Mr. Wookins

[Muppetsweet]

otherwise it is always ridgebacks do not like water

[mondblume77]

Ingenious !!! Mine is afraid of water ...

[MonsterOfIgnorance]

lol,my RR loves the water too!!

[artpenrose60]

Angie and I Arthur Have ridge less ridgeback we need to get hold of some friends for Amber with ridges or without our email art.penrose@hotmail.co.uk please genuine ridgeback people chat only, no idiots

[somuchbeautyindirt3]

I think I have a dud, Whyatt won't get in deeper than his "knees".

[Backpackfanatic]

Wiley is my RR's name too!!! but mine hates water.

[MsOlmec]

SO QUERIA VER QUEM E QUE ENTRA NUMA CASA COM UM RIDGEBACK LOL LOL SÃO GUARDAS MUITO POSSANTES E FIEIS

[worktosser]

Awesome name for a dog.

[MrCaboje]

muito bom !

[lollylolly1980]

Lol! Mine is scared of water also!

[Jessle1000]

What a stunning dog... he's so handsome.

[IcedCherriez]

My RR is terrified of water! This is so odd to watch!

[AngryKhan]

Ive never seen a dog so enthusiastic about fetching.

[jasonladeroutejason]

this is fucking wicked!

[resi1210]

He's probably so into swimming and fetching because he's not a purebred RR. He's definitely got some lab in him. The tail gives it away.

[jamesjr934]

Why are you two calling it by two different names? Beautiful pup, btw...

[thefirstistheworst]

awesome dog is awesome

[sjacquelin5610]

Im impressed. My RR would not go into water or fetch. Still they are the perfect dogs.

[genaroandkatie]

lol, i know, mine loves cuddling! and fetching! but is terrified of water.

[wnesbitt1]

He looks like he could swim the channel!

[lock425891]

I love this vid, it made me buy a RR as well. Here he is learning to fetch drinks. :)

youtube.com/watch?v=rQoZ6i3zoG­8

[grantchuges]

wow ur RR is amassing i have a 8mnth boy who loves the water and fetching,very fine specimen of a RR.

[grantchuges]

wow ur RR is amassing i have a 8mnth boy who loves the water and fetching,very fine specimen of a RR.

[tucsonpersonified]

Mine is the same way with fetch. She drives me crazy!! High energy dog and quite the socialite.

[msbatontwirler123]

that is the funniest thing i saw a dog do:)!!

[dreamera1]

lol, i laughed when you were like "NICE JOBBB MISTUH WOOKIEEENS!"

[yesnomaybe7]

thats he's spot

[Russ4Puss89]

rr cross but nice

[Jemsters1]

@Russ4Puss89 Looks purebred to me. Many purebred RRs are born ridgless and are sold as pets.

[tegswa]

@Jemsters1 The dog has an otter tail, very indicative of a lab trait and 100% not a Ridgeback tail.

[lock425891]

driving to get me a mr wookins right now :)

[Olbty]

Magnifique chien :)

[Vexxen21]

Awesome vid! And a great way to excersize a Ridgie!

[jjmag68]

My Rhodesian is scared of water.I'm a Mr. Wookins fan.I don't know how many times i've seen this video.JJ.

[robitsme]

My ridgeback won't retreive anything. If I throw a stick or a ball, she gives me a look like.. 'fetch it yourself'

[G0ldva]

@robitsme LOOL

[Jemsters1]

@robitsme Mine will...up to a point. I'll 3 or 4throw times and run after it and retrieve... and then I'll throw it a 5th time..and he watches it sail away. At that point I'm like, "Okay, game over." and we'll move onto something else.

[rundumel80]

@Jemsters1 same here! :-)

[anseio]

@robitsme Got to show her "what's in it for her" if she fetches for you. 5 minutes a day for a few days - start with touching fetch item to nose, saying "fetch" and rewarding for it. When the dog gets that "touching" is rewarded, start witholdhing the reward until dog bites the item (an emphatic "touch"). When dog solidly understands that grabbing toy is rewarded when "fetch" is said, then it will understand that getting it when thrown will alos be rewarded.

[M1NIONM4N]

@robitsme xD i have the exact same with mine but he still is cute

[gabilanT]

wooooooooooooooooooooww

[StrangerThanSum]

Great that you support ridgeless ridgebacks!!!!!!! :D Great video!

[coracka]

@StrangerThanSum why ridgeless?

[cbswdd]

Awww! 

[NewMillionaire]

My RR Hapi watched this and now thinks Wiley Wookins is the love of her life! She loves the water also. Don't folks know the dock jump champ is a Ridgeback??!!

[hildapotamuss]

A Ridgeback.... IN WATER?!?!?!?! unbelievable :P

[NZvalentine]

my ridgeback HATES water, most hounds do...

this one time i threw a stick over the otherside of a small river, and the river was coated with algae, and she thought it was grass. so she got soaked and sulked for the rest of the day

[somuchbeautyindirt3]

Awww Mr. Wookins you're a BAMF! I can't wait for my fiance and I to get our RR puppy in Dec! Oh and as much as I had made fun of you saying "make him sit daddy." I know that is EXACTLY how I am going to sound when we get our puppy. I feel like I am having a baby LOL

[somuchbeautyindirt3]

Awww Mr. Wookins you're a BAMF! I can't wait for my fiance and I to get our RR puppy in Dec!

[racenemo]

Looks like he is a turbo powered swimmer

[newbuddy321]

wow that was a huge leap off of the dock

[Captain88T]

how do you get your dog to like the water like this? I have a female brindle RR mix and she doesn't like the water

[rkonares]

Great dog. I wish mine would do that. Like some of the other people that have commented, my dog never fetches. I live near a beach and he will walk in the water but thats all. Nice job training!!

[69querfahrer]

powerdog.

[SmithMaryEllen]

He would make a great Dock Diving Dog!

[fatony26]

mine despises the water!! I wish he liked it more.

[landis69]

Rhodesians aren't usually supposed to like water but this one does and mine does to. Mine loves jumping in my pool.

[LinkinParkFan2222222]

that is a perfect example of how ridgeback must look like: tall, strong, visible muscles, and must have at least 40kg, AT LEAST, nice video

[landis69]

@LinkinParkFan2222222 Ridgebacks actually come in two sizes. the 75-80 pound range and the 110-120 pound range. They were bread that way, the lighter ones for speed and the heavier ones for power.

[landis69]

@landis69 the problem is, you never know which size they will be as puppy's. you can't tell by thier paw size like most dogs.

[frenchfrie277]

I have a Ridgeless Rhodesian Ridgeback too!! I love him! =)

[GreatBritishBeast]

Shark .. chomp!

[pisca531]

Brings back such sweet memories of my precious Emma

[respectpoop]

My rhodesian won't get very far into the water, but your's is an excellent swimmer. He covered that distance pretty fast!

[ckirkpatrick13]

This is great to see! I am waiting for my baby Rhodesian, Nala, to come home! I have heard they are not big on water. This is great to see!!!

[cheryl4967]

what a great dog ... i especially like how you taught him to shake away from you :O)

[0102josh]

Does he do good in the house? Or is he an outside dog? I'm thinking about getting one and thats a question I have. I'm willing to give it plenty of exrcise. I'm in college right now but there's lots of dog parks around here. My family also has about forty acres with a lake on it that I would be able to take it to any time. Do you think that's enough room for it? Thanks.

[alexrex20]

@0102josh no, you need 4000 acres to successfully keep a Ridgeback

[0102josh]

@alexrex20 Thanks haha. I'm sure there are some poeple on youtube who would be serious when they said that. And, well, maybe you are. Who knows. I was just asking for these people's personal experience with thiers.

[alexrex20]

@0102josh i'm sure a ridgeback would do great with you. you sound very willing to provide it with the exercise and activity that they desire and require.

[0102josh]

@alexrex20 Yeah I am.  Thanks man. I think it will make a great running partner.

[uncmed493]

@0102josh They are great dogs! I got a puppy over 2 months ago (she's 21 weeks now). She's delightful and extremely smart. She knows how to sit, stay, paw, down and I'm trying to teach her "place" (sort of like time-out). i take her to the doggy park just about everyday for about 15 mins. my one advice is to make sure you do not overexercise your puppy cause they are prone to hip dysplasia. enjoy your african hound!

[precool]

They are really happy campers. Once they get a hip on you, you know that you're a friend for life.

[PrintMeOut]

It's so sad. I found my Ridgeback at the Humane Society and he was so abused, he's so shy and afraid of things. You throw a ball, he runs the other way haha. But I still love him, great dog (:

[Ridgeback]

There are shy and fear aggressive lines. Abuse gets blamed for a lot of bad temperamental genetics.

[landis69]

mine does the same thing, it's amazing how far and high they can jump.

[sportsportsport]

WOW epic. I want one of these dogs!.

[Charrliez]

@sportsportsport Rohdesian Ridgebacks are the best!

[kimblers]

Great looking dog

[hjypty]

Too beautiful!!!

he's such an athlete!!!!!!

[xdulceguerax]

I have 2 rhodesians, a 3y/o male and 1 y/o female. At first the boy didnt like water but he learned to love it and the female has always loved it.

[cksilverado1]

Are they normally water dogs?

[Saveens]

i have a ridgeless RR and they are simply amazing so loving.

[Chillphilll]

ridgebacks are the high end of the best.! *g*

[RidgebackLea]

Good boy! :D

Great video! Our Ridgeback "Lea" says hello to "Mr. Wookins"! :)

[Stresemika]

nice dog, but PLEASE! Give him a real name... ;)

[speghetto]

not sure if my ridgeless ridgeback, Sully, would take to water that well, but he sure does like to take up the entire couch and snooze. lol

[billme8]

He can really jump too! I bet he could compete with those retrievers in the distance contests.

[tschenso1000]

yeah , my one hates cold water or even water, but hey, he likes snow, sometimes

[wixnox1]

My ridgeback love to sleep in my bed, and its not many ridgebacks that loves water. :D

[planetcucumber]

mine is a crazy girl, when it rains really heavy she loves sprinting along flooded footpaths, ill try and get a vid and post it

[swinnythekid]

mine Woody just loves sleeping on my sofa !!!!

[KOJINTEKI12]

i like the thumb nail picture of this movie!

[gggrimmm]

We have 4. They don't like water or fetching at all.

[Instinctive82]

my RR wont put hsis paws near any water at all. he doesnt have a ridge either

[punkchica321]

How do you know he's a RR then?

[amamede43]

RR are strong and good swimmers.

[DannyCazza]

orriginaly bread to hunt lions in south africa, they are the most universal dog in the world:O

[imacdona99]

I have a Ridgeback who absolutely LOVES water. She is an excellent strong swimmer like this one too. Hard to stop her getting in on a warm day. They actually have "webbed" feet unlike many dog breeds - so they are naturally good swimmers.

[Bonsai006]

They have 'webbed' feet because they were designed to walk through the desert sands in Africa.

[matt5hansen]

A swimming ridge!  He looks happy and healthy. Nice work!

[matt5hansen]

Wow! A swimming Ridgie :). He looks happy and healthy too.

[RiskyStickers]

My 2 RR lay around on the couch and watch TV all day.

[alexviking72]

like owner, like dog...

[vishnuonfire007]

i should say u have a fantastic beast.... congrats....

[AwesomePawesome101]

Aw Mr. Wookins is adorable. My RR wouldn't do that even if his life depended on it. He would do it if my life depended on it though because he is so protective of me. And btw, what is a "Ridgeless Ridgeback"?

[serenagel]

My bitch is ridgeless,there were two in her litter born without, she is a super dog going on for 12 years old, I feed her on raw meat alone BARF diet, she's in great health.

[jasc197096]

my dog wouldint come back if he did that hed probely be half way to canada and were in the uk lol :)

[109bv]

ive got 2 brother ridgeys and one loves to swim the other just waits by the side to try an steel the stick.

[Bonsai006]

Sorry, but still MOST RR's will like water if you live on the beach or something.

[Amobeatles]

he is a great dog!

[detvarpokkers]

I´ve never seen a RR with an urge to fetch much less to swim. I think it´s great, but really strange. It´s not what you would call "normal" for a RR. My RR wont even take a leak when it rains. And if i throw a ball he chases, but does NOT FETCH under any circumstances. And i´ve worked hard on it. He just does not want to. :D

[unsavourycharacter]

Shows ridgeless ones are better.

[Bonsai006]

RR's love the water if you introduce them to it at an early age.

[detvarpokkers]

I would prefer if you used the term "some" ridgebacks loves water. None of the RR´s i know loves water. It can be tolerated end endured, but not loved. This dog is the exception, not the rule.

[hotmale7253]

I have one rr that loves nothing more than to swim and fetch and another rr that wont have anything to do with either.

so i think its just hit or miss to be honest.

[stoneyang88]

good dog~!!! i like~~

[KOJINTEKI12]

cute dog! i wanna touch him.

[popcap200]

you must have put peanut butter in there lol

[cbswdd]

now there is a good idea!

[billme8]

Great dog!

[kylerenke]

Hi cbswdd, great video! My wife and I just got a RR a few months ago, and he's a great addition to our family. I have one question for you though: Was your RR a natural fetcher, or did you have to train him? I'd like to eventually train my boy to fetch, but I know Ridgebacks typically are not natural retrievers. Any suggestions on getting him excited to retrieve?

[cbswdd]

Mr Wookins took to the water and retrieving naturally. All I can suggest is that RR's feed off of positive reinforcement. They love encouragement and affection when they do a good job. Let us know how it goes!

[imacdona99]

My rigdeback can't be convinced to fetch either - she looks at you like you are strange if you want her to fetch a stick etc. Loves swimming though!

[marussska]

nice RR :-) i have RR too, but she doesnt like swimming as ur Mr. Wookins

[xxXSydoXxx]

i dont have a ridgeback but thts almost wat my dog looks like, but a little thinker

[cw9r]

If I did that to my ridgeback it stay in the water because he dosnt like giving it back!!!!

[barnard5]

Wonderful dog, well done on the training and retrieving,my 14 month old RR wont go in the water but what an adorable breed!

[palestra95]

it forgives.huahuahua search > > > " palestra95 "

[palestra95]

Taste very of Rhodésians! They are very funny! Later it looks at the Nile that I trained! One I hug and congratulations!

[rentisamazing118844]

i have a ridgeback but he hates the water

[ScottInVa1760]

LOL! The float is just an afterthought to Wiley. I bet he just likes being in the water!

[ScottInVa1760]

Ridgebacks are a gorgeous breed!! Thank for posting the vid!

[3941870]

my dog dog dosent mind the water but me tryin to get her to swim wit me is a battle she is very skittish around my pool and lake.

[GetMeThere1]

enthusiastic jump into the water, and nice retrieve!

[XCrunner93tck]

i have a ridge back and i love them

[rhode1970]

Whether the dog has a ridge or not...they all have the 'ridgeback' personality which is wonderful ;)

[rhode1970]

Ridgebakx: thanks for the info. I was told that along time ago but it makes sense.

we call our ridgeless the "Rhodesian Smoothback" they are very rare...you might get one or two in a litter...hahaha

[cbswdd]

Thank you all for your comments. I am happy that so many people support the ridgeless ridgeback. I read that breeders may start using ridgeless dogs in mating.  (You guys should google it) Genetically it would be a wise idea. As for me, I love the breed, but I could care less if my baby has a ridge or not. He is the best damn dog I have ever had! When I bought him for $100 from a foster/rescue home I didn't even know what he was!

[ridgebackx]

Rhode1970, The Ridge was NOT a fault bred into the dog. At the time european's in Africa bred there domestic dogs with the wild african hunting dogs (which had ridges) The Africans believed that the dogs with the best ridges were the better hunters. As for ridgeless ridgebacks I do think its wrong that breeders cull them insted I think they should be spayed or neuterd to stop them breeding and producing more ridgeless ridgebacks

[cbswdd]

I was reading something on the internet not too long ago about the genetics of breeding ridgeless dogs with ridged dogs. It suggested that it would actually help the breed thrive and that a ridged dog and a ridgeless would most likely produce ridged pups. That was a while ago, I didn't book mark it. Maybe google it see what you find?

[sabraschwartz]

Glad to see the practice of destroying ridgeless pups in on the way out. We like to call our a "slickback." He is almost 5 with no health issues of any kind. Excellent dog and great with kids and small dogs. He loves our 5 month old Jack Russell and is very careful with the little guy.

[cbswdd]

Slickback. That is great. Mr Wookins loves small dogs too, he has many small friends and is so good with them. His girlfriend is a min-pin, she keeps him in line and he loves it.

[panthercitymom]

Good boy!!! Mine is also terrified of water! I really wish we could do something like this with her!

Someone mentioned health problems. The only one I would really be aware of is the dermoid sinus, which can grow along the ridge (even in a ridgeless). Ours had one and she had to go through surgery to remove it. She's fine now.

[cbswdd]

Are you able to bathe her? Did she have a bad experience with water?

[panthercitymom]

She loves her baths once we get started. Getting her in the water is most of the battle. Once she's there she acts like she enjoys it.  No bad experiences with water. Don't know what the deal is. Just goofy, I guess!

[rhode1970]

I was reading your previous comments and there are no health issues if the dog is ridgeless. ACTUALLY a ridgeless is a PERFECT dog because the ridge is a fault that was bred into the dog. I also have a ridgelss. check out my videos at rhode1970. Beautiful dogs...never have anything else.

[crash3462]

lol this always make me laugh because our ridgeback elvie is petrified of water!, she fell into a swimming pool in the middle of december on her second day at home and since then, she won't take a step in even a puddle!

[cbswdd]

Aww that poor baby. They are sooo sensitive. It took me almost 2 years to be able to trim Mr Wookins toe nails. When we got him as a pup he was bleeding, the lady who was fostering him cut the quick on one of his precious little toes. 3 grown men couldn't hold that dog down. It took a lot of time and patience and mind control for me to be able to trim his nails. He will actually come to me and put his paw in my hand now. He loves it when i coo about his handsome toes.

[doctorflak]

He is a beautiful RR.

Also mine is ridgeless but it does not like to swim. ;-)

[jab045]

have you had any health problems since he is ridgeless or does that not matter?

[cbswdd]

He is healthy as a horse. He gets the occasional ear infection from swimming. We try to keep his ears clean especially in the summer. We keep him on a corn free diet of good kibbles and carrots for snacks. He is almost 4 years old now and happy and healthy. I have never heard that the lack of ridge was an indication of health problems? Have you?

[jab045]

no i havent, i was just wonderin b/c i plan on getting a RR in a couple of years and i was just wondering if any health probs came w/o a ridge. my pug loves carrots too!lol

[Janeway1269]

If anything, I would think no ridge would help avoid dermoid sinus problems. I would love to know the breeder if that's okay.

[cbswdd]

I actually got him from a "foster" home. My guess is that his litter was left somewhere (instead of culled).

[jab045]

very B E Autiful RR! and he is ridgeless??

[cbswdd]

thank you, yes he is ridgeless

[lblackstone1]

Beautiful dog! My RR is only 7 months old and he's still a little unsure of the water... he'll go in a swim for a sec but doesn't like to go too far from the shore. Where was this vid taken?

[cbswdd]

Thank you.  This video was taken in Wasilla, AK.

[lblackstone1]

Wow, small world... My sister lives in Kenai