Tam Lyn Rhodesian Ridgebacks is owned by Craig and Karla Boreiko and is located outside of Chapel Hill, North Carolina on several acres of wooded land. Craig is a toxicologist and research administrator. Karla works with the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools as a resource teacher specializing in the needs of children on the Autism Spectrum.

We have always had dogs in our lives, first as children and later as a married couple. The breeds we owned were various and including a Belgian Tervuran, an Akita, a Westie, a Papillon and various special mutts. While we loved each of these dogs, the Ridgeback was always a breed that intrigued us. However, we deferred ownership until we felt that our circumstances were appropriate for the care of the breed.

In 2001 we purchased a beautiful female Rhodesian puppy Gennie (Sengei’s Gentle Tempest) and gave her our hearts. She had a beautiful ridge, disposition and structure, but we bought her intending only to be pet owners. As she developed, and with encouragement of local breeders, the show ring tempted us. Novices that we were, we trained her and passed her to a professional handler. She finished her championship in six weeks. One thing led to another, and the prospects of breeding became attractive. Again with the encouragement of the local breeding community, Tam Lyn Rhodesian Ridgebacks came into being.

Our first litter from Gennie was whelped in February of 2004, sired by Ch. Quest’s Down the Stretch (Brody) from Kentucky. The litter consisted of 13 puppies (all with nice ridges), 11 of which had solid show potential. We kept one male, Tam Lyn’s Logan Stone (Logan), who is just now beginning to be shown with consistency. A number of Logan’s littermates may begin showing soon as well.

Tam Lyn Rhodesian Ridgebacks will never be a major breeding kennel – we feel that one or two litters a year is best suited to our other pursuits. As breeders we pay careful attention to the genetics of mating and strive to produce dogs of sound conformation and structure. More importantly, we seek to produce socialized pups bred in a home environment for stable temperaments and intelligence – our puppies (independent of conformation quality for the show ring) are most often destined to become members of families. Thus, we match as best we can the personality of each pup to the home environment to which he or she is placed. Support of our owners as needed is also a priority – our commitment to our dogs continues long after they leave our home.

Those of you who have researched the Rhodesian Ridgeback recognize it is of African origin and that many Ridgeback kennel names either reflect this geographic origin or manage to include the word “ridge”. We have done neither, instead we have thrown a Celtic twist into the mix. Tam Lyn is a permutation of Tam Lin, a mythic hero of Irish legend. Multiple versions of the legend exist, but all center upon Tam Lin being captured and spellbound by the Queen of the Faerie and his pending sacrifice on All Hallow’s Eve. His true love is able to achieve his rescue only by faithfully embracing him while he undergoes a series of transformations into beasts that, in some versions, include a lion and a dog.

One could say that this legend of devotion and transformation captures some of our feelings regarding the essence of this special breed. Or perhaps we were just having a bit of fun.

Interested in a Tam Lyn Ridgeback?

Tam Lyn Ridgeback puppies will be available perhaps once a year.

All of our puppies are sold under a purchase contract designed to safeguard both your interests and those of the pup. “Pet quality” pups exhibit conformational traits that we judge could be problematic in the show ring but which do not otherwise affect the health or future well-being of the puppy. Such pups are to be spayed or neutered at an appropriate age and are issued with a “limited registration” that permits AKC registration and participation in non-conformation AKC events. Dogs with limited AKC registrations cannot be used for AKC registered breeding. “Show quality potential” puppies exhibit characteristics, inasmuch as can be determined by eight weeks of age, that suggest success in the show ring is likely. The contract for such puppies is tailored to the intentions of each new owner, but permits use for breeding purposes only if the dog has attained championship status in the show ring. All puppies, independent of being “pet” or “show” potential, are sold with a “warranty” against health defects such as dermoid sinus and both hip and elbow dysplasia. Finally, should events or circumstances result in your being unable keep your Tam Lyn Ridgeback, the contract stipulates that ownership can be transferred to a suitable new owner or returned to us. Our goal is to ensure that no Tam Lyn Ridgeback remains in a home where it is not wanted or given up to an animal shelter.