Vietnamese Phu Quoc Ridgeback Dogs of Southern California

Q. & A. with Peter

• Why did you start breeding?

  My wife, Jean, is from Kien Giang province, Vietnam, the birthplace of the ancient Phu Quoc breed, and grew up with Phu Quoc dogs. But as the breed gained popularity in Vietnam, many breeders have resorted to cross-breeding and inbreeding for quick profits. To preserve the breed's genetic diversity, we established the first official breeding program outside of Vietnam, importing the finest lines from the country's most reputable breeders to ensure the breed’s long-term survival and integrity.

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• What makes your program special?

  All of our breeding pairs are thoroughly health-tested and have proven themselves through several successful litters. We guarantee the health of every puppy from our program and offer lifetime breeder support to all of our dogs—this is not done on a case-by-case basis but applies to every puppy we produce. Our breeding dogs are top-tier, world-class champions from bloodlines that have been carefully cultivated over decades by Vietnam’s best breeders. Drawing on this expertise, we are continuing to develop lines that have taken over 30 years to perfect. With extensive experience raising, training, and working with hundreds of Phu Quoc Ridgeback dogs in both Vietnam and the U.S., few people understand the breed as deeply as we do. We also collaborate closely with reputable breeders and champion owners in Vietnam to improve the breed, exchange knowledge, and promote ethical breeding practices. We offer lifetime support for every one of our puppies, covering everything from training to health, ensuring support throughout their lives. Our breeding pairs are certified by the Vietnam Kennel Association and have been tested for health and breed authenticity through Embark. In fact, we helped establish the DNA database for Embark, as well as for the NIH’s world canine genome project, led by renowned geneticist Dr. Elaine Ostrander. We also founded the first official kennel club for the breed in the U.S. and now lead the international Phu Quoc Ridgeback Kennel Club, connecting breeders, owners, and breed enthusiasts worldwide. We maintain daily communication with leading breed experts in Vietnam and representatives from the Vietnam Kennel Association. Our program is the only one that provides fully health-guaranteed puppies from Vietnam’s finest lines, along with lifetime support. We firmly believe that ethical breeding must go hand in hand with rescue work. That’s why we established the only 501(c)(3) non-profit rescue dedicated to this breed. Over the years, we’ve taken in many abandoned and surrendered Phu Quoc dogs, as well as Thai and Rhodesian Ridgebacks, further demonstrating our commitment to the breed and animal welfare. We are committed to providing cradle-to-grave care for all our puppies and will always welcome any of our dogs back—at any age—if their families are no longer able to keep them.

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• What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

  Our puppies include fawn, black, and brindle. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

• Where do your breeding dogs live?

  They live in my home and a kennel on my property.