Rhodesian Ridgeback and Panic Attacks!!

Do dogs have panic attacks???

For a big strong looking dog, my Ridgeback is the biggest wuss on the planet. I'm sure he suffers from panic attacks from time to time.

Although he's cured of the blanket panic attack now. When he was a younger puppy (he's still a puppy really, he's 16 months old now), he was terrified if you tried to put a blanket or anything over him, he literally looked like he was having a panic attack. Now we're coming to the end of winter though he has finally discovered the advantage of the blanket, and will actually jump onto our bed in the early hours of the morning and try to get under the quilt.

Popping chewing gum - no big deal really - unless your a Ridgeback. The sound of popping chewing gum is another source of panic attack for young Kaiba, absolutely hates it, he runs for his life and hides behind me or under my legs in panic. Like I'm sure that little piece of chewing gum is going to jump out and get him.

Last week our smoke alarm went off when I burnt some toast, it was the first time he'd heard it. Panic attack again, he didn't know what to do, he was running around the house like he was lost and panicking.

Such a big brave dog he is. Although he is extremely intelligent, loving, beautiful, fun dog, boy is he the biggest wuss on the planet.

I may have to do some research and see if this is a general thing with Ridgebacks or if I just got a wussy one!

Ridgebacks Rule!!!
ShezzP
www.depressiondays.com

Kaiba - My Rhodesian Ridgeback

Shakuru Only The Lonely was born on May 21st 2005. He was the only puppy in his litter - hence the name - and was born via caesarian section and was conceived by artificial insemination. His father who was a champion Ridgeback passed away a few months before Kaibas birth due to a twisted spleen from memory, his sperm had been frozen and we were lucky enough to have the puppy conceived with the last of his sperm in Australia.

Kaiba's mother - BISS Aust Ch Simjhar Jewel O The Nite (Jewel)
Kaiba's father - BIS/BISS Aust GRAND Ch Skiska Solitaire Jest ROM (Axle)

We became the fortunate owners of Kaiba when he was 11 weeks old which is when we chose his current name of Kaiba - yes we got the name from the Yu-Gi-Oh character Seta Kaiba.

We did a lot of research before we decided to purchase a rhodesian ridgeback. We wanted a big dog but one that would not be vicious at all since we have 3 young children. I actually wrongly assumed that a ridgeback was a vicious breed - and based this purely on the look and them being big. However the more research I did the more I realised that they weren't and this was also one of the first things I asked the breeder before we purchased him.

I must say now that we have one, there is not a vicious bone in his body. He is such a loving dog and really a big sook.

We have previously had a cocker spaniel named Toby and a German Shorthaired Pointer X named Jake, who were both lovely dogs. Toby wasn't the smartest dog in the world though which sometimes drove us crazy. So after we lost both Toby and Jake one year apart and decided to get a puppy we were quite fussy on what we wanted. Had to be non vicious as I said, had to be an intelligent breed and although not vicious we wanted a look that would deter any would-be burgler.

I think we made a fantastic choice. Kaiba is by far the most intelligent dog I have ever had. Not vicious at all. As far as detering burglers - I came home one day and he didn't hear me, when he did hear something and didn't realise it was me he went off his head and believe me if you didn't know him and heard him barking the way he was - you wouldn't go near him.

Since this post is turning out to be longer than I planned I will leave it there though, more on his intelligence at a later stage.

Ridgebacks Rule!!
ShezzP
www.depressiondays.com
www.depressiondays.blogspot.com