For Adopt a Pet and the PEDIGREE® brand, October is all about finding homes for dogs in shelters. Adopt this month for a PEDIGREE® Wet Food Pouch and a chance to win a Homecoming-style photo shoot and shelter donation.
What in the world is a Rhodesian Ridgeback? I didn’t know either until I decided to foster this beautiful girl for Fuzzy Pawz Rescue. The breed started as an indigenous South African semi-domestic dog that was bred by Europeans in the early 20th century with various common hunting dogs to develop the modern day Ridgebacks. The ridge down their back came from the African ancestors and is just fascinating.
Marinda has this ridge like punk type hair style with 2 cowlicks near her neck that looks like a fleur-de-lis pattern. The ridge is a strip of fur with the nap going the opposite way. Her fur is velvet soft and just glistens in the sunlight. The brindle probably comes from the Plott hound as well as the longer ears and boxy snout. These are all just educated guesses but I don’t know of any other type of dog with such a clearly defined ridge.
Marinda has many good points as well as "opportunities of improvement". Mainly, she is already housebroken and past a lot of the puppy behaviors. Marinda only plays with the dog toys and does not chew. She doesn’t even chew the toys and bones that are meant for chewing. There have been no issues of getting on the furniture and
Marinda has learned very quickly that she has to sit for affection, treats, and for any other need to be met. She is a step above adequate on leash manners but does pull if something catches her attention. So far, she has been well-mannered in meeting other dogs (even ones that have snapped at her) strangers and children. She is, however, a bit timid of new situations and men scare her a little. It has taken several days for my husband to be able to pet her and if he stands up, she skedaddles. There is not a sign of any aggression and she even has no interest in the small wildlife in the area. Marinda sleeps in the crate at night and does not make a sound. As for the flip side on behavior; Marinda does not know she is a big dog. She plays and runs like a puppy and when she gets excited her play is a bit rough. She likes to jump in the air and sometimes she miscalculates and rams into
me. She calms quickly and just picks up the cue from you as to whether to be playful or calm. Unlike most hounds, Marinda does not seem at all stubborn but she is very sensitive. This is a dog that will not respond to yelling, loud noises or punishment. She responds very well to consistent gentle reminders of correct behavior rather than punitive methods of incorrect. She very much wants to please. I do not know a lot about hounds but Marinda does not seem very hound-like to me. Her bark, which I have only heard a few times, sounds like it is coming from a much smaller dog and is not a bay like other hounds.
She has been excellent off leash hiking in the foothills. She is not single mindedly following her nose like I would expect, but will come when I call her and she always knows where I am. She wiggles and wags after praise which she seems to prefer even to treats. She was nervous when bikes approached but didn’t bark and only moved off the trail.
Marinda is going to make a wonderful pet and is unusual looking too. She is at the age that youth meets adulthood. Another dog in the home that will play with her would be a plus. Marinda means "evening star" in Shona, the language of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). She is truly a diamond in the rough. I have become very fond of her and she is very affectionate. She does not give kisses but gentle nudges and
she loves being stroked and cuddled.
If you would like to meet Marinda, please fill out an application on our website, www.fuzzypawzrescue.com. You can contact her foster Mom, Cheri at 870-7444 or cheriworsley@gmail.com with any questions or to schedule a meeting.
Marinda is up to date on vaccinations, is negative on her heart-worm test and has recently been spayed.
There is a $75 adoption fee.
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We'll also keep you updated on Brodie's adoption status with email updates.
