Why do I have dogs?

I grew up among hunting dogs, my father spent majority of his life with animals both wild and domestic in gamekeepers‘ lodge and dogs accompanied him throughout all his life. I even do not remember all kind of animals we have ever had in our home. There comes to my mind a hurt owl, abandoned parrot and above all plenty of kinds of hunting dogs. We perceived his love not only for dogs, but even for ”ordinary” sparrows, to whom he filled the bird table during the winter time as a self-understandable mutual co-living of a man with another all living creatures.

We listened to his stories about coming across with a lynx, boar, deer and other animals, that he met on his wandering with a shotgun on his shoulders. The aim of his hunting trips was not at all to kill for pleasure. He has never shot down vagrant dog, he did many attempts to find out an owner, and several times he brought such a tramp at home.

After long years I see our home full of these animals as a cheerful life of different livings together.

Dogs were and still remain the biggest love of all of us, as they are the sole kind of animals that can really create a friendship with a man and love him.

Why Rhodesian ridgeback?

Should I say, I chose this breed for its exclusive character features, individuality and cleverness, I wouldn’t say the truth.

I decided for ridgeback for his beauty, elegance, and beautiful colour, for a strange sign – ridge, after which he got his name, for extraordinary phenomenon. Character features, I read about I considered informative ones only, published by funs of these dogs. I filled my heart with enthusiasm for these dogs and even should I know at that time anything negative about their nature or behaviour I wouldn’t change my decision.

Today I only remember the beginnings of co-living with my wonderful puppies.

I divide my life in two periods ”before – and with them”; the latter is richer by understanding of their individuality, keenness, and their speed, ability of empathy. I’m proud of them that they are aware of their strength and by knowing it they gain self-confidence and dignity that they do not use for just to show.

The visits of our friend dog-funs are without conflicts whether they bring a female or male of ridgeback, huge rotwailer Max, Sana greyhound, Prague……….. , or really big female of leonberger breed, Cindy, under which weight the pavement groans. We are going out together into beautiful Lobkovic meadows, to Labe branches and we follow the dog’s pleasure in a community of animals of their own sort, their movement and freedom. It was a good choice.