Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Facts and Information

Coat & Grooming: The Ridgeback’s coat is short, glossy, dense, and easy to maintain. Once a week they should be brushed with a bristle brush, and perhaps given a once-over with a rubber curry brush. Their long ears should be kept dry and clean in an attempt to prevent infection. Nail trims every 2-3 weeks and daily tooth brushing help to maintain an overall good condition.

Shedding: Ridgebacks shed lightly year round, although dogs that spend more time outside may blow their coats seasonally. Because their coat is virtually odorless, they only need to be bathed a few times per year.

Training: The Ridgeback is intelligent, independent, and confident, leaving the results of training to the determination and imagination of the trainer. There is no doubt that in order to become well behaved and trustworthy, they need consistent, firm leadership from an owner who is prepared to follow through. Training can be a challenge because Ridgebacks crave variety and don’t respond well to repetitive or heavy-handed techniques. Strong in body and mind, you can’t force them to do things your way. Instead, you’ve got to find a way to motivate them—a curriculum of short, challenging lessons punctuated by food is recommended.

Barking: Ridgebacks rarely bark, raising the alarm only when they find a cause for concern. Instead, they’ll usually growl in warning and suspicion. Their bark is throaty and deep, attributed to their hound roots. If a Ridgeback is barking excessively, it is probably bored and suffering from a chronic lack of exercise or mental stimulation.

Personality: The Ridgeback is a loving family companion, but is not particularly sociable. Around strangers, Ridgebacks are politely reserved, requiring more time to earn their trust and affection.

Temperament & Behavior: The Ridgeback is a courageous, independent, hard-working breed. They seek the approval of their owners without being overly needy or driven to please. Their self-confidence can be attributed to hound heritage and their original purpose of cornering big game (like lions!) during long, cross-country hunts. Bred for hunting, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has retained a high prey drive, and their athleticism makes them expert escape artists. Any yard or enclosure meant to contain a Ridgeback needs to be securely fenced.

Behavior with Kids: Because of their high energy and ruggedness, the Rhodesian Ridgeback can be a great companion for older children. For the same reasons, they should be supervised around small children and toddlers.

Protection: Because Ridgebacks are large, protective, aloof, and seldom bark, they can be counted on as watchful guard dogs. They should be well socialized in their early years to make sure their protective instincts don’t lead to aggression later in life.

Life span: On average, Ridgebacks live to be about 10-12 years old.

Inherited Health Issues: Rhodesian Ridgebacks are generally a fairly healthy breed, but health conditions can occur through an inherited basis or at an increased frequency in the breed. Screening tests are available for some conditions and are typically performed in breeding dogs by responsible breeders in an attempt to decrease the incidence of these conditions in future generations. Conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: Dermoid sinus, Atopic dermatitis, Cerebellar cortical cell degeneration, Congenital deafness, Cataracts and Entropion.

Preventive Care: The more common health conditions found in the Rhodesian Ridgeback cannot be directly prevented in an individual dog. Instead, responsible breeders typically perform genetic tests on their breeding dogs to decrease the incidence of conditions in future generations of Ridgebacks. Neurologic and skin conditions, such as dermoid sinus, can occur in dogs of any age.

Routine preventative veterinary care is crucial for all dogs, including the Ridgeback. This includes annual or semi-annual physical exams, vaccinations, deworming medication, flea and tick preventative medication, and heartworm prevention. Veterinarians have been extensively trained to pick up on subtle changes before they become more severe problems. Otherwise, maintaining a healthy body weight for your dog will place less strain on their joints.

As an active breed, Ridgebacks are not overly prone to becoming obese unless they are overfed or under-exercised. Feeding portion-controlled meals of a balanced dog food will help to maintain a healthy body weight. Avoid feeding too many treats or table foods since these will quickly pack on excess weight.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Ridgeback is 2.5 to 3 cups

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Ridgebacks are an active, powerful breed that requires considerable amounts of daily exercise and challenge. This isn’t the kind of dog (in temperament or size) that’s satisfied with a couple of 10-minute walks around the block. Ridgebacks need plenty of opportunities to burn off steam and are best suited to active owners who are willing to run, swim, hike, and play with them. As a reward, the Ridgeback can be a calm couch potato after their physical demands have been met.

Ridgebacks have some common potential behavioral concerns and may not be ideal for the first-time owner. As large breeds, they enter adulthood later, slowly leaving behind an exuberant puppyhood and many destroyed items. They can be dominant towards dogs of the same sex, and predatory towards other animals. Like any other breed, they can become aggressive if not well socialized. However, any unwanted behavior is multiplied simply by the breed’s size and energy.

Climate: Ridgebacks are bred to withstand extreme temperatures, and are tolerant of both heat and cold.