The Kanzu x Sadie puppies have turned 3 weeks old.  This week is referred to as the “Awareness or Identification Period”  (see Puppy Development by Pat Hastings and Erin Rouse, chapter by Kathryn Lanam)  For the first time the puppies have the use of all of their senses.  Their eyes are open and hearing is functioning well. They can walk/waddle forward and backward and they are beginning to play with each other and to acknowledge toys in their environment.  The first signs of imitated sexual behavior/play humping have begun. They are also beginning to play fight with their littermates. They growl or whine when hurt or when they don’t like the way their littermate plays with them. Momma Sadie is now correcting and disciplining the puppies by growling and baring her teeth when they get out of order.   Thank you Momma Sadie for helping the puppies’ new human families by socializing your babies.

 
 
For pictures of puppies at three weeks Click Here
 
 
 
 

Click the video below to watch the puppies at 3 weeks demonstrate some of the behaviors described above.

During the neonatal period from 3 days to 16 days the Kanzu x Sadie litter have been engaged in a period of neurological stimulation exercises. This protocol is described in a chapter by Kathryn Lanam in Puppy Development by Hastings and Rouse. Dr Carmen Battaglia www.breedingbetterdogs.com reports that puppies who are exposed to early neurological stimulation have long lasting and important developmental advantages.  This protocol of specific stimulation activities from day 3 to day 16 includes:

1.  Tickling between the toes

2.  Holding perpendicular to the ground

3.  Holding head down

4.  Holding on its back in the palm of the hand

5. Lain on a cold damp towl

The exercises in addition to lots of other human handling are believed to provide stimulation for the neurological system and cardiovascular system.  Puppies exposed to such a program have been shown to be more active, to engage in greater exploration and to be less distracted when engaged in work.

 
 
Below are videos of the Kanzu x Sadie litter with breeder Mary Brinkman engaging the puppies in the stimulation activities.
 

 

 

 

 

The Kanzu x Sadie Puppies (my Miracle Litter) just turned 11 days old.  In this neonatal period from birth to about 14 days the puppies are fairly helpless and completely dependent on their dam.  They cannot regulate their own body temperatures nor any other body function such as elimination.  The majority of their lives are spent eating and sleeping.  Puppies during this phase are extremely fragile and it is during this time that many puppies are lost.  In fact, we lost our precious little Turquoise Boy to aspiration pneumonia on day 8.  However, the other 4 are quite fat and vigorous.  They are wobbling around the whelping box  and beginning to show differentiated vocalizations.  They now grumble not only when hungry but when stepped on or laid on by one of their littermates or if their tummies are upset.  Momma Sadie was very concerned and seemingly worried for the first few days but is now enjoying her babies tremendously and proudly showing them off to her packmates.  But be careful no one can get too close without her watching very carefully.

 
 

For a video of the puppies at 11 days click here

 
 
 
 

 

Every litter is a little miracle. But the Kanzu x Sadie litter seems extra special to all involved.  The Kanzu and Sadie match was arranged between Heritage Ridgebacks and African Treasure RR many months before the mating.  But Sadie keep all of us waiting for a very long time.  After much anticipation,  Kanzu and Sadie were bred in late February, 2015.  As we waited patiently for the litter to be whelped, Kanzu very tragically and unexpectedly died at just 8 years of age on April 16, 2015.  Knowing that a litter of his puppies was on its way was bitter sweet and helped us focus on the future and new life.

 

On April 30, just 2 weeks after Kanzu departed it seemed like a miracle when Sadie whelped 5 beautiful, ridged puppies.  And, it was even more amazing when the litter was made up of 4 boys and 1 girl giving us lots of boys to choose from should we decide to keep another Kanzu son.   While the litter does not have an actual ‘litter name’ or ‘theme’, to us, it will always be the ‘Miracle Litter’.

 

The Kanzu x Sadie Litter has a very special pedigree grounded in conformation and performance. We look forward with great excitement to the development of these blessed puppies.

 
For more information about the Kanzu x Sadie litter contact Heritage Rhodesian Ridgebacks
 
For more information about Sadie click here
 
For more information about Kanzu click here
 
For photos of the puppies click here
 
 

Kaia “BIF GCH Bakari’s Fabled Treasure SC” is a Kanzu x Kayta daughter and Kuyu littermate sister. She rocked the Ridgeback Lure Coursing community this fall when she won the 2014 AKC Lure Coursing Championships(NLCC). Kaia ran her first weekend of AKC lure coursing in August 2014 winning breed and Best In Field Saturday for a 5 pt major and breed on Sunday for an additional 2 points. With these wins, Kaia qualified for the NLCC held in September. The course layout and rolling terrain made it quite challenging. Kaia won breed on Saturday. Momma Kayta and Kaia also won the kennel stake on Saturday, and Kayta won the veteran class on Sunday. Go team Bakari! Indigo won breed on Sunday and Sheba had the combined high score. So Kaia, Indigo, and Sheba ran off for the big NLCC breed win. It was Kaia’s most incredible run yet. All four judges gave her the top score for her run making it a clean sweep and a clear win. We are so proud of Kaia and Kayta. Congrats to our Bakari Family!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Ridgebck Register
Pre Specialty Issue September 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

KitoRidgebacks is proud to announce the arrival of the Kanzu x Smyth litter. Puppies were whelped on August 8, 2014 in Salt Lake City, Utah by Smyth’s owner, Mary Anne Draper . The litter is comprised of 6 ridged puppies with 2 boys and 4 girls.

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kanzu x Kayta daughter Kaia earned an amazing Best In Field (BIF) title in an AKC lure coursing trial in Junction City Oregon on 8-9-14. This was also Kaia’s first major toward her AKC Field Championship. Kaia is now BIF GCH Bakari’s Fabled Treasure Kaia. It is not common for Ridgebacks to win a BIF and Kaia did a fantastic job running first against an Ibizan hound and then in a tie breaking BIF run off with a Saluki. Great Job Kaia. When Kaia’s owners and breeders made the match with Kanzu and Kayta their hope was for their intense lure coursing passion to be passed on and even improved upon in their get. Looks like Julie and Sheri accomplished just what they were hoping for.

 
 
 

The Kanzu x Salome puppies have turned 4 weeks old and are now more lively than ever. This is the middle of the first stage of socialization during which the puppies are becoming more aware of the world around them. Liz is creating an environment and presenting tasks to stimulate the puppies and to give them opportunities to succeed physically, mentally and emotionally. This physical and mental conditioning will go a long way in maximizing the genetic potential of the litter especially when it comes to future performance activities.

 
 
 
 
For videos of the puppies at 4 wks click here
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Les Korcala of DogActionFotos has designed a lovely African themed two-page ad for us for the Stud Dog issue of The Ridgeback. It features Kanzu and his most recent champions. Thank you Les for such a beautiful job.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Kanzu x Salome puppies have turned 3 wks old. This is a really exciting phase in puppy development.  At this stage the puppies now have the use of all of their senses.  Their sight and hearing are now working well. They will be interested in toys and other visually stimulating objects in the whelping box and their environment.  It is also time for puppies to experience different locations sometimes without their littermates.  At this stage the puppies are also imprinting  not only on their mother but also on their littermates and the humans in their lives.  Puppies begin play fighting during this stage and a ‘pecking order’ will begin.  So the whelping box will be quite an active place. On their 3rd week birthday the litter was started on a gruel and they were very interested and excited to have such interesting food. Now, Liz’s nephew Sam has come to visit and help with the puppies. There will be lots of socialization going on and lots of fun to be had by all.  Be careful Sam, the puppies are imprinting on you!

 

For videos of the puppies at 3wks Click Here

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Kanzu x Salome puppies are now 2.5 weeks old. They are moving about more and walking more both forward and backward. Their eyes are open and they are very interested in their littermates and paw and chew on each other and seek out their littermates for play and for snuggles. They are vocalizing actively, frequently and loudly. Their vocalizations are also more specialized indicating different psychological states. They seem to sing together especially while eating. They have little barks and they certainly cry when they are away from their littermates for more than a few minutes. But, they are easily calmed when picked up and snuggled. They move about in their sleep and appear to have a rich dream life. They move to their potty pad at one far end of their whelping box to potty. Liz, (Salome’s human mom) has begun an early neurological stimulation program to optimize the puppies’ neurological systems and make them more resistant to stress and change in their later lives.  Salome now spends a little time each day out of the whelping box watching over her pups from a nearby futon. She often goes out to find the rest of her RR pack and brings them in to see her precious babies. But, don’t let that fool you, she is still very protective and seems to count all the puppies when she returns.

For videos of the puppies at 2.5 wks click here

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Not a lot is known about dreaming in dogs. But experts believe that dogs do dream. Sleep is an important time for data processing, memory storage and neurological growth and organization. Watch this 2 week old Kanzu x Salome puppy as he ‘dreams’ and masters his running and chasing bunnies…..(at least that is what we like to believe he is doing!).

The Kanzu x Salome puppies have had their first week birthday and are now a week and a half old.  They are thriving and doing lots of eating and sleeping and talking and eating and sleeping and pooping and eating.  Liz describes Nat King Cole in this photo as being in a milk-coma.  She says that he is a very efficient boy….he eats and rolls over to go to sleep and then is close by when he awakens and wants to eat again. Soon their eyes will be open and they will begin to explore.  Stay tuned.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ridgebacks of the Highland Rim is proud to announce the arrival of the highly anticipated Kanzu x Salome litter. Puppies were whelped on July 3, 2014 in Nashville TN by Salome’s owner, Liz Mask. The litter is made up of 6 ridged puppies with 2 boys and 4 girls. The puppies in the “Firecracker Litter” have litter names from The Great American Songbook.  Meet Kanzu and Salome’s puppies with their first photos below  Watch here for frequent updates of this beautiful litter as they grow and develop.

 
 

For video of the Kanzu x Salome Litter at 3 days click here