I rescued my ridgeback from the humane society.I knew she was a special breed.I was not familar with the breed at the time. When I was in the Doctor's office I picked up a book and there was my dog on the cover. She is a special dog very smart. I knew she wasn't a mutt.I had had a pure bred rott for 10 yrs.she passed away.I was going to the humane society to get a mutt.And I ended up with a breed after all.She is in some ways more intellient than my rotti was.It's taken her some time to get use to the 2 cats I had.She has to be the center attraction.