Rhoedesian Ridgebacks??

[Dogs6]

Originally Posted by Pasomystic

I have had four Ridgebacks and raised a litter. As young dogs, they are energetic and easily bored. After age 3, they settle into dogs willing to do what you do with just a walk a day for exercise. They leash train well, and I obedience train all of them in mixed company--socialize thoroughly, and I take mine to the dog park frequently to play with all breeds. As in any breed, some lines are more laid back than others. A very tall fence is required if the dog is not exercised enough--they can leap a 6 ft fence if young and bored and alone.
My absolute favorite large breed--strong, healthy if from a good breeder, easy to groom with a hound glove, love children and can be trained to like any small animal or stranger you wish them to. Strong prey drive--running animals will be chased, so a very good recall is necessary to train from day one, to stop a chase before it begins. Once in full chase mode--they come back when they are done--must be stopped at the beginning, lol.

We have a small JRT and two cats that like to play with the dogs. Would they have to be kept seperated at all times or could the Ridgeback be trusted with them (supervised of course)?

Of and the jumping thing?? We already have 2 dogs like that so what's one more?

The more and more I read and discover about them the more they sound suited to our family. We still haven't definitely put down a deposit (we need to talk to the breeder more and meet more of his dogs) but it looks more and more like that's what we're going to do.

[milos_mommy]

Like I said, we have 4 regular ridgebacks in daycare, and they all mix with the small dogs occasionally. That means they will ignore a 7 or 8 lb dog doing zoomies across a 60 ft room. I definitely won't speak for all ridgebacks, but there are certainly some who could be trusted. They don't seem to have the visually obsessiveness that other sighthounds like greys do.

[Pasomystic]

Originally Posted by Dogs6

We have a small JRT and two cats that like to play with the dogs. Would they have to be kept seperated at all times or could the Ridgeback be trusted with them (supervised of course)?

Of and the jumping thing?? We already have 2 dogs like that so what's one more?

The more and more I read and discover about them the more they sound suited to our family. We still haven't definitely put down a deposit (we need to talk to the breeder more and meet more of his dogs) but it looks more and more like that's what we're going to do.

As you can see from my sig--mine are trusted together. Caesar was 6 yrs old when I brought little Lyric home, and since then two of the cats have alao entered our lives--one as an adult afraid of dogs [ not anymore ] --he is good with them all. If one of the cats runs from him-he will chase it, but he will never attempt to use his mouth. I did have one female that killed birds--from robins to pheasants she thought them all good to eat--but our cat was her best friend. I have more control over my dogs than anyone else does--so if I am not home I do not assume my pets will be perfect, but once I know they are very attached, I do not worry.

[Pops2]

Originally Posted by milos_mommy

Like I said, we have 4 regular ridgebacks in daycare, and they all mix with the small dogs occasionally. That means they will ignore a 7 or 8 lb dog doing zoomies across a 60 ft room. I definitely won't speak for all ridgebacks, but there are certainly some who could be trusted. They don't seem to have the visually obsessiveness that other sighthounds like greys do.

that's because ridgebacks are not sighthounds (regardless of what the AKC says).

[Doberluv]

I think it's great how you're researching the breed. They are one of my absolute favorites. (And I'm not usually a hound person, but these are quite different...I think easier to train) I think they need a good deal of exercise. I watched a show where this couple had several of them. They hiked and ran every day with their dogs over desert-like terrain. It seemed to really make them happy. Their heritage, where they came from made them great runners.

My sister's friend had a Ridgeback. He was young and untrained....A LOT OF DOG. LOL. Let me tell you. They do need training and lots of socializing, of course.

that's because ridgebacks are not sighthounds (regardless of what the AKC says).

Their ancestory certainly included sighthounds, like Salukis and Greyhounds. There were Danes and Mastiffs, blood hounds and other breeds in their background as well, brought to Africa by Europeans. They mixed with a native dog that had a ridge like that. They hunt by their very keen eye sight AND their with their nose. So, I don't know how one can say that they are not sight hounds. They may not be ALL sighthound, but they do have them in their make-up. They certainly possess the characteristics generally associated with hounds.

Anyhow, good luck. I can't wait to see pictures!

[milos_mommy]

I don't really consider them a sighthound the way I consider greyhounds, lurchers, etc. to be a sighthound. Plenty of breeds have sighthounds in their makeup, but they aren't true sighthounds.

[Pops2]

bulldogXgrey were matched in the early days and went into the make up of pit bulldogs, doesn't make them a sighthound.
based on general structure, personality and working style (both hunting & on livestock) ridgbacks would properly be classed a curdog like a black mouth or catahoula. this assessment is mutually agreed upon w/ Matt V who gives seminars to ridgeback clubs on training their dogs to hunt & work stock. he is also a member of the african ridgeback group and is very involved in the annual ridgeback rodeo events. you will have a hard time finding anyone more devoted to preserving the ridgeback as a working dog than he. AND Matt has himself said the same thing, the ridgeback is an african curdog. the akc called it a sighthound at the request of the parent club so the breed could compete for & receive coursing titles (probably because coursing titles don't requie one to crawl through a swamp in Jan like chasing a coon does).
there is no clear record of their make up and for all we know they are a strait cross of the original british curs (which had bull & mastiff in them by that point) & the hottentot ridgebacked dog (but probably not).

[Romy]

There are other modern breeds in them that have more recent additions of sight hound than ridgebacks do. Dobermans would be one. There was DNA testing done on a bunch of dog breeds and it was found the ridgeback is of recent European descent, not an ancient African breed.

I know Radar never behaved like a hound. He was basically like a farm cur. He was very safe around small animals except wild rats. He never even bothered pigeons or the dozens of feral barn cats. One of his pet peeves was the roosters fighting. He'd rush in to break up their squabbles. He also lived with a house chihuahua.

[grayada1]

just wanted to give my input

What are they like to live with? they are amazing dogs. love their family and want to be close. they arent a dog to be left out in the yard by themselves. even when i take henderson to a friends house with other dogs if i go inside he wants to be inside.

What are their exercise requirements? they need to run, and it needs to be in a safe place. when they start running you cant stop them and they dont stop for anything. As an ADULT they dont need nearly the excercise of a sporting dog. Give them some space to run a couple times a week and they will be content to lay around the rest of the time. i read somewhere that describe them as loving to lay around when in the house, but in an open field they will run all day long.

Are they usually same sex aggressive?i havent heard about this being a problem in the breed. i know henderson gets along with the majority of males he encounters. again proper socialization is key here, they are naturally aloof and if they arent allowed to meet alot of people early this can turn into a scary situation with how big and powerful they are

What about mental stimulation? Easy to train?smart as can be, but as others have said they get bored. also they arent dogs that just do what you say just because. you can see them analyze everything you tell them to do and decide if its worth it or no...

I know they're a hound but can they be let offleash (with appropriate training obviously)?? henderson is getting better and better with this. i dont have any concern he would run away, my only concern is that he would start running and run infront of a car.

What health tests should be done on the parents as a minimum?

What's their temperment like?? someone alread said it, but they are goofy dogs. it is amazing how fast they can go from goofy to serious though. they love their family and are weary of anyone new. they take a long time to get confortable with new people. one thing to note is they play extremely rough, although henderson is amazing with puppies and little dogs.

I know some large dogs shouldn't be walked too much as puppies. Is the Ridgeback one of them? i wouldnt recommend walk a puppy RR as the main form of excercise. its important to start to teach them to walk on the leash nice, but i wouldnt want to push them. let them play to wear themselves out dont pull them around the neighborhood




they are great dogs and i dont think ill ever be without one. ive meet alot since i got henderson and all of the ones that have people trying to do right by them are wonderful dogs. ive met some that are shy and scared and they can be scary, but its because they never get to meet people and other dogs and when they do they dont know what to do.


henderson also lives with two cats. would i trust him alone with them no. but he has never hurt them and just wants to smell and lick them.

[grayada1]

Originally Posted by Pops2

bulldogXgrey were matched in the early days and went into the make up of pit bulldogs, doesn't make them a sighthound.
based on general structure, personality and working style (both hunting & on livestock) ridgbacks would properly be classed a curdog like a black mouth or catahoula. this assessment is mutually agreed upon w/ Matt V who gives seminars to ridgeback clubs on training their dogs to hunt & work stock. he is also a member of the african ridgeback group and is very involved in the annual ridgeback rodeo events. you will have a hard time finding anyone more devoted to preserving the ridgeback as a working dog than he. AND Matt has himself said the same thing, the ridgeback is an african curdog. the akc called it a sighthound at the request of the parent club so the breed could compete for & receive coursing titles (probably because coursing titles don't requie one to crawl through a swamp in Jan like chasing a coon does).
there is no clear record of their make up and for all we know they are a strait cross of the original british curs (which had bull & mastiff in them by that point) & the hottentot ridgebacked dog (but probably not).

thanks for this pops. always wanted to know what you thought about RR. they have good eye sight, and are more visually alert than some coonhouds i know, but are no true sight hound. makes sense that they wanted that just for coursing. they sure dont look like the other coursing dogs!