RRAMA - About the Breed
Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback the right breed for you...I’ve been owned by as many as four Ridgebacks at one time, I know friends that have six or more, all living happily as house dogs. Does that mean it’s an “easy” breed?, heavens no!, it just means that some of us are good at laying down firm rules and being consistent.
Ridgebacks are beautiful dogs, elegant, short-haired, known by many for their ability to spend hours and hours sleeping contentedly on the couch. This same elegant dog can leap up from a dead sleep and chase the cat across the street, or decide it’s time to eat and go rummaging through your kitchen or go outside and dig a 2’ deep hole in 30 minutes.
To give you a better idea of what might make a Ridgeback a good choice for your family, or a definite “no”, I’ll break the breeds traits down into some easy to follow categories.
| Grooming |
Very easy keeper, some shedding, but minimal. A short weekly brushing session will keep them in good shape, the hardest part of Ridgeback grooming is keeping their toenails short.
| Feeding |
Ridgebacks are generally good eaters, not finicky. They do tend to eat too quickly and owners have come up with a variety of methods to slow them down. Unfortunately Ridgebacks enjoy eating so much that many learn to feed themselves. Ridgeback kitchens often include childproof cabinet locks on all the lower doors, a bread box on the counter and no food left out within easy reach. Our dogs are known for their “counter surfing” abilities. Many will take pots from the sink and clean them for you if you let them sit too long. My first Ridgeback Kimba, a dog with an impressive string of obedience titles, learned how to open the refrigerator at age 9, for the remaining years of her life we had to use Velcro straps to keep her from opening it.
| Barking |
Ridgebacks normally only bark when there is a reason. Occasionally an apartment dweller will have trouble when a Ridgeback is left alone for too many hours at a time and is not getting enough exercise during the rest of the day.
| Housebreaking |
Known to be an easy dog to housebreak, most Ridgebacks want to keep their homes clean.
| Watch dog capabilities |
One of the original purposes of the breed, Ridgebacks can be protective of their home and their family. Due to this tendency, they should receive early obedience training and lots of socialization. Too often Ridgebacks prefer to make their own decisions, and that is when trouble occurs.
| Companionship |
Ridgebacks love their people. They are loyal, one family, one person dogs. They are not happy as yard dogs, they do not want to sleep alone in another room. They are wonderful companions and are perfectly happy to go everywhere you go, that is their goal in life. An informal survey shows that 75% of all Ridgebacks sleep in bed with their owners.
| Training |
An intelligent breed, Ridgebacks can learn new things quickly, but that doesn’t mean they will feel inclined to perform. Ridgebacks can be stubborn and independent. Any training should be done with an instructor that understands a working dog/hound temperament. All training should be consistent and all training must be fair. Never, never give any type of correction to a Ridgeback that doesn’t understand why they were “wrong”. Training with food rewards and clicker training are very effective with our breed, but still, at some point they must understand that what you are asking is not negotiable. A willful, out of control Ridgeback can be a dangerous dog. They are not Labrador Retrievers with short hair, nor are they heavy Greyhounds, they are a hound breed with a protective instinct and a tendency to have a will of their own. Positive does not mean permissive.
That said, the Ridgeback’s intelligence does make it easy to train new things, a positive, fair, and consistent owner can achieve many things with this breed.
| Prey Drive |
Classified in the United States as a Sight Hound, the Ridgeback is eligible to compete in Lure Coursing Trials. There are numerous Ridgebacks with Best in Field awards and the breed is definitely a hunting dog. Ridgebacks are known to chase, and often kill, small animals, even neighborhood cats. Ridgebacks should be kept on a leash unless they are in an enclosed area safe from traffic or other hazards. Ridgebacks that are chasing any type of prey are not likely to come back until they are done, meaning when they have caught their prey or it has managed to escape.
| Children |
Ridgebacks as a breed tend to do well with children. One exception seems to be when a somewhat spoiled Ridgeback is asked to accept a new baby. Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue sees a number of these situations every year, and the dogs end up having to find new homes. Young toddlers can also be overwhelmed by a large clumsy Ridgeback puppy, males are often 70 lbs or more by 6 months of age, and are not always as careful as they should be around small toddlers.
| Exercise |
Ridgebacks are known for their couch sleeping abilities, they like to be comfortable and they like to snooze. They are still a large, active dog, and need strenuous exercise on a weekly basis. Ridgebacks that are not getting enough exercise will let you know by digging very large holes in your yard, or by chewing - shoes, chairs, couches. You get the idea.
Exercise for a Ridgeback should include running, a daily walk is not enough. They need to stretch their legs and RUN. If your yard is large it may be enough, remember though, most Ridgebacks do not retrieve tennis balls or Frisbees. Some will do it once or twice, a rare Ridgeback will do it many times. Most Ridgebacks run out, sniff the ball and turn back towards you with a puzzled look on their face. So retrieving as a form of exercise doesn’t normally work.
While running for a Ridgeback is wonderful, young dogs under 18 months of age should not be taken jogging. Free running where they can choose their own pace is what their young bones and joints need, constant pounding can cause problems later in life.
My four are taken 3 to 4 times a week to a safe wilderness area near my home where they run, trot and chase each other for a minimum of 45 minutes and an average distance of 3 miles. Along with these outings, they also spend hours every day out in the yard and go to obedience or agility training sessions two to three times a week.
Mental exercise is also be effective. Working with your dog on obedience skills, or teaching him new tricks will also help to wear him down. Agility or obedience classes, doggie daycare’s or a safe dog park are all ways to keep your active Ridgeback from becoming too bored.
One last note, the couch potato stage doesn’t begin until at least 18 months, sometimes 3 years of age.
So, who should think about getting one of these elegant hounds?
| A perfect home for a Rhodesian Ridgeback would be one: |
- where the owners were active - hikers, joggers or mountain bikers.
- where obedience was introduced early and followed consistently.
- with a good sense of humor, quite often you can only laugh at your own stupidity when your dog gets into something you shouldn’t have left out.
- that understands that Ridgebacks are not Goldens or Labs and are not wondering how to make you happy
- that wants a wonderful companion and partner to share as much of your time as possible
| The wrong home for a Rhodesian Ridgeback would be one: |
- where the owners are sedentary
- where obedience is lax and inconsistent
- where cleanliness and organization is very important
- where the owners expect a dog to instantly obey
- where the dog will spend most of its time alone
A Rhodesian Ridgeback in the right home is a wonderful dog, I will never willingly be without at least one in my life. A Rhodesian Ridgeback in the wrong home can range from annoying and destructive to snappy and dangerous. Make an informed and honest decision and both you and your future pet will benefit.
Anne Jones 2004
Alchemy RR’s
reprint at will, please give credit to Author