Rhodesian Ridgeback
🧠 Temperament & character
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is self-assured, calm and dignified, faithfully devoted to his family and usually patient with children. He meets strangers with reserve and watchfulness, without barking unnecessarily, which makes him an attentive but unobtrusive guardian. He is intelligent, but independent and headstrong, and likes to place his own judgement above quick obedience. His strong urge to move and his hunting drive call for self-assured, consistent leadership.
📜 Origin & history
The Rhodesian Ridgeback arose in southern Africa, in present-day Zimbabwe, through the crossing of the Boers' European dogs with the semi-wild, ridge-bearing dogs of the native Khoikhoi. This produced a heat-resistant, brave hunting and farm dog that helped track and hold at bay lions and other big game. In 1922 the first breed standard was drawn up in Rhodesia; the FCI lists the breed under no. 146. Today the Ridgeback is popular worldwide as a companion and family dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The Rhodesian Ridgeback's short, smooth coat is extremely easy to care for and needs only occasional brushing; the breed sheds little and has hardly any odour of its own. Considerably more demanding is his physical and mental activity: the athletic dog needs extensive daily exercise, ideally including endurance sport, as well as tasks that challenge him. In training, calm, consistency and fair limits are decisive, for he reacts badly to harshness but likes to test his freedoms. His hunting drive makes reliable recall training important.
🩺 Health
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is predominantly robust and reaches an age of about ten to twelve years. Breed-typical is the congenital dermoid sinus, a skin channel along the topline that must be treated surgically; added to this are hip and elbow dysplasia as well as degenerative myelopathy, for which a genetic test is available. As a large, deep-chested dog there is additionally a certain risk of gastric torsion. Reputable breeders examine litters for dermoid sinus, x-ray hips and elbows and use the DM genetic test.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not a beginner's dog: his headstrongness, his strength and his hunting drive call for experienced, self-assured owners who lead consistently and calmly. Ideal is an active home with a house and a secured garden as well as plenty of time for exercise; for a small apartment he is hardly suitable. With well-socialised training he is a wonderful, dignified family dog who is usually patient with children. In Switzerland he is relatively popular, but in some cantons is subject to special keeping requirements such as proof of expertise because of his size.