Rene,
I have had a house of 4 Ridgebacks for about 10 years, and have had 5 Litters of puppies. I have two grandkids, ages now almost 6 and 4, and they have one of my pups, and everyone has gotten along great since the beginning.
Mind you I NEVER leave a child un attended alone in a room with a dog, it is just common sense, if a child were to stick something in a dogs eye and there is pain, nothing is predictable, i know what I would do to someone that intentionally or maybe even accidentally poked me in the eye, but other wise, the kids climb on the dogs, hug them, play with them, kiss them, hold their ears up pretending that the dogs can fly, etc.,dress them with clothes.
My one female (Dakota), that we showed and bred, she would let strangers stand around her litter box and watch her whelp, and she would wag her tail. My friends daughter was also here and she was about 7-9 and she would let her hold the pups and be relaxed, they are just the best with the kids, but when it comes to strangers coming in the back yard, approach our fence without Mom or Dad there and forget it, you might loose your hand. But then again, when faced with Danger, they are so intelligent.
As bad as they could be with strangers approaching the yard, we had our Carbon Monoxide detector go off one time, my son called me and I yelled open the windows and get all the animals and yourself out of house, I rushed home and all the dogs were in the back yard, Three fire engines at the house and about 2 dozen firemen walking around. They said by the way we had the highest legal reading ever recorded in our town, i will never be with out one of these detectors I can tell you. Then never could determine the cause, we think it was an old stove, we replaced it immediately and never had another occurrence, back to the story,
any way, those dogs who would never let anyone near the back yard, yet here these strange firemen are in their head gear and coats and axes, they walked right in the yard and in the house, and the dogs as if they new they had to be there, just stood there and let them walk on by.
They are just the best breed, I will never own anything but a Ridgeback, they are just great with everyone that has ever come here, they greet everyone hello, and then go lay down.
I know a lot of breeds, after being a dog groomer for over 20 years, I have gotten to know the different quirks with different breeds, and to me Ridgebacks are the greatest. I am down to two dogs now, ages now 10 and 12 years and they are still great and patient with the kids, my grandkids were just here for two days and the dogs slept with the kids and their stuffed animals, no floor for my dogs!!
But I am prejudice.
Not sure if any of this helps or not, everyone has their own reasons for loving their own breeds and dogs, and I could go on for ever, so I will stop now.
Wow, I just realized how much I miss working and talking to other people about my dogs! Sorry if it bores any of you.
Donna
