Robert Russell is the breeder behind Parnassus Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Read about the kennel’s beginnings, the dogs, the puppies, and more!
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Robert Russell: I currently live in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. I acquired my foundation Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch, CH Penelope II, ROM in 1990, and had my first litter in 1995. She was selected by the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States to represent the breed in the 2006 edition of AKC’s The Complete Dog Book, and in 2023, as one of the Distinguished Dams of the Breed.
Robert Russell: My kennel name is Parnassus, named after Mount Parnassus, the home of the muses in Greek mythology. I currently have four active show dogs.
Robert Russell: CH Penelope II, ROM – RRCUS Designated Distinguished Dam and CH Kwetu’s Boomerang, ROM – RRCUS Designated Significant Sire.
Robert Russell: I am a hobby breeder. My dogs share my home and a small indoor/outdoor kennel. All puppies are whelped indoors in a convenient room off the kitchen or living room. They are raised in my home and fenced yard.
Robert Russell: I begin to evaluate puppies at birth and the process continues to 8 or 9 weeks. Starting at about week five, I take stacked shots and observe their movement. I am especially interested in evaluating their skeletal structure for promise in developing properly angulated fronts and rears.
Robert Russell: No and no. Several of the pups I have placed in show homes, however, do compete with winning results.
Robert Russell: Not in terms of the AKC events, but in terms of performing in free-play in open spaces, I can evaluate all aspects of their movement and agility.
Robert Russell: I have been lucky that in my line, the musculature needs little systematic conditioning in order to be and appear fit. A good dose of free-play exercise each day, in a space that is amenable to full-speed chases, is all the typical Ridgeback needs.
Robert Russell: As a breed club, we have taken many health initiatives to address dysplasia, dermoid sinus, DM, Hyper/hypothyroidism, EOAD, and cardiomyopathies of various sorts.
Robert Russell: I am concerned at the moment that the pursuit of various kennels to define their style of Ridgeback is undermining the preservation of classic breed type, as depicted by our Standard.
Robert Russell: Ridgebacks are great family dogs when acquired as a pup by owners who enroll in Obedience training. Families that are active and have fenced space for the dog to exercise are preferred.
Robert Russell: These dogs were bred to neither take down a lion nor chase down rabbits. They were meant to have a fair amount of speed, to have enough bone and brawn to take down a family meal (African deer-sized prey), to have the endurance to trot for hours, and to have the agility and courage to bay big cats. They were formidable in packs.
From our Breed Standard: strong, powerful, muscular, handsome, athletic (of overall appearance); fairly strong (of the neck); very deep and capacious (of the chest); powerful and firm (of the back); strong and muscular (of the loins); slightly longer than tall (of critical proportions); sloping, clean, muscular (of the shoulders); straight, strong and heavy in bone (of the forelegs); clean and well-defined (of muscling in the hindquarters).
REFINED does not appear in our Standard. Excessive length-to-height proportion is incorrect, even if eye-catching on the go-around.
Robert Russell: Carefully study the Standard and pedigrees, and seek out honest, critical feedback about your pairings and their results.
Robert Russell: I always get a kick out of my RRs when they encircle the TV to bay the lion on the screen.
The best way to ensure a long and happy relationship with a purebred dog is to purchase one from a responsible breeder. Not sure where to begin finding a breeder?
Contact the National Parent Club’s Breeder Referral person, which you can find on the AKC Breeder Referral Contacts page.
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Read and learn more about the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed with articles and information in our Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Magazine.
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