UTAH: THE MOTHER _______________________________________________________________

As anyone who knows her will say, Utah is in every respect the perfect dog. Patient and obedient, affectionate and gentle, cautious and protective: she has in all her 4 years 8 months of age been the greatest friend and companion a dog owner could ever wish for.

As a family member

Utah shares in her own character the peace, kindness and warmth she finds in her home. She is keen for attention and closeness from both family and visitors alike, though is quick to accept there are times when it is just not possible for that attention to be given. She likes to join me on the sofa when I am watching a film, but will never hop up there without first being asked to do so, even when I am absent from the house. And on the rare occasion she has an upset stomach, she will put herself through great personal discomfort rather than foul in the house. I never thought a dog could respect one’s living space as much as a human, but Utah does just that.

With myself, Utah’s owner, being a schoolteacher, it should be said just how good with children she is: especially since she has become so much a part of our boarding school that she is present in all outdoor activities, and many camping trips into the countryside, and even such days out or trips away with disabled children from the nearby orphanage. She loves the energy and enthusiasm shown by kids of all ages and will play for as long as they will have her do so. Exceedingly gentle when gentleness is needed, she has entertained infants as young as 1½ years of age with playful nips, licks and bounces without ever causing a breath of concern from the parents – it is a delight to watch and makes me quite confident she will be the perfect mother herself.

Obedience

Utah never received formal training, though few believe this when I tell them. She sits and waits obediently whenever her lead is laid to the ground – which I do every time I visit a shop in Pavlovsk. When left so, she will ignore any other dogs or other distractions and stay sitting at the exact same point I left her until I return – she is the only dog I know who never needs to be tied to a post.

Likewise, whenever her instincts set her off doing something she shouldn’t, like chasing another dog or curiously investigating a smell from a park litter bin, just one harsh word from her owner, and she will instantly stop and return apologetically. She has never once run off and not returned.

As a hunter

We’ve looked all over Pavlovsk park for lions but still yet to find any. Utah satisfies herself with chasing squirrels, and though coming scarily close once or twice, has never put one in danger, their always finding a tree to escape up. Nonetheless, Utah exhibits all the qualities that make Ridgebacks such famous hunters: a great tracking nose, intelligence, lightning speed, balance and power – qualities she demonstrates most of all when she is out with her friend Taya, the Argentinian Dog (themselves hunters of Puma): on the occasion that they meet a flirtatious male dog looking for some fun, they will playfully hunt him as their ancestors would big cats, one lunging for the rear of the animal, then instantly leaping out of harm’s way when the hunted turns to bear its teeth, just as the other repeats this skirmishing attack from the other side… and so it continues. It is quite clear that both dogs possess the physical attributes, prowess and inborn intelligence to bring down large prey with minimal risk of harm to themselves.

As a friend to other dogs

Ridgebacks are not known for their friendship with other dogs, but as a female from a loving home, Utah is barely a problem at all in this respect, regardless of whether the other dog be a bitch or a male. She chases any dog who runs from her, lightly nipping them to show she has caught them, but never instigates a full attack unless the other dog has done so first (and she does remember these aggressors too!). She shared a home with a sausage dog in her first year of life and immediately took to it as a member of the family, and has since formed many other good friendships – especially with her best friend, an Argentinian Dog, and numerous local Labradors and Retrievers with whom she plays.

As a guardian

“Utah, is that you??!!” Is the exclamation of surprise people make who have before only seen her gentle side, only to suddenly witness her taking on the role of guardian. Should any danger be posed by a potential intruder or aggressor, Utah’s reaction is one of controlled ferocity – only instigating an attack if the situation demands it but letting the threatening party fully understand that two options only are open to them: walk away or show kindness to herself and her owner. It is astonishing that she knows instinctively which action is called for.

Utah’s pedigree (click here for certificate)

From the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Tina Trading in Moscow, Utah is granddaughter to the highly sought-after American sire, Boston and her lineage is of the highest order. But in finding a home with an English owner in Pavlovsk who speaks little Russian, her high pedigree and immaculate physical condition (classed as Excellent in summer 2009) have not been exhibited as widely as the rest of her family. She seems quite content in being the jewel of Pavlovsk Park, garnering compliments and praise from all she passes here!