Rhodesian Ridgeback: temperament, size, care and health

About the Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, muscular hound of balanced proportions, with a deep chest, a strong neck and a short wheaten coat that ranges from light to dark red. The ridge is a strip of hair on the spine that grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat, forming a pattern with two matching whorls at the shoulder. The ridge is the breed's signature and is required in the show ring.

It was developed as a hunting dog for settlers in southern Africa, valued for stamina, courage and the ability to track and bay large game without closing in. Today most Ridgebacks live as family dogs and watchful companions, with a few in tracking, lure coursing and other sports.

Temperament and family life

The Ridgeback is calm and dignified in the house and loyal to its family, but it is not an eager-to-please dog. It tends to be reserved with strangers and takes time to accept visitors, which makes early and thorough socialization important. It is protective by instinct rather than aggressive, and its size alone discourages intruders.

With children in its own family it is generally patient and gentle, but its size and strength mean toddlers can be knocked over, and play with unfamiliar children needs supervision. Other dogs of the same sex can be an issue, and a strong prey drive means that cats and small animals outside the family may be chased.

Exercise and training

This is an athletic breed that needs real exercise: long walks, a run in a fenced space, or work in sports such as lure coursing or hiking. An under-exercised young Ridgeback becomes restless and destructive. Because it was made to trail and chase, off-leash walking should happen only in secure areas.

Ridgebacks are intelligent and sensitive and have a stubborn side. Harsh methods tend to produce a dog that shuts down or resists, while firm, fair and consistent training works well. Starting early is useful, since a strong adolescent that has not learned to walk on a loose leash is hard to manage. Training classes also help the dog meet other people and animals.

Grooming and shedding

The short coat is among the easiest to keep. A weekly rub with a rubber brush or grooming mitt removes dead hair, and baths are needed only when the dog is dirty. The coat sheds lightly to moderately all year, and the short hairs can embed in clothing and bedding.

The thin coat gives little insulation, so a Ridgeback may need a coat in cold weather. Ears should be checked, nails trimmed and teeth brushed regularly.

Health

Common concerns include hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, degenerative myelopathy and bloat, a life-threatening twisting of the stomach seen in deep-chested breeds. The breed is also known for dermoid sinus, a tube-like defect in the skin along the ridge that can be present at birth and is checked for in puppies by responsible breeders. Deafness and eye problems occur less often. Breeders typically screen hips and elbows, thyroid function and, in some cases, use DNA tests for specific conditions. None of this replaces an examination, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular Rhodesian Ridgeback.

History

The breed is generally traced to southern Africa in the nineteenth century, where European settlers crossed their hunting dogs with the semi-wild ridged dogs kept by the Khoikhoi people of the Cape. Selective breeding in what was then Rhodesia produced the modern type, and the first written standard was drawn up in Bulawayo in 1922. The first Ridgebacks reached the United States in 1950, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1955.

Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback right for you?

A Ridgeback suits an experienced, active owner who wants a loyal, athletic dog and has a securely fenced yard. It is a poor choice for someone who cannot supply daily exercise, who wants a dog that greets everyone, or who is looking for a first dog.

For a sleeker sprinter that is gentler with strangers, look at the Greyhound or the smaller Whippet. For a dog of similar size with a calmer and more social manner, consider the Irish Wolfhound.