Nuthouse Romance

Owner : Nuthouse Rhodesian Ridgebacks Breed : Rhodesian Ridgeback
Location : Hemel Hempstead, Herts
14th June 2012 - 12th February 2019
Colour : Red Wheaten
Health Tested ⓘ

Gertrude's life was sadly cut short by bone cancer. She was the cheekiest naughtiest Ridgeback we have owned & squeezed more than a lifetime of (mis)adventures into her life.


Gertrude, or Gertie to her friends is a cheeky ridgeback - possibly the greediest one we've ever owned which is saying something!
She was conceived on Friday 13th April & thwarted our plans for a Silver Wedding Anniversary party by being due the day before the planned event.

STOP PRESS Gertrude was awarded the Reserve Challenge Certificate at Windsor 2018 by Paul Singleton her critique "1st: 890 HICKS Mrs S & Mr J Nuthouse Romance. This was tough class with different types displaying a wide range of virtues and faults. The winner is houndy in outline, well balanced and well bodied. She is feminine in outlook and sound and free on the move. One of those bitches that really need appreciating for her closeness to the Standard, she is just a good bitch all though and I rewarded that on the day with the Res.CC.

Gertrude won the puppy class (6 puppies) & best puppy in breed (7 puppies) at her first show!

Gertrude was rested from the show ring after a great start, qualifying for Crufts 6 times at the 11 Champ shows attended. Her mother came out of semi-retirement & was awarded a CC & a RCC from Veteran & her half sister was awarded a CC & 2 RCC. Gertrude qualified for Crufts 2018 at her second show by winning 3rd place in a limit class of 19 (she was reserve at her first one in an equally large class) & has been highly placed at almost all shows including winning Best of Breed at Driffield Championship Show. She was awarded her stud book number (which qualifies her for Crufts for life) at her 22nd Championship Show appearance & has since won it several times over.

She attended a few open shows as an adult and was best of breed at all but three of them.

Sadly bone cancer cut her successful show career short as it sadly did her life, which she lost 5 months after her first sign of lameness.

A selection of her critiques below:-

"6 months & at her first show. Nice head, neck, shoulder & good return of upper arm allowing for good fill in. Enjoying herself & very exuberant on the move, but showed brief flashes of good movement. Excellent quarters & second thigh with short hocks. BP"

"Attractive bitch with lovely feminine proportions and great expression, very nice in balance fore and aft angulations and moves very well that made her win." Dr Goran Bodegard

"Lively 5-year-old bitch with a delightful temperament which is great to see. Lovely head with good length and depth to muzzle. Beautiful round eyes giving a gentle expression. Strong neck. Nice length to body and good depth to brisket. Good feet. Well balanced angulation. Powerful movement." Michele Ashman

"Stood out in the class for her overall construction and really sound movement. Pleasing head, clean muscular neck, powerful body and excellent muscletone. A very balanced girl. BOB." Colette Perkins

"Correctly proportioned head with good pigmentation & ear set, excellent front & shoulders, lovely depth to chest & brisket, well ribbed back with strong loin, moved out efficiently." John Walton Haddon