My schoolmate from elementary school, Martina Viktorinová, imported the first Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch, Merigal’s Elanda, from Switzerland to the Czech Republic in 1997. Martina and I kept in touch, and I was charmed by Elanda’s conformation and her character. She was great. Because of that, when she had her first litter I wanted her puppy. My household thus welcomed our first Ridgeback, Affirmed Ropotamo. Zef was an amazing dog and I started to think about getting a friend for him. A fantastic bitch, Dahomé Ropotamo, joined our pack in 1991. Dahomé was a daughter of Merigal’s Elanda and a German dog imported from the United States, Rivendell’s Reinhold the Red. Zef and Dendy were half siblings and because of that, when Dendy grew up I found a groom for her in Germany, a very nice dog from Berlin, Macaranga Hurricane.  They produced a first (A) litter of my Kennel, Karanga, consisting of 11 pups. The litter was very balanced and most pups were exported to Germany. The Karanga Kennel did not have an international registration. I have therefore applied to FCI for an internationally registered kennel name, and the name Al Kham-Sa was registered in 1994.

In Arabic, Al Kham-Sa (read “alchamsa”) means “The Five”, i.e. Mohammed’s mares that ran from Mecca and reached Medina when the Prophet fled from his pursuers. The legend says that Mohammed fled with a herd of 100 horses and stopped by a watering place. When the horses went to drink a signal to leave was given.  Only 5 mares did not quench their thirst and continued their journey. These were Kehilan, Seglawi, Abeyan, Hamdani and Hadban. These 5 mares became the founders of the Arabian Thoroughbred, the rest of Arabian horses are “Kadish” - only pure bred. I have chosen this name for my Kennel as Rhodesian Ridgebacks are aristocrats among other dog breeds and, in many aspects, their characteristics remind those of Al Kham-Sa mares.

I have bred 10 litters of Rhodesian Ridgebacks so far. I am an owner of one of the oldest Rhodesian Ridgeback kennels in the Czech Republic and because of that I know most of the breeding population and all blood lines.

My breeding objective is to produce healthy puppies without any genetic burden, i.e. hip dysplasia (HD), elbow dysplasia (ED), shoulder osteochondrosis (OCD) or heart defects, allergies, epilepsy, endocrinologic conditions, etc. My brood bitches and my stud dog, multiCH, ICH LiHuntra Amabhele, imported from South Africa are completely healthy like their ancestors.

During their first weeks, pups are kept in our living room, and they are moved to a breeding room later.  I have enough land where my dogs can exercise as necessary.

Pups from my Kennel are healthy, have a balanced character, come from bloodlines with no genetic burden and I do care about their further development. Because of that I require personal contact with anyone interested in our pups.

Al Kham-Sa Kennel                                                                   Jarmila Puklová