Mary Allen
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is elegant but a real powerhouse. And with good reason, because what this dog hunts is almost unbelievable!
In a way, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a superstar among dog breeds: you will recognize them immediately, even if you have not dealt with the South African breed before. Its trademark and namesake is a strip of fur on its back that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the fur.
But the dogs with the “Ridge” don’t just stand out on the outside. They are considered to be very self-confident, intelligent, well-balanced, people-oriented, and loyal, but in no way submissive. If you want to take a Ridgeback into your family, you should definitely inform yourself about the dog in advance. The proud beauties are anything but beginner dogs.
In our breed portrait, we have summarized all the important information about the breed: from appearance and character to upbringing, care, and health.
What does a Rhodesian Ridgeback look like?
The most striking optical feature of the Ridgebacks is clearly the hair crest on the back. The crest runs symmetrically to the spine from the shoulder blades to the base of the tail. The ridge is actually a congenital medical defect. It is caused by a (very) mild form of a dermal sinus, i.e. an opening in the skin. Since the concise stripe is considered “optically beautiful”, it has been strongly preferred in breeding ever since. However, there are also puppies that are born without this noticeable feature.
The physique of the dogs is strong, with clearly visible muscles and a broad, arched chest. The head is broad with a long, powerful muzzle and close-fitting floppy ears. The short, dense, and smooth coat of the dog breed is also striking. It is available in beautiful shades of light wheat to red wheat. Overall, the appearance of the dogs should radiate power, elegance, and agility, which is related to their past as cattle and hunting dogs.
How tall is a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
The dogs belong to the large dog breeds with an average height at the withers of between 63 cm and 69 cm for males. Bitches grow between 61 cm and 66 cm.
How heavy is a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
Despite their size, Ridgebacks have a slim build. This is also reflected in their weight: males should weigh an average of 36 kg and females 32 kg.
How old does a Rhodesian Ridgeback get?
The average life expectancy of Ridgebacks is around ten years. This is similar to most other large dog breeds. With good health and care, the beautiful dogs can even live up to twelve years.
What character or nature does the Rhodesian Ridgeback have?
The character of the Ridgeback is shaped by its past as a hardworking and persistent hunting dog in the barren and wild landscapes of South Africa. He is smart, self-confident, willing to learn, and balanced. At the same time, he is also very sensitive and has quite a stubborn head.
If the dog is given a task that he enjoys and understands, he throws himself into the work full of energy and enthusiasm. However, if the task does not make sense for the Ridgeback, he will resist and willingly go his own way.
The dog is considered to be very friendly and affectionate towards its family while being reserved and suspicious of strangers and dogs. He is considered to have strong nerves and is not aggressive with a medium stimulus threshold. However, he does not hesitate to protect his caregivers in dangerous situations, even with violence in an emergency.
His hunting instinct is also relatively strong and can break out in unexpected situations. He is loyal and cuddly towards his caregivers, but by no means submissive or dependent. The dog certainly has its pride and is not willing to go along with every decision that is “ridiculous” for it.
Where does the Rhodesian Ridgeback come from?
The confident and proud personality of the Rhodesian Ridgeback fits very well with its history of origin in southern Africa. Even before the colonization of the continent, the ancestors of the Ridgeback were partly domesticated by the natives and used for hunting and protection. The characteristic ridge on the back also comes from these ancestors.
When South Africa was colonized in the 17th century, the hunting-mad colonizers were enthusiastic about the characteristics and robust health of the large African dogs. They began to breed their own dogs they had brought with them. Among them were u. a. Dog breeds such as Great Danes, Terriers, and Greyhounds. This should “create” a dog that is used to the harsh climate of South Africa. At the same time, he should be strong, agile, and brave enough to keep even dangerous big game like lions at bay! And indeed, the dog dares to approach the big cats himself!
In 1922, the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed was registered as a standard for the first time in what was then Rhodesia – today’s Zimbabwe. Nowadays, South Africa is usually given as the country of origin, for example with the FCI.
In southern Africa, the dog is still a popular guard and protection dog, especially on farms and in rural areas. The breed arrived in Europe relatively late: the first litter in Germany was not born until 1974. Over the years, however, the dog breed has also established itself here as a popular, albeit demanding, guard dog and, under certain conditions, also as a family dog.
Rhodesian Ridgeback: Proper Keeping and Training
The secret to an optimal education of the South African dogs with extraordinary character lies in the balance between consistency, calmness, patience, and love. If the dog has fun with educational measures and recognizes a meaning, then he is enthusiastic about it and learns very quickly. However, if he feels put under too much pressure, he usually stands in the way.
As with most other dog breeds, positive reinforcement is the ideal way of training dogs. Impatience, frustration, annoyance, aggression, or insecurity in the person they care about have a negative effect on the dog’s development. They, therefore, have no place in education.
If puppies are generally very wild and full of energy, the Ridgeback’s puberty lasts until the proud age of three years. Dogs also have a great urge to move and should be balanced with daily physical and mental exercises.
The South African dogs are used to wide, open plains, which is why a garden and a lot of free-roaming in nature are particularly recommended for keeping. The dog is therefore not really suitable for the big city. Overall, the Rhodesian Ridgeback should only be placed in experienced hands. The owners need to know how much work, time, and training they will have to face given the Ridgeback’s demanding character.
What Grooming Does the Rhodesian Ridgeback Need?
If the dogs are considered very demanding when it comes to keeping them, they are rather frugal when it comes to caring. The short coat has no undercoat and rarely sheds outside of the molting phase. Regular brushing and checking ears and skin for parasites is usually sufficient for good care.
A meaty, balanced diet is ideal for energetic dogs. If you want, you can barf this dog breed wonderfully.
Since the breed is used to the hot climate of southern Africa and their fur is therefore very short, it is possible that the dogs freeze during the severe winters in Germany. A dog coat can therefore be useful in winter.
What typical diseases does the Rhodesian Ridgeback have?
The large dogs from South Africa are blessed with very robust health and are virtually free of breed-specific diseases. However, as with all large dog breeds, hip and elbow dysplasia can also occur in the Ridgeback. Especially with puppies, you should make sure that they don’t have to climb up and down stairs too often. Otherwise, no breed-specific health impairments are known.
How much does a Rhodesian Ridgeback cost?
The big, beautiful dogs are a rarity in Germany compared to other dog breeds and the number of breeders is manageable. That’s why puppies in Germany can boast a proud average price of between 1,500 euros and 2,000 euros. Often even more is required.
If the puppies are still cute, small, and space-saving at first, you should always keep an eye on the adult size of the dogs and prepare yourself financially for this. For food, care equipment, a suitable transport box if necessary, the costs at the vet, and the countless chewed toys (and not just for the puppies) you have to reckon with a tidy sum over the years. (Read also: That’s what a dog really costs) Calculate that and also check whether you have enough time and, above all, experience for a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Then you can become a perfect team and have a fantastic time together.