About Us

Darcy with his first and beloved Ridgeback, Zulu.

Darcy got his first Rhodesian Ridgeback, Zulu, when he was 10 years old. What prompted him was that the veterinarian thought the family's mixed-breed dog was likely part Rhodesian Ridgeback. So Darcy read books, researched the breed and saved up all that a 10 year-old boy could towards the purchase of Zulu.

Darcy and Cynthia in the Wind Rivers of Wyoming. Pingora Peak is peeking out above our heads.

Prior to getting Zuka, our first Ridgeback together, Darcy and I used to go rock climbing. When we lived in Wyoming, we backpacked in and climbed Pingora Peak in the Cirque of the Towers, Wind River Range. Pingora is a Shoshone word meaning "high, inaccessible" peak. When we breed dogs, it is to improve and preserve the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed based on a written standard. Achieving the perfect Ridgeback is a "high, inaccessible" goal, but one to strive for. We aim to produce healthy dogs that typify the standard and have wonderful temperaments.

We are very active in showing dogs - our own and for others. We also compete in field trials and competitive obedience with our dogs. We are members of RRCUS and the Raleigh Kennel Club and were Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue coordinators for North Carolina for 5 years. Cynthia is on the Health and Genetics Committee of RRCUS is currently attending veterinary school at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. Cynthia has judged puppy and veteran sweepstakes at a dog show. We seek out mentors and serve as mentors for others. We attend educational seminars on the breed, health, genetics, and breeding and always endeavor to be students of the breed and of dogs in general. Our foundation bitch Zuka was #1 Brood Bitch for 2005 (2-way tie) and we were tied for #5 Breeders for 2005.

We recommend if you are interested in purchasing a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that you be patient (expect to be placed on a waiting list, possibly for a year!), carefully evaluate breeders and educate yourself on how to choose a good breeder before you purchase a pet you will have for hopefully at least 10 years. We recommend anyone looking for a puppy ask, at a minimum, the questions below.

Questions to ask to evaluate breeders

Do you show your dogs? Do the dam and sire have their AKC championships?

Both the dam and sire should be good examples of the breed, and dog showing is the best way to judge the quality and breed type of an animal against others. Both dam and sire should be champions, or at least one parent and the majority of the dogs within 3 generations should be champions. Ask to see pedigrees. A breeder should be proud to show you a pedigree on paper or online, and beware of a breeder who is breeding 2 non-champion parents. Also avoid the breeder that does not show their breeding stock or breeds mostly non-champion dogs.

Why did you choose the stud for the dam?

Good breeders carefully study the AKC written standard to try to create dogs that are good representatives of the breed, according to the breed standard. They also study genetics and pedigrees. Good breeding involves objectively assessing strengths and weaknesses of the dam. Stud dogs should be chosen with these factors in mind, and not out of convenience or proximity of location. We have driven from North Carolina to California and New Hampshire and done artificial insemination to do breedings.

What health testing has been performed on both parents?

Pingora's Bazuka Joe

Assessing the health testing of the puppy's parents is probably the easiest way to avoid a "backyard" breeder. Health testing is done on the parents, not on the puppies. The MINIMUM requirements of the RRCUS Code of Ethics are that both dam and sire be OFA-certified free of hip and elbow dysplasia. Since this is the minimum, never accept less and why not expect more? We recommend that you only buy a puppy from a breeder who also does thyroid and eye (CERF) testing on both parents. Both of these test are not "one-time only" and need to be repeated. Please always verify the results of health tests for yourself by searching for any dog's name at the online database www.offa.org. If the parents have tested free of hip and elbow dysplasia, the results will be listed online at www.offa.org. Look for CHIC numbers. These numbers indicate that the breeder is doing the extra health testing recommended by the breed club. For Ridgebacks, this is currently for hip, elbow, thyroid, and CERF (eye) testing. You can search the CHIC database for a kennel name or dog's name online to verify results of health testing at: http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/search.html. Health testing is expensive, but breeders who care about the breed and its future strive to produce healthy dogs. Even if you want "just a pet" and could care less about dog shows, you want your dog to be able to walk around the block.

How do you raise your puppies?

Are the puppies raised in a pen away from human interaction? At Pingora, we go to great lengths to provide puppies with a solid foundation for temperament and health. Our puppies are reared in our home and each puppy receives individual attention daily. We subject our puppies to very mild early neurological stimulation to build a foundation for adults that have solid, stable temperaments. We also subject our puppies to a variety of sights, surfaces, sounds, people, and places before they go to their new homes.

Puppies should have been examined by a veterinarian prior to you picking up your puppy. A good breeder will provide you with proof of the examination and any findings. At Pingora, we provide new owners with an extensive "puppy packet" with a record of vaccination(s) and dewormings, a record of all veterinary exam findings, vaccination recommendations based on the most current research and protocols, a pedigree for the puppy, proof of health testing for the parents, and lots of advice on raising your puppy and caring for your dog. We are also available for assistance for the lifetime of your dog.

In what dog activities do you participate?

Good breeders are passionate (yet try to be objective!) about dogs and the breed, and give back to the breed that brings them so much joy. Good breeders spend a fair amount of time going to dog shows and participating in similar activities. Good breeders are active members of the breed and all-breed clubs, attend educational seminars, and are always learning.