10 Things You Should Know Before Owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian ridgebacks are very muscled and strong dogs. This is a trait that was bred into them specifically for hunting lions. There are obvious advantages to this strength in a working or guard dog, but for a pet, it can be more of a burden than a boon. Thanks to this strength, the Rhodesian ridgeback can often overpower its owner.

If you are looking for a guard dog, working dog, or hunting dog, a Rhodesian ridgeback’s strength can be a good thing to have. It is important that you start training early and keep it consistent, however, to ensure that your pup listens to commands.

For people with a smaller stature, children, and the elderly, the ridgeback can become impossible to walk without proper training. If you do not properly leash train your pup, they can easily end up walking you, rather than the other way around. While this behavior can certainly be trained out, if you do not train them early, it becomes much more difficult.

Of course, this strength also comes with two other drawbacks, food and energy. A ridgeback can consume double the amount of food of a dog of a similar size, but less muscular and active. This also makes them highly energetic, meaning that you must be able to provide a large, open space for them to run and play. If not, expect a lot of torn up couches.

Judging by the name, one would be excused for thinking that the Rhodesian ridgeback originated in Rhodes, a small island located in the Mediterranean, but they actually originated in Africa. If you are familiar with geography and geology at all, then you know that Africa, a vast continent larger than the US, China, and much of Europe combined, is a very different place than Rhodes, a small, rocky island.

Africa is known for its endless plains and grasslands as much as its deserts. These lush savannahs are also the birthplace of modern humans who evolved in Africa, so humans have been hunting in the region for hundreds of thousands of years. This is what the ridgeback was originally bred for, hunting.

Since ridgebacks were bred for hunting in the African savannah, they can run far and long. They are also very fast. These dogs would often be used to not only flush out the game but also to tire it out by running the animal.

What this means for the breed today is that they have a ton of energy, and they want to use it. Ridgebacks love chasing games since these play into their instincts. While this can certainly make playing with them more fun at times, it also means that you must let them burn off the energy. It also means that if your dog gets off the leash and isn’t properly trained, you just lure them back, do not pursue it. If you chase your pup, they can take this as you wanting to play and run away, always staying just out of reach, and unless you are a marathoner, you are going to give out long before your dog does.

As mentioned in the previous section, Rhodesian ridgebacks were bred to hunt in the African savannah. What was not mentioned is that these dogs were often used for hunting. They were not hunting gazelle or zebra, but lions, the King of the Jungle, despite the fact that they primarily live in grasslands, not jungles.

Not only were these dogs supposed to chase lions, but they were also often meant to harass them until human hunters arrived and often attempt to tire them out as well. This means getting up close and personal with a lion, 500 pounds or more of teeth, muscle, and claws.

Since the ridgeback was bred to hunt dangerous prey, it must be able to properly assess and deal with the situation at hand. This means that they must be highly intelligent. Sure, almost any dog can chase dangerous prey if you teach them to, but a dog that rushes in without considering the situation is likely to end up getting itself killed. Ridgebacks, however, can assess the situation and properly occupy the prey until hunters arrive. Keep in mind; they were never sent in alone, always in pairs.

While the days of lion hunting are long gone for the ridgeback, it still retains its intelligence. This can present numerous problems for inexperienced owners. It takes a confident, experienced trainer to control a ridgeback properly. They can also use this intelligence to figure out how to steal food and escape, so extra care must be taken to keep them from getting into trouble.

The Rhodesian ridgeback is named specifically for the ridge that appears on its back. This ridge is simply cosmetic, and a lack of a ridge does not mean that anything is wrong with your pup. Not having a ridge does, however, disqualify a ridgeback from being a show dog through the AKC, American Kennel Society. Some dogs can also have a malformed ridge, rather than a straight ridge. Others may only be lacking the crown at the ends of the ridge.

If you do not plan to train your pup as a show dog, there is nothing wrong with getting a puppy without a ridge. You can even save a significant amount of money since the puppy is not considered ‘show worthy,’ often making them less desirable.

While the ridge never served a true purpose, it is the defining feature of this breed. That is not to say that ridgebacks without a ridge look odd, they simply look like other bay hounds since they lack the ridge.

The Rhodesian ridgeback originated in South Africa, the country, not the general geographic area. They were bred into existence by farmers and hunters in the area. These farmers and hunters bred previous breeds such as Great Danes, mastiffs, and terriers with local wild dogs and mutts. This was to give the new dogs the best chance of surviving the harsh conditions it would be facing. These include desert exposure, heat, and of course, dangerous prey.

Over time the breeders in the area noticed that the dogs with ridges came back from hunts. While they likely did not attribute the ridge to the success of these dogs, it did clearly mean that something in the genetics of this breed is allowing them to survive. That something was their high intelligence and ability to assess the situation and act accordingly. Over time the ridge was bred into the breed, and the breed became largely homogenized. Thankfully, they do not suffer the same levels of inbreeding and overbreeding as other purebred dogs.

So, what is the ridge? It is not an elevation or fat deposits, but simply where the fur grows in reverse. This creates a noticeable change in the appearance of the fur and causes a slight rise. When these dogs get agitated, the ridge can stand up, similar to other dogs’ fur. This is to make them look larger to potential attackers.

The problem with purebreds is that thanks to kennel club rules, papered dogs cannot breed outside of their breed. If they do, the puppies cannot be papered. This means that they are ineligible for kennel club competitions, and the dog is no longer considered a ‘purebred.’

Before getting to why purebreds often have poor health, what is a purebred? How did they come to be? Purebreds originated in Elizabethan England when eugenics was the hot, new science that everyone was talking about. Anyone with any interest in science was experimenting with eugenics in animals at the time. For those who are not familiar, eugenics is the practice of selective breeding to get the best genes. In practice, eugenics has been used since the beginning of human civilization, but as a science, it was new territory.

Eventually, a group of scientists got together, and each proclaimed that they had created a new, better dog. They agreed to form a kennel club in order to promote their dogs and eugenics. In the time since, many breeders and in fact, many of the original breeders that created the first kennel club have expressed deep regret for their genetic creations because of the common health problems that often plague dogs. At a certain point, selective breeding becomes cruel. For example, pit bulls cannot be born naturally, their heads are too big, and chihuahuas have a brain that is too large for their tiny skull, putting pressure on the brain.

So, what causes these problems? Simple, the cause of most genetic health problems and physiological problems in purebreds today is inbreeding. Inbreeding is generally accepted as safe in animals, provided the proper pairs are used, for a few generations. Eventually, however, the lack of genetic diversity causes recessive genes that cause diseases to show and cause poor health in the animal.

Many of the most common health problems in purebreds occur in vanity dogs, or dogs bred specifically for kennel clubs because of their appearance. These dogs are often the result of several generations of inbreeding to bring out the traits that the breeders want. The problem here is that, in addition to diseases, this also causes undesirable traits to become worse. For example, if a dog has nostrils that are too narrow and it is inbred again, the trait is going to be passed on to the puppies and get even worse.

This is where working dogs have the advantage. There are many breeds of working dogs that were bred to perform a specific function and were more often than not, not a homogenous group, but rather a genetically similar group of dogs that share desirable traits. Another common example is the border collies.

Eventually, all breeds suffer from genetic diseases if diversity is not introduced, but thanks to their wild nature and late recognition by the AKC, the Rhodesian ridgeback has a large gene pool to draw from.

While there are some genetic diseases that ridgebacks can get, these are much rarer than others. The most common diseases are hypothyroidism and bone and joint problems brought on by the size.

Ridgebacks can be great family dogs if they are trained properly. Ridgebacks are highly intelligent, making them very willful as well, so consistent training is important. What is even more important for having a ridgeback around your family is socialization. When not properly socialize, ridgebacks can become aggressive towards strangers and short-tempered with family members.

Once your ridgeback gets to be about three years old, they are going to mellow out a lot. Ridgebacks are very active and curious puppies. They want to explore and do what they want, not what they are told. Adults, while still active and in need of regular exercise, are much more even-tempered and easier to control.

The even temperament of the ridgeback makes it a good choice for families with children. Their large size and strength make them good companions for younger children as well.

They are also good in homes with cats, if they have been raised with cats. If you introduce a cat to your ridgeback after the puppy stage, they are going to take much longer to accept the cat and can be aggressive at first. They are unlikely to harm the cat, however, if you make it clear that they are not supposed to. Stray cats and other dogs of the same sex, however, are likely to get a good barking at the very least.

Rhodesian ridgebacks are a very easy dog breed to take care of. Their short fur only requires minimal brushing to remove dead hairs and prevent shedding. This also keeps your pup’s coat smooth and silky, but it is not a true requirement. If you are not bothered by dog fur getting in your home during the summer, you can skip brushing these dogs. Thanks to their large gene pool, ridgebacks vary greatly in the amount that they shed. Some only have a seasonal shed while others shed all year.

You should generally bath your pup no more than twice per month in most cases. Their skin is sensitive and can become dry with repeated washings, so it is best to let their natural oils build-up for a while first.

One of the most important aspects of caring for a ridgeback is keeping it at a healthy weight. You absolutely cannot free feed these dogs. They can, and will, eat until they make themselves sick, then continue eating. This, combined with their size and metabolism, make them susceptible to obesity. If you overfeed your pup and do not let them get enough exercise, obesity can lead to serious bone and joint problems later in life.

Ridgebacks are highly intelligent in order to hunt lions, but they are also much smaller and less armed than lions, so why would such an intelligent dog throw itself at a lion? Simple, they were also bred to be incredibly brave dogs. While this may seem like a good thing, in this case, bravery and recklessness are the same things. They generally make good choices but can be rash.

They tend to run into the road without looking, though if they are used to seeing cars go by, they may figure out to look and wait. This behavior has been observed in dogs and coyotes living in cities with high traffic.

It is important to get a good, tall fence before you get a ridgeback. Burying the fence 6-12 inches into the ground can also help to keep your pup in the yard by discouraging digging. It is important if you do this, however, to make sure your dog never digs completely under the fence. Once they realize that they can dig past the fence, it can no longer contain them.

Conclusion

The Rhodesian ridgeback is a handsome dog with a strong hound lineage. These powerful dogs originated in South Africa as a means of hunting lions. Today they make great pets for those that have the time and patience to care for them properly. It is vital to properly and honestly assess the amount of time that you can commit to your dog each day. If you cannot commit at least one hour per day to play and exercise, it is best to avoid this breed.

Those who lack experience properly training dogs should also avoid this breed. Their high intelligence makes them willful and sensitive. This can lead to ignoring commands from an uncertain owner or shutting down when faced with a drill instructor type owner. For many people, this is how they train their hunting dogs. While the practice of punishment and drilling commands is fading in favor of more modern and preferable training methods, these are still common in older trainers and breeders.

When training your ridgeback, rewarding good behavior is vital, but if you are calm and confident, your ridgeback can learn quickly. Thanks to their sensitivity, ridgebacks are also unlikely to respond to training from someone that they do not trust, so if your plan was to send your pup to puppy school, it is best to skip this step. A good alternative is personal training courses that teach you and your dog together. In these courses, the instructor teaches you how to teach your dog. This is generally better for both you and the dog anyway. By learning how to train your dog yourself, you can ensure continued training to keep them sharp.

At the end of the day, the ridgeback is a great dog for people living in rural areas with a large yard and a tall fence. They are also good with children but should be properly leash trained before children or seniors attempt to walk them. These dogs are powerful and can easily pull free or take over the walk.