The dogs’ owners and trainers explained to a group of school children the breeds’ initial purpose before becoming companions to American families.
Shhhh. No barking in the library.
That rule didn’t apply Thursday morning at the Morrisville Public Library as 13 canines took center stage in front of about 90 students from Holy Trinity’s summer camp.
From two Rottweilers to an English bulldog to a Rhodesian ridgeback, the dogs sat one-by-one patiently wearing a flag of the country from which their breed comes. The dogs’ owners and trainers explained to the school children the breeds’ initial purpose before becoming companions to American families.
A beautiful Rhodesian ridgeback named Kicho — which means “something to fear” in Swahilii — stood tall next to his owner, Carol Wagner. The breed comes from Zimbabwe and were initially used to hunt lions, Wagner said. The breed is still used in Africa to protect ranchers’ herds and natives’ lands.
Rhodesian ridgebacks can run 30 mph next to a Jeep and not get tired, Wagner said. They can run 500 meters in 30 seconds, she said. And because they originally were bred to hunt lions, their chests have a thick, fatty, fleshy exterior to protect their vital organs when in the hunt, Wagner said.
“Some refer to them as the Navy Seals of dog breeds,” she said. “Because they have sight, scent, endurance, courage and tolerate different degrees of weather.”
Rhodesian ridgebacks are a mixture of blood hounds, mastiffs, Dalmatians and Great Danes, Wagner said. And although the breed can be ferocious in the hunt, they are good with children, she said.
The children’s faces were in awe as Wagner described the “Lion Dog” as the breed is also referred to.
“Wow,” some of the kids whispered.
They also fell in love with Ozzie, a West Highland white terrier that is 8 years old and has several titles such as breed champion, and has competed and won awards for obedience, agility and tracking.
The breed, which comes from Scotland, was initially used for hunting and tunneling to get small rodents, Ozzie’s owner Roz Rosenblatt said. Their white thick coat repels water and dirt.
“You’d think because his hair is white it would get dirty fast, but no,” Rosenblatt said. “If a rodent bites (a West Highland white terrier) in a tunnel, the rodent gets the hair not the skin.”
Rosenblatt had Ozzie do a few warm up exercises that help get his attention on her and at the same time stretch his small body.
Ozzie demonstrated what the dog could do by having him follow the commands “down and sit.”
The kids giggled and laughed when Ozzie diligently did his work-out.
And then there was 6-year-old Trooper, an English bulldog that wouldn’t hurt a fly because he’s friendly and all he wants is to be petted.
But his breed didn’t always have it nice and easy. The breed was used for bull baiting, a British entertainment, until 1835 when it was outlawed, said Jennifer Cole, Trooper’s owner. People stop breeding them and they almost became extinct.
“They used to be vicious dogs,” Cole said of the wrinkly face, barrel chest, and short leg dog. “Now they are pets. Now the breed is calm and friendly. They love people. They are companion dogs.”
The canines, which are therapy and literary dogs, and their owners are members of the Lower Bucks Dog Training Club. Other featured breeds were from countries such as Italy, Germany, Belgium, America and Canada.
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