Josh the Jewish Wonderdog

Josh's Personal History Why we call him the Jewish Wonderdog My Page of Rhodesian Ridgeback Info and Links

November 20, 1996 we were called by a local member of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue Organization who told us that there was a family moving back to Israel that had a four and one half year old male Ridgeback (105 lbs. good conformation) that they could not take back with them. After meeting with the owners, we decided to take Josh (his original name!)

Josh has been an adjustment for us. He is extremely protective, which is different than any of the Ridgebacks we have had before. I have to be very careful opening the door. . . Also, still having problems taking him on a walk with anyone but me (Jay) because he is overly animal aggressive and lunges at other dogs, which is a bit of a sleigh ride for the kids!! A bit of puppy psychoanalysis - it seems he does this to be protective rather than purely aggressive. Of course, we have only had him for a few months (update: at one year - no changes in behaviour towards strangers... recently, he has become much more excepting of females and known friends), so expect him to adjust to our expectations as time goes on.

More Josh peculiarities - we let him get on one of the couches and sometimes the beds. He was tied in a washroom at nighttime in his previous life and not allowed on the furniture at all. As a result, he seems to have no sense of body position. He will throw himself on top of his victim without regard to elbows, knees, or any kind of body comfort. Once up, he freaks and does the deer in the headlight routine. Ever try to move a 105 lb. puppy off of your stomach. . . 'nuff said! :-)

1999 - Took Josh in to get a growth removed from his eye, subdermal hip, and footpad.  Doctor found an additional seven growths.  Prognosis, systemic cancer - no use attempting treatment.  We took him home.  Interestingly, over the next few months, instead of counter surfing only for butter, the knucklehead started eating grapes, apples, bananas, any kind of fruit.  Took him in a few months later and absolutely NO regrowth of the tumors... Pretty incredible.

2000 - Josh is losing weight and has occasional "fugues", or states where he seems not to know where he is.  We keep him isolated pretty much from everyone but family members, because he gets pretty agitated afterword.  He snapped at Nicholas recently and is very passive-aggressive, not wanting his ears washed, take medicine, etc.... I have to decide when quality of life, danger to kids, etc, will necessitate putting him down :(

Recently acquired a mutt puppy from next door (long story - Dymphna)...  Josh is totally accepting, which is pretty strange!  He mostly sleeps these days and is having trouble making more than one half miles on his walks.  I guess its about time...

FROM WHENCE COMETH THE NAME??

I'm glad you asked that!! Josh would follow hand signals from me and on very rare occasions, from Valerie. However, he was pig-headed with the kids and would only follow verbal instruction in Hebrew. Therefore we developed a 7-10 word vocabulary that was very impressive to folks who did not know what we were saying. That coupled with Josh's natural protective instincts led to all kinds of misconceptions about him being "attack trained" :-)) Christopher wrote a paper about Josh for english class titled "Josh the Jewish Wonderdog" and the name sorta stuck!! Handsome title for a snoring couch potatoe, dontcha think??

(c) 1997 J. R. Chase
Last revised: January 29, 2003.