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you can see where they get their name from that pic.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

It's a name that truly describes the breed but I've met some folk who believed it referred to a some sort of spinal protrusion!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> But once they have had the chance to run their hand along it they realise its just hair that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.

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they make good hunting dogs.
(for boar and stuff)

They make great hunting hounds (using both their senses of smell and sight) but their original purpose was to work in pairs to track and bail-up a Lion until the hunter could get off a shot. This is why they are also known as the
African Liondog.

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Sweet!
How do you like him/her?

BLU (his Kennel Association registered name is Boyz Light Up) has been with me for 3 years since leaving his breeder at 8 weeks of age. I choose him from a litter of 5 boys when he was three days old. We have not spent a day apart since April 14, 2005.

I have been lucky to have been owned by several dogs over the years, pure-breds including a Dobermann, a German Shepherd and currently a Border Collie. And then there were a cross bred Dalmatian x Australian Blue Heeler, Whippet x German Shepherd, Collie x German Shepherd and many extended home-stay visitors which have included a Great Dane, a Labrador, a Golden Retriever, an Irish Setter, English Springer Spaniel and a Bull Mastiff!!!

But Blu is my first Ridgie and to be honest he has exceeded all expectations I had about the breed. He is highly intelligent, quick to learn (both good and bad <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> ), sensitive but stubborn, athletic but prepared to lounge around if there is nothing else on offer (not known as 'the lazy persons big dog' without reason) cautious of strangers but most of all loyal to his 'human of choice' to the point where he refuses to leave the place where that person happens to be.

I wish I had not spent over 12 years thinking about getting a Ridgie but if circumstances allow, I hope to have him and his off-spring for the rest of my life!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crossfingers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />