... MOKA'S DIARY ...

-> Part 1
-> Part 2
-> Moka's owner's contemplations on Moka and the breed

My owner calls me Moka, but if you want to make life more difficult, call me Naitingeila Moka Farastero Sinbest!

Part One

My ancestry is truly unique. My ancestors come from South Africa, where they were often called "Lion Dogs" because they tracked big game there during hunting, including lions. They usually hunted in groups of 2 or 3, and kept their prey at bay until the hunter arrived.

Later I will tell you more about the history of my breed...

Now about myself - I was born in Ventspils, Latvia. My dad's name is Pleasantview Bestik, and my Mom is Sindi. I was born in winter, on the 18th of December, 2004.

When I first opened my eyes (at around 10-14 days of age), I saw a whole gang of brothers and sisters and thought to myself - so, now I have to fight for my place under the sun. Of course, I managed quite well because I grew bigger by the hour.

Days went by, I slept, ate and grew. About 13-17 days after birth I was able to not only see and hear, but also perceive and differentiate between the various objects in the world around me. On day 18-21 I could already stand, walk, even run, and I already knew precisely what I wanted, and made every effort to get it. In other words, I started gaining experience.

From day 21-35 I figured out what I can chew on and tear apart. I started exploring my Mom Sindi's large territory. I made myself acquainted with all the things in the surroundings, played with my brothers and sisters, gained more and more experience by the day and learned, learned, learned.... When I was about 8-12 weeks old, one of the most important times in my life began - it was time to say goodbye to my Mommy Sindi, and my new owner Ieva began to take care of me.

How I met Ieva....

At this age (approximately 45 days) we all look very much the same, and we're all pushy, curious and sociable. We had seriously started explorations of our Moms' (Sindi and Marina) spacious territory. I tried to study and taste everything. Of course, in order to find my way back to my cosy warm bed and the large food bowl, I needed to "mark" the territory. So we spent time sleeping, exploring, play-fighting and eating.

One day a couple of strangers appeared in our home. We all wanted to run up to them, sniff, bite, cuddle up, bark and jump on them. In other words, we showed off as hard as we could! One of them was a middle-aged lady, the other one was a young girl by the name of Ieva. Ieva was wonderful, because she immediately sat down next to us on the floor. She smelled so unusually but so nicely and enticingly.... I wanted to play with her, but she was holding my sister. To get her attention, I jumped in her lap, pushed everybody else out and stayed there. I knew I had just won, because she picked me up gently and said: "Hello, Mokka!" That day I gained a wonderful owner and friend.

Otrā daļa

When Ieva chose me, she had no idea that soon I'd become a famous show dog and will be filmed as well.

We arrived home late at night. I was shaking. It was a big trial for us both. Ieva constantly hugged me and watched over me. I was glad that Ieva understood me so well and was with me all the time.

She knew I was missing my home, my Mommy and my siblings terribly.

Ieva would not take me outside just yet, as I was still only a tiny fur ball that needed protection - I still needed my second vaccination. We learned manners at home and did all the important things on newspapers and not on the carpet.

So Ieva continued to take care of me during her school break.

Mom Biruta constantly brought home interesting toys for me and bought me the softest bed ever, and Ieva taught me to sleep there. She would often put my bed next to hers and stroke me until I fell asleep. It felt good!

Days passed, I kept eating, playing, sleeping and growing.

Then there came a time when Ieva tried to be strict and start to train me, but she didn't know that training begins with training the owner. I didn't need any training yet, I needed to develop, grow and become a good dog - develop a personality. And you must never try to suppress the personality in us.

Sometimes I didn't follow the rules and probably needed to be punished, but they pampered me and forgave me. I realized that I could be the leader, and I didn't give up. Some time needs to pass before my personality matures, and then you could begin to "put me back in my place" (if it is even necessary).

If Ieva had asked me, "When do you need to start to be trained?", I would have said - "The training begins for the owners from the moment they bring me home. Up to a certain time our life is all play, exploring, forming opinions. But for the human it's serious work, because every walk is in fact a training session. How long these sessions need to be, depends on the age of the puppy - at 3-4 months it will be 2-3 minutes, later, as we grow, you can make them longer, but not too long because we still have difficulty focusing our attention, and the quality of training is lost then, because for basic training prey drive is used.

Our nervous system stabilizes around nine months of age. Then you can begin to give us more physical and mental exercise. The owner has to understand the dog too, feel the dog because it's not like you can increase the volume of stimulation after a certain date - maybe I'll be able to do many of the things before I turn 9 months old, another puppy will have to be a year old, and yet another puppy at around 8 months of age. It depends on our breed, individual characteristics and also on whether we are trained regularly and in accordance with the laws of nature.

Ieva also showed me the "forbidden" areas in the house. I learned commands - sit, down, shake paws. When we go outside, we talk a lot, because I think she understands that you have to keep contact with the dog all the time, play with it, do something with it. Together with my other "Mom" Biruta we visited all the nearest pet shops, saying hello to all the shop assistants.

I learned to climb into my Mom Biruta's bed. You should have seen her joy!!! OK, she didn't suspect that I wouldn't listen to her, because she always forgives me all my little sins. I just looked her in the eyes and she melted right there before me.

In the morning, I slowly open one eye and look at her from the corner of my eye - and when she speaks, I begin a mad play! I like sleeping in her bed, you can stretch out really good on it and push Biruta out of it and she doesn't even notice.

When we've rough-housed enough, I head for my leader Ieva's room. I hit the door with my paw, and Mom Biruta opens the door for me and lets me in. First I look at the bed to see if she's still asleep. If she's still sleeping, I quietly leave the room and wait a moment, and then enter again. If she's STILL sleeping, I slowly and quietly slip into her bed and curl up by her feet. As soon as I feel her moving, I start another crazy game! I jump to her side and go crazy, I play-bite, slobber and give kisses... I love playing with Ieva.

It would be interesting to know if Ieva already knew which way of playing is the most suited for me and the most correct one? She must know the laws of nature well!

You really can improvise with us. You don't necessarily have to teach us to lie down and make your, and our, life more difficult.
Ieva has already realized that eye contact is very important, for example, our special game that we call "stare-you-down" is above all.... I can't resist the look in her eyes...

Let's not call it "eye contact" only though, because you need good contact overall, as during training the owner and the dog is as one. Eye contact (focus) increases the accuracy of the actions and the dog also indirectly demonstrates interest by means of it.

When we've established this contact, I'm ready to do something and the owner can predict my actions, play at first and then ask me to perform some commands. But it will only happen if I am taught to do things through interest, using natural drives and instincts.

How do you build focus?
One possibility is to show the dog a ball, put it down, and then we look at it. And for at least a second I will look up at the owner. The owner reinforces it (food, praise - "good dog!", motivational toy). For us it's a game, for the owner it's work! You can also set up a training session, for example, only with the aim of developing the scent. The owner then takes the same toy (a ball, or other motivational toy) but we choose a place with taller grass. Later we change locations so we don't get used to one and the same place and so I can develop my abilities all around. You can hold me, throw the ball, wait until it falls and then send me to search for it. If I can't find it using my eyes, I will start walking and sniffing. Of course, I will do it because I want to do it – you can begin to train me this way.

When I was about 2-3 months old, they both started teaching me and of course I resisted. Chaos set in. I liked to annoy my Mom Biruta, I would grab her clothes or hands. My teeth were itching and I needed to put them to use. She would start chasing me with a folded newspaper in her hand, and that was fun! At other times she would get really angry with me, call Mom Marina and complain about my behaviour. She didn't understand that the family is a pack for the dog, and there is one leader. If the family has no strict division of roles, the dog still feels very well who the leader is for him or her. It can be the person who takes him for walks most often. If the person does not propose himself a leader, the dog will choose one. There are situations when the dogs want to propose themselves leaders. The dog must be shown his/her place in the pack. It's not humiliating to the dog, it's his place in the pack - in the family. This kind of problem can surface with dogs whose animal instincts are well developed. So there!

In this family I wanted to be the leader, until one day my owner, Ieva, decided to go ride her bike and took me along. I ran like crazy because I liked it, and suddenly I noticed a cat and started chasing it. Ieva flew over the handlebars, then tried to call me back but I wasn't interested because I needed to catch that cat. When I came back, Ieva was mad at me and crying, and things had to be straightened out physically - she grabbed me by the scruff, shook me well, pushed me to the ground and held me until I gave in. She used a method from nature, because when wolves fight, they grab one another by the throat and push the weakest one to the ground, and then it's peace and quiet again. After this incident I guessed that she must be the Leader.... which is a shame!!! But you know what? – I still have another chance... and that's with my Mom Biruta.... who I intend to ignore for a while yet! Woof, woof :) :) :)

A dog possessing high intellect and enjoying the thrill of winning

The Rhodesian Ridgeback girl Moka, registered name Naitingeila Moka Farastero Sinbest, was a Birthday present to Ieva from her Father when she turned 17. Before that she had a dog called Tobiass, who grew up with Ieva and her big sisters – Marika and Inga.

A year passed before Moka came into our home.

Before choosing this breed, we researched a lot about it, reading books and studying websites online. We were looking for a dog that would be somewhat similar to Tobiass, both in character and looks.

Many times people see a breed and fall in love with it, or rather with its exterior, without even considering whether it would fit into their lifestyles, capabilities or ability to train and control it. The only thing they're sure of is that they need one like that! However, buying a dog on impulse is never a good idea! Just like with buying anything else, YOU need to educate yourself first: find out what the breed is like in reality, visit many owners of this breed, question them about the possible problems they have encountered. Learn to ask the right questions, not only about the positive aspects of the breed, but also about the negative ones.
Ridgebacks are not Labradors or Golden Retrievers in smooth coats. They are hunting dogs that were bred to track and hold game. Read: they are rather independent – they don't "suck up" to your every word, they can act "deaf" when you call them or are trying to train them using the traditional methods. Many people are just not ready for such stubbornness and attitude.

Every dog owner has to be responsible. A dog is not just something that will decorate your house or garden - it's a live, sensitive being, which you need to treat like your family member. This especially applies to Ridgebacks. They need to feel like part of the pack - part of your family, or else they will start doing things their own way. You need to think of this dog as a new addition to your family, and plan it like it was a new child.

That is exactly what we did. Jokingly Ieva placed a classified ad in an online directory, as we had no idea if this breed could even be found in Latvia, and a week later a lady from Ventspils responded - she was a proud owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback called Sindi. Marina told us that she was planning the first Rhodesian Ridgeback litter in Latvia in winter. Without delay we travelled to Ventspils to meet the breed that we had been dreaming of for so long. I won't deny that when I first saw Sindi, I also fell in love with this breed (until then, my favourites were German Shepherd Dogs). Sindi exuded elegance and grace, and was reserved, peaceful and loving. After our meeting I was absolutely sure I wanted this kind of dog.

When we were about to leave Marina's place to go home, I looked back one last time at Sindi, and I saw a majestic dog who held her head high up and had the gait of a queen - elegant and dignified. Ieva and I looked at each other and no words were needed - we knew there will be a Ridgeback in our home one day soon.

We began waiting, which dragged forever, or so it seemed. Until one night, on the 18th of December, 2004, the phone rang. Marina told us that the first puppy had been born! Our happiness was beyond description as we realized that already in a little more than a month we will have someone to come home to.

A week passed and we travelled to look at the babies, but looking at the tiny, warm, wrinkly balls, we could not recognize "our" dog yet.

After 3-4 weeks Marina called again and offered us the right of first pick. Before going up to her place we bought a beautiful, red collar with little "diamonds" and travelled to Ventspils to choose our new friend.

When we saw the puppies, we of course wanted to take them all home! They were all beautiful, lively and loveable. Ieva sat on the floor by their bed, and a war began - all of them wanted to get into her lap (and at one point it seemed they all managed indeed!), all wanted to sniff her, some tried to take her socks off, someone else just wanted to be petted...

We could not understand which puppy was our destiny, until one of them confidently climbed into Ieva's lap, pushed everybody else out and curled up to sleep.

So when Marina asked "Which one?", I said "I think it's all clear already", because the dog had chosen Ieva and not vice versa. We then found out it was the best puppy in the litter and Marina's favourite.

We couldn't believe that Marina would let us have the best puppy, but she kept her promise and, without a doubt, the puppy had made up her mind too! Ieva picked up the little girl and said - "Hello, Moka!"

A little later Ieva and her Dad brought Moka home.

We had told Marina from the start that we were looking for just a friend for us, not a show dog. But as Moka grew and developed, we realized that it would be a shame not to show her to the big world. We started attending training sessions with the handler Anna, who Moka liked and respected from the very start. Now they are as one at the shows. In the beginning, Moka was taken to shows by her breeder Marina and handler Anna. One win followed another in quick succession!

One day, when Anna and Moka returned from a trip to a show, Anna said - "You know, for the first time today Moka really savoured her win!" I didn't quite understand what she meant until we all travelled to a show in Tallinn. And there I could see Moka's joy when the judge pointed at her as his winner - I myself could witness Moka's run, leaps and kisses for the judge! Yes, she really understood she had just won.

Recently Anna had been ill and I myself had to take Moka to a show, because her owner Ieva was in Cyprus. I was so stressed in the ring that I didn't realize anything until suddenly Moka jumped on me and started kissing me! It turned out Moka had won Best Bitch. I was so happy I almost forgot about the rest of the show. That day Moka was leading me and not vice versa.

At the time of writing Moka already has 16 trophies and about 50 rosettes on her account.

I have noticed that Moka knows when she'll be going to a show, when she'll be meeting Anna, when she has to behave and when she can just be "herself" - happy and free. In other words, she understands when she is expected to work and when she can just relax and act silly.

Moka is like a friendly and mischievous teenager that needs both love and freedom.

Moka's motto could be - "Freedom above all!"

From her very puppyhood we never tried to suppress Moka's personality with any special training in dog classes or anywhere else. We let her develop on her own, slightly shaping her behaviour by means of play.

I believe that an animal, just like a child, should be raised with patience and love, without stressing them unnecessarily, because the responses to stress may vary – immunity weakens, depression sets in, or other symptoms appear. Children and animals alike should be raised without stress. And only when the nervous system has matured sufficiently, can training be started.

If the puppy is still very young, what kind of obedience can you ask of him - it won't be understood anyway! Moka learned everything very quickly, could "shake paws" since she was 3-4 months old. In a couple of months' time she and Ieva could already play more sophisticated games. Also "sit" and "down" Moka learned gradually during play. She and Ieva have their special game called "stare-you-down" - Moka doesn't play it with anyone else - first they both freeze, each in their corner of the room, and then slowly begin to approach each other, and when they've come close enough, they try to beat each other as to who will be the first to kiss the other one. Moka is already better than Ieva at this activity!

Now Moka is learning very quickly because she differentiates between intonations and understands what we want from her.

"Before being trained, a Ridgeback will train the owner. It may sound funny but it's true! That's the way Ridgebacks are!" says Ieva.

Moka most enjoys being at the sea or in the forest with her brother Nardo or her best friend, also a Ridgeback, Garry. Then they get wind in the ears and run around happy and free splashing water all over each other. After such activities, when the muscles are tired after 2 hours of running and she's started sweating, Moka loves to lie down on the cold floor or go into her new house - a fabric collapsible dog crate where she loves to stay. It's almost like a kennel, only right in our living room.

Probably animals, just like people, need their own space where they can just retreat and relax, accumulating energy for a new game.

Moka's character:

Active – adores active lifestyle (like owner, like dog, as they say!) Intelligent, dignified.

Curious and persistent – when she's playing hide and seek with the grandchildren, she won't quit until she's found and kissed everyone. Regularly watches out the window, especially if she hears a car pull into the driveway.

Intelligent – learns fast. Can count - if you show her a number, she will bark as many times as it says.

Elegant and reserved – if the guests don't want to be kissed, she won't bug them.

Vivacious – she is forever a child (which is rather characteristic of this breed), loves to play by herself and also with the grandchildren, as well as with other dogs.

Talented – learns commands quickly, in the obedience classes our instructor Inna says she's very easy and pleasant to work with.

Loving – adores family, is very nice and careful with our 11 year old cat Simba, adores children.

Moka respects the owners, but that didn't come to her until she was out of her puppyhood.

Moka likes it when it's warm and comfy; she is not fond of rain.

She loves to swim, ride in the car and run.

Sociable - loves company but at the same time knows how to be reserved and not disturb anyone.

Moka is a very happy and communicable dog, hyperactive, and the energy levels sometimes don't go down even after a 2 hour play with her friends in the woods.

Any aggression whatsoever is not characteristic of Moka, she is a giant with a big heart for humans, children and cats.

Moka is very attentive and compassionate – when recently my Father died and I came home heartbroken, Moka didn't make a nuisance of herself with a happy greeting dance, but rather offered quiet support. I was alone at home and began to cry. Moka slowly slipped into my bed and put her head on my back. She did not move - didn't kiss or lick me. I know that she sympathized too and understood my grief, she was near and at the same time let me cry without any interference.

Clever – at the obedience class we wanted to see how she would jump obstacles. I was surprised when she just jumped them without a second thought, now we are continuing it.

Moka eats professional dry kibble but she also likes various fruit, vegetables (except cucumbers), likes green salads with yogurt as well as salmon or herring.

Moka really likes our morning jogs (with me on the bicycle) and evening jogs with Ieva - both are hyperactive so they can run 7-8 km!

Already we have many people asking about Moka's puppies. We are now planning her first litter which should be in the spring or summer of 2008. Right now we don't feel ready for this great event yet. However, we already have several prospective owners lined up, but we are looking for more people who would become real friends and great owners to our future babies.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog that loves an active lifestyle and has to have it. I also fully agree with the expression heard from some other dog owners - "A tired dog is a good dog!"

***************

The original standard, which was drafted by F.R. Barnes, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (modern day Zimbabwe), in 1922, was based on that of the Dalmatian and was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback first appeared in South Africa where the early European pioneers crossed sporting breeds with the semi-domesticated, passionate hunting dogs of the "Hottentots", in order to create a guard and hunting dog ideally suited for the local conditions.

The hunting dog of the Hottentots had the hair on his spine turned forward - a ridge. George McCall Theal was the first observer to describe this unusual feature, when he was describing South Africa before 1505. It is not possible to say exactly which European breeds have given background for the Ridgeback. Among breeds that were registered in Africa from 1860 till 1870 were bloodhounds, sighthounds, greyhounds, bulldogs (with longer legs than nowadays), various terriers, mastiffs, pointers (possibly responsible for the liver noses) and in some places also British hunting breeds.

The ridge was inherited from the Hottentot hunting dogs when they were crossed with the European breeds.

These "ridgebacks" were used functionally and served a variety of jobs, including guarding and hunting, especially to surpass other dogs in lion hunting. The Ridgebacks were not supposed to kill lions - no dog would be able to do that. Ridgebacks can track the lion and surround it until the hunter arrives and shoots it.

General description - the Rhodesian Ridgeback should represent a well balanced, strong, muscular, agile and active dog, symmetrical in outline, and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed.

The peculiarity of the breed is the ridge on the back, which is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.