Zola the Rhodesian Ridgeback Girl
Hello - I’m Zola!
I’m a Rhodesian Ridgeback Girl who has recently swapped mediterranean life of blue skies and sunny beaches on the French Riviera for village country life, ancient forests and wide open skies in Norfolk, England.
Welcome to my Website!
This is a Hello & Welcome page. Click here to visit my Blog for the latest or have a look at my Recent & Past Tales on the right hand side →
There are some great dog blogs & websites from around the world sharing stories about how us dogs live & learn, our favourite places and the super adventures we enjoy with our humans.
So, I thought I’d like to join in!
You may recognise me as the ‘African lion dog’, but I’ve never seen a real lion (I’ve got a lion stuffie toy!) and I’m a long way from South Africa. In fact, us expat Rhodesian Ridgebacks have become quite the World Travellers and International Jet-Setters!
Humans are amazed at the ridge on my back. The ridge is formed by the hair along my spine growing in the opposite direction to the rest of my coat. Just less than one third of the way down on either side of the ridge is a whorl of hair known as a ’crown’.
Human-puppies think it’s a magic ridge with a halo…now thats cool!
I’m a very outgoing Rhodesian Ridgeback Girl!
I’m known to be:
An intrepid Explorer…
A fearless Squirrel-Searcher extraordinaire…
Full of tricks…
A Prankster…
A Joker…
A Fashionista Model…(Poser!)
An occasional Show-Girl…
An occasional Show-Off…
Devoted to yummy treats…
A Thinker…
An Observer…
And a Lady…
As a budding doggie-reporter with a ‘Time Out’ Blog for Dogs on the French Riviera, my human and I love exploring dog-friendly walks, places and activities.
So, now that we have moved to England, we are off to discover and write about some wonderful country walks, historic places, special doggie days-out and my new English adventures…
Thank you for visiting.
I hope you enjoy having a look around my website!
She’s adorable! Such a beautiful colour and a really good natured dog. Very regal!
i love it x
Finally it’s up and running!! It’s brilliant and the photos are stunning – excellent job!! xx
The best looking dog ever to visit Villa ‘Oa ‘Oa !
Bex just told me you had the website up and running – how exciting. Zola must have spent hours and hours putting it together!
Hi Lindsey! Thanks for your message – Yes I’m learning all the time and thoroughly enjoying it!
Ton site est très professionnel Vikky, bravo …
et Zola est magnifique …
Hello Zola!
thank you for leaving a comment on our blog! You are looking gorgeous as ever! Sorry we haven’t been keeping up with everything
your pals,
Digby and Delta
Enjoying your blog – nice work. Just started one myself so was pleased to see more out there. My keyboard skills aren’t quite up to yours yet. Really loving the photos; they are wonderful.
Flo (the ridgeback)
Great blog Vikki! Lovley dog!
I came across the site looking for doggy daycare / dog walkers / dog looker-afterers in PACA – do you know of anyone by any chance? Help appreciated!Many thanks Murray
I can certainly help you there. I will write you an email direct. Thank you for your comment.
Glad to meet you, Zola! We happened to notice you were friends with one of OUR blog friends, Remi, at Company of Lions! You are lovely and we’re happy to make your acquaintance!
Hi Zola – great blog!
We’re in Switzerland with our Rhodesian Ridgeback ‘Stuiver’, she was born in Holland and has travelled with us through France to our current home, she’ll be 10 years old next month.
Our daughter is wondering how you translate the name Rhodeisan Ridgeback as she wants to be able to tell her French speaking friends what type of dog she has, have you a solution for this?
Even in a French accent Rhodesian Ridgeback or even Chien de Rhodesie sounds a bit odd to the French humans. Sometimes Vikki just says that I am ‘un chien du sud de l’Afrique’
or ‘ c’est un chien du sud de l’Afrique (très connu là bas). Ce qui caractiérise la race est la crête dorsale formée par le poil qui pousse dans le sens oppossé au rest du pelage’ – if children ask my human about me, she says I am un peu come Scoobie Doo avec un dos magique..! She tends to leave out the idea that I am’ un chien du lion / Chien Lion’ since she thinks that children will think I am a scary lion…yikes!
Hi Zola!
Thanks for coming and visiting our blog, we love meeting new dogs and being able to follow their blogs
Yours looks really great!
We were so jealous when we read that you can go nearly everywhere with your human except Big Supermarkets and DIY places – Our human would love to live in a place like that!!! She is all about socializing and training us. Even though we aren’t allowed in shops dog are allowed in the main city streets, so we do get to go to all those places
Look forward to following your blog!
Licks and lots of slobber,
Lexi and Jasper the Danes
P.S. Your Ridge is very cool!!
Hi there Vicki, Zola and Toffee
GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
…and thank you for coming to pay us a visit too
Firstly, you have a wonderful blog! Such lovely photos, interesting topics and beautifully written posts. Thanks you for coming to introduce yourself – I am going to enjoy following your adventures.
I had a Rhodesian Ridgeback as a child – on a rural farm in SA. They are fairly common here in SA…beautiful, statuesque dogs and great helps on farms.
…now I’m off to read some of your posts. Beautiful photographs too
Sending lotsaluv
MAXMOM IN SA
Zola is beautiful! Nice Blog! no my human is NOT petite! haha anything but look at the size of that a$$ on her–hehehe She is 5 foot 6 and a hefty 175 pound! about the same weight as me. Cheers Guinness
Hello Zola!!! You’re soooooooooooooo beautiful!!! And you are born in Italy!!! Where??? And we live soooo close!!! We have to meet soon!!! We love love love France!! Mom and dad bring us every year in Corse and sometimes in Nice and Menton!!!! Where do you live?? Your photos are amazing and you and mommy are both soooooooooooooo beautiful and sweet!!! Just read your post where you were with your Golden friend Toffee!!! What a fun and what a great place where make zooming and getting delicious treats!! And a pool too!!! WOWOWOOOOO!! Did you swimming??? Keep in touch!!! HAve a great weekend!!! Sweet golden licks and hugs!!! MWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Hi Vikki and sweet Zola!
My name is Elizabeth and Paula sent me to your blog as I will soon become a first time Ridgeback owner! First, I must say, what an awesome blog Zola has going on here! I love reading about her outings and her life on the French Riviera! A dogs life really couldn’t get much better than this. I will be moving with my family to Bordighera Italy in April of 2012 and very soon after getting my RR (hopefully from Paula because after being in contact with so many other breeders, Paula hits my heart). I would love to catch up with you and Zola once we arrive. Please keep up the blog, it’s not only fun to read but also good learning! You have my email so please feel free to email me so we can keep in contact.
Take care,
Bonjour Zola! you ARE big. you’re just like my friends Mana and Tora and my ex-boyfriends Jack and Monty! we have a lot of ridgys here and they are some of my best friends because they play just as madly as i do [or used to].
the French Riviera looks very exciting! you’re the 1st French Riviera dog i’ve met! i am very jealous that you’re allowed into all those places like post offices and banks. we’re not allowed anywhere in Sydney. My Typist sometimes gets huffy about that. it’s OK, i tell her, i’m a dog. just take me to the park and beach.
oh well. ce la vie.
that’s all the French i know. so see you round
xox Georgia
OH! How nice of you to drop by my place! (And for Rottrover to link me….). You’ve got a great blog there Zola. I’ll be sure to keep up with you and your adventures.
AroooooOOOOOO! Stuart
I saw woo on Sam and Monty’s blog -
Welkhome!
I pawed your blog to Nala – she’s Remi’s older ‘sis’ –
Happy HOWLiday!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
Thanks for the kind comments on my recent post Vikki and Zola. Your world is certainly going to be a lovely one to watch…dreaming about the South of France….doesn’t everyone do that! Zola, you are gorgeous and I’m sure you get mucho attention…some of the pictures indicate that already as we browse your blog. ALWAYS HAPPY to find a new follower and doubly since you follow Guinness and Maggi from NS…..I’m checking out Invictus as well…..I certainly hope you are having a grand holiday season….looking forward to more of you!!!Sophie….Ron…Jim!!
Luv the name it’s awesome don’t you think it also means a lump of earth in italian
You should check out this new web-based animal reality show called Animal Movers. It is about a pet transportation company that moves animals all around the world. They move many different types of animals. The first episode was about moving Rhodesian Ridgebacks to Hawaii. It was very interesting and family friendly. You can find it at http://www.animalmovers.tv
HI Zola, Thanks for stopping by our blog to visit. We want to wish you good luck at Mango Minster. Last year our daddy Fudge won readers choice for Bad Sports. This year Baily is with the adventurers and Noah is one of the Cutest. It’s lots of fun.
Morgan, Tsar and the Porties
muy buen ejemplar, yo tengo dos, macho y hembra,,,,,,,,,es mi raza preferida desde hace 22 años…….un saludo
Hi Zola,
greatings from Italy!
Mi name is Emmah and I’m a sixteen months old RR
I think your blog is very cool and I won’t miss it
Cheers
Hi Zola, thanks for stopping by our blog. We don’t know any REAL Ridgebacks….just Roxy, our Rescuepup who’s a Bull Terrier/Ridgeback. That’s why she’s so spotty. We don’t know where she got her basset legs, though.
Sounds like you live in a fantastic place. We’re in the middle of Australia and aren’t really allowed to go most places where there are humans. But we have fun anyway.
We’ll be looking for you in the future.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
very nice blogg and a beautiful ridgeback lady you are zola! take care
I had so much fun looking at your website, my name is Zola too! Unfortunately, I live in Israel where everyone thinks my mommy named me cheap (cheap=zol in Hebrew). Even though I am a mix of many types of dogs I somehow look a lot like you! Also, I like pig ears too but I live in an apartment so my human doesn’t like when I try to bury them at home.
We loved the last photo of you and Zola! Amazing!
Thank you! We enjoyed looking at your super website and services..congratulations..you must have a wonderful job. Here’s our most recent blog post that might amuse you..
http://bigdogzola.com/2012/07/06/wash-groom-sparkly-clean/
We love aromatherapy shampoo and essential oils – we like the sound of aromadog products ..All the best..aroofs from across the ocean xx
Hi Vikki and Zola! Great website! And amazing pics!
XXX Celeste
She is so beautiful. Thank you for running across my blog so I could find you and Zola. Looking at all the pictures of her makes me miss my Riley. I will live vicariously through you until I can bring home another Ridgeback.
These are amazing photos and Zola is absolutely beautiful. You can see her intelligence in her eyes. Makes me want one.
Wow – thank you Bella…we are very flattered with your comment especially as you are a wondeful photographer. Thank you for your page ‘whats in my bag’ – my human has a Canon EOS40D and she has been saving up for a Canon 7D – and some of the lenses recommended by yourself. We look forward to following your blog now that we have found you (through Tala the Nubian hound). xx
Que je suis contente de t’avoir retrouvé! ton chien est magnifique et j’espère que mes petites chiennes pourront faire sa connaissance un jour! Tu peux les voir ici, mais aussi dans d’autres pages bien sûr! au plaisir de te revoir mais de toute façon, je m’inscris!!
http://kinekelly.over-blog.com/article-port-cros-109069480.html
What a beautiful blog! Unfortunately, my family just lost our beloved Ridgeback and we are really suffering for it. May you and Zola have many happy years together. All the best to you.
Hey there Vikki and Zola! What a fantastic “Dog Blog” and breath-taking photos you have of Zola… amazing!!
I’m the administrator for a Rhodesian Ridgeback Fanpage on Facebook… I’d love for you to check it out, I’ve also shared your blog with our fanpage too! You can check it out here: http:..www.facebook.com/iloverhodesianridgebacks
Have a great day and give Zola a scratch for us!
Lovely photos – nice to meet you – woofs from Shaka in McLaren Vale, South Australia xx
Wow…Zola…what can i say?i fell in love at first sight….your face looking at me from the back of your car was just too beautiful for words…
I also enjoyed very much meeting your mum and dad and your grandparents…all exceptional people.
I hope very much that very soon our paths shall cross again…
In the meantime tell your mum that we loved Olivo…thank you v much for recommending it..
Please get in touch next time you are in London..
Love and light
The Orsini’s
Antonella Leonardo & Mattia xxx
Would you mind letting us know where Zola came from? Breeder?
Hi,
Just became a follower. Your pictures are beautiful, I viewed them three times. Love the shot of Zola in the air side-swiping the grounded dog. The look on that dogs face is priceless.
With Warm Aloha,
Pam
Hello Pam – thank you for you lovely message. We look forward to visiting your Blog about Pet Sitting in Hawaii…my human thinks that must be one of the best jobs in the world xx
Hello – Thank you for your enquiry – try http://www.imkahena.com – it is Paula at Imkahena that you should contact…Good luck – say that Zola helped you find her!
hello– absolutely love your stunning photos — did you take them? If so, congrats. I also adore the tree-climbing shots and I’m so envious that you had a good camera to hand.
We live in the south of France, it looks as if you’ve moved to UK?
Thanks Sarah & Jungle. Yes we love taking photos…Thank you for your comments. Enjoy South of France – don’t forget to wear your scalibor collar when it gets warmer. Nice to see your website xx
Hi, These are absolutely superb shots. So full of life, expressions and an intrinsic positivity to be alive. Your passion is clearly revealed.
Shakti
Thank you for your kind message Shakti.
Hi Zola and family,how are you all doing?hope all is well in your world.
Thinking of you and sending love to you and all your family.
Antonella Leo and Mattia xxx
Hello Zola the Ridgeback from……. Zola the Ridgeback! A friend sent me a link to your site when she saw that your name was Zola! I live in New Hampshire, USA on a beautiful river with my “sister” Ridgeback Sabrina, aka ‘Brina. Too bad I hate to swim! I was named after Zola Budd, the great (and controversial) olympic runner – we both run barefoot! Mom says that I am a princess, and I believe it! I just turned 11 and I have finally matured (Mom says “NOT”). I still chase squirrels (and bears and moose), although I’m just a little bit slower than I used to be.
I love your website and I wish you lots of fun and many more great adventures!
Zola from “across the pond”
P.S. Your Mom takes great pictures!
Hello Zola in New Hampshire
Thank you for your super message, it made us smile. Nice to know there is another stylish squirrel chasing Ridgeback Princess out there sharing the same beautiful name…and we must share the same RR-Princess international motto: ‘keep your human busy on her toes’…hee hee. Thanks for visiting my blog. I am very flattered to receive a message from a wiser, experienced 11 yr old Ridgeback lady..(I’ve just turned 4!) Aroooofs from England.