, breeding the following: Ella, the
2002 National Specialty Best in Puppy Sweepstakes Winner;
Dinah, the 2008 National Specialty Winners Bitch and Award of
Merit Winner; Rowan, the 2008 National Specialty Reserve
Winners Dog; Tyson, 2008 National Specialty Award of Merit
Winner, a Top Twenty Specialty Invitee (2007, 2008 & 2009), an
All Breed Best in Show Winner and the #4 Rigeback in 2007,
2008 and #5 in 2009; and Zeus, the 2003 National Specialty
Breed Finalist in AKC Lure-coursing. Read more about our
National Specialty achievements HERE.
As we know, beauty isn't everything. Of equal importance, if not
greater, is researching whether both potential parents are
matched in temperament and health. We are members of the
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States (RRCUS)
which has a Code of Ethics for minimum health testing prior to
breeding. We not only adhere to the Code of Ethics on testing
for both hip and elbow dysplasia, but also perform the
additional health testing: Degenerative Myelopathy, eyes (for
cataracts), cardiac, and thyroid. Click HERE to learn more
about health issues in the breed. You should feel comfortable
asking any Breeder of your potential pup about what health
testing was conducted and what other health issues are in
their bloodlines for which there is no health test. You will find
that for each of our dogs that are used for breeding purposes,
the health testing is not only listed on the dog's homepage, but
also a link is provided to an independent organization,
Orthopaedic Foundation Association (OFA), that verifies the
health testing performed on that particular dog.
Feel free to contact us for further information. Below are useful
links from RRCUS www.rrcus.org: -- this site is a great
resource -- providing background information on Ridgebacks.
multiple litters per year, we are not in the 'business' of breeding
dogs. In fact, we've only bred three litters since 1994, keeping
a puppy from each litter (Ella, Dinah and Eva). For us, breeding
a litter is a tremendous responsibility, requiring an enormous
amount of time and energy to not only plan a breeding years
before it occurs, but to also provide a life-time support for all of
our puppy owners. It is our desire that you have a Ridgeback
that will bring joy to your lives and become an inseparable
member of your family.
Several years in advance of a breeding, we spend hundreds of
hours researching the background of potential stud dogs -- we
do not own or have a stud dog on the premises. We not only
evaluate whether the stud dog comports with the AKC
standard for Rhodesian Ridgebacks, but whether he also has
the strengths where our girl is weak and vice versa. While all
breeders should be well-versed in understanding the proper
conformation and movement of a Ridgeback, an independent
measure -- albeit subjective -- is showing the dog to its AKC
Conformation Championship at AKC dog shows. You should
ask prospective breeders whether the dam and sire are AKC
champions.
The dogs we use for breeding are all AKC champions. While
we believe that "breeding stock" should be AKC champions, we
personally don't spend a lot of time beyond that in showing our
dogs, because our free time is limited. Notwithstanding, our
breeding program is quite successful from a RRCUS National
Specialty 'show' perspective, breeding the following: Ella, the
2002 National Specialty Best in Puppy Sweepstakes Winner;
Dinah, the 2008 National Specialty Winners Bitch and Award of
Merit Winner; Rowan, the 2008 National Specialty Reserve
Winners Dog; Tyson, 2008 National Specialty Award of Merit
Winner, a Top Twenty Specialty Invitee (2007, 2008 & 2009), an
All Breed Best in Show Winner and the #4 Rigeback in 2007,
2008 and #5 in 2009; and Zeus, the 2003 National Specialty
Breed Finalist in AKC Lure-coursing. Read more about our
National Specialty achievements HERE.
As we know, beauty isn't everything. Of equal importance, if not
greater, is researching whether both potential parents are
matched in temperament and health. We are members of the
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States (RRCUS)
which has a Code of Ethics for minimum health testing prior to
breeding. We not only adhere to the Code of Ethics on testing
for both hip and elbow dysplasia, but also perform the
additional health testing: Degenerative Myelopathy, eyes (for
cataracts), cardiac, and thyroid. Click HERE to learn more
about health issues in the breed. You should feel comfortable
asking any Breeder of your potential pup about what health
testing was conducted and what other health issues are in
their bloodlines for which there is no health test. You will find
that for each of our dogs that are used for breeding purposes,
the health testing is not only listed on the dog's homepage, but
also a link is provided to an independent organization,
Orthopaedic Foundation Association (OFA), that verifies the
health testing performed on that particular dog.
Feel free to contact us for further information. Below are useful
links from RRCUS www.rrcus.org: -- this site is a great
resource -- providing background information on Ridgebacks.
- History of the Breed.
- What's a Ridgeback Like?
- What do you need to know before you buy a Ridgeback
- Is the Ridgeback right for you?
- Rescue a Ridgeback
| Please do not copy pictures from our website without our express consent. The photos and content contained on this site are copyright protected. Any reproduction or duplication is strictly prohibited. |
| Contact Us: Mike & Martha 860-887-9635 paradigmrr@sbcglobal.net |
| News Corner (updated 08/06/10 ~ Tyson, Lennox & Hallie) |
Our names are Mike & Martha. We live in Connecticut
with our three Rhodesian Ridgebacks: Ella, Dinah
and Eva. We do not have a "kennel" of dogs -- our
dogs live in the house with us and are, first and
foremost, well-loved (i.e. spoiled) members of our
family. Pictured to the right is Ella, the matron of the
house, and her two daughters, Eva and Dinah,
enjoying the afternoon sun in our yard.
We obtained our first ridgeback, Maverick, in 1994
and have been hooked ever since. In 1996, we
obtained, Roxie, Paradigm's foundation bitch.
Martha, Mav, Ella and Roxie, are pictured below.
Below that, Mike and Roxie are pictured.
with our three Rhodesian Ridgebacks: Ella, Dinah
and Eva. We do not have a "kennel" of dogs -- our
dogs live in the house with us and are, first and
foremost, well-loved (i.e. spoiled) members of our
family. Pictured to the right is Ella, the matron of the
house, and her two daughters, Eva and Dinah,
enjoying the afternoon sun in our yard.
We obtained our first ridgeback, Maverick, in 1994
and have been hooked ever since. In 1996, we
obtained, Roxie, Paradigm's foundation bitch.
Martha, Mav, Ella and Roxie, are pictured below.
Below that, Mike and Roxie are pictured.
| Rowan - Gaiting to his Group One & his babies are making an impressive debut! (Feb. 11, 2010) |
Our Breeding Philosophy
| Noah, from our 2005 litter, doing a little therapy! (June 2010) |
| Best in Specialty Show Tyson Wins!! ((RRRRCOM; July 2010) |
| Hallie (aka Maggie) pics! |
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| Gus wins a Group 3 & Best of Breed. This is the 2nd time out for this young special! |
| Our 2nd Grand Champion ~ Lennox! (July 2010) |
