History of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
|
The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in Africa and is also known as the African Lion Hound. This breed's heritage goes back to the Dutch Boers who began settling in Southern Africa. These settlers would bring their European breeds with them and after breedings with the African dogs, the result would produce and evolve into the modern Rhodesian Ridgeback. A variety of dogs which created today's ridgeback include the Bloodhound, Greyhound, various Mastiff types, Airedale, Terrier, Dalmatian, Collie and African Hottentot dogs. The result created strong and loyal canines that would protect the villages from lions, baboons and other wild animals. They would track and keep the lions at bay until the hunters could come and kill or chase the beasts away. The identifying characteristic of this breed is the ridge of “wrong-way” hair that runs down the center of it's back. Rhodesian Ridgebacks love the heat, adapting to the arid African climate. It is not uncommon to see them basking in the sun even on the hottest of days. |
|
The early Ridgebacks would serve the needs of the farmers as avid hunters, farm workers and had a condition that would stand up to harsh conditions of the African bush. Big time hunters would come to the area and this breed would grab their attention of extreme courage by holding at bay the fearless lions. This is the only breed to take on such a feat and the ridgeback's courage is legendary.
By 1924, the South African Kennel Union registered the first Rhodesian Ridgeback. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1955.
Today, this member of the hound group participates in sighthound activities such as lure coursing, agility, obedience and tracking. This is a sleek, tight-skinned dog of substantial bone and muscle who is capable of tracking his target and chasing it with great speed. But what is also amazing is that the Rhodesian Ridgeback has served as a guardian and companion with such devotion to his family throughout the years. This is what makes him so highly regarded as a companion today. He is a beautiful, intelligent hound that is easy to train and enjoys the company of his family members.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a hound and processes many of the typical hound characteristics. The Ridgeback is strong-willed and sensitive. The adult Ridgeback has a quiet, laid back temperament and rarely barks. He enjoys spending the day, with his owner, lounging in the sun or curled up in front of a fire. However, when alerted and in action, he can quickly become a graceful and powerful hunter. He will be devoted to his family and friends, but aloof and dignified with strangers. I find that the males are more laid-back enjoying the company of other people and dogs alike. The females, on the other had, tend to be the protectors and stand guard, alerting of anything out of the ordinary. Our Newby will go up to anyone and quickly make friends where as our Randi will duck and dodge anyone's hand as it comes closer to pet her and will not allow anyone to do so until she makes sure they are OK. This is what a ridgeback is supposed to do. Early, positive socialization is an important part of developing a healthy and stable temperament.
By 1924, the South African Kennel Union registered the first Rhodesian Ridgeback. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1955.
Today, this member of the hound group participates in sighthound activities such as lure coursing, agility, obedience and tracking. This is a sleek, tight-skinned dog of substantial bone and muscle who is capable of tracking his target and chasing it with great speed. But what is also amazing is that the Rhodesian Ridgeback has served as a guardian and companion with such devotion to his family throughout the years. This is what makes him so highly regarded as a companion today. He is a beautiful, intelligent hound that is easy to train and enjoys the company of his family members.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a hound and processes many of the typical hound characteristics. The Ridgeback is strong-willed and sensitive. The adult Ridgeback has a quiet, laid back temperament and rarely barks. He enjoys spending the day, with his owner, lounging in the sun or curled up in front of a fire. However, when alerted and in action, he can quickly become a graceful and powerful hunter. He will be devoted to his family and friends, but aloof and dignified with strangers. I find that the males are more laid-back enjoying the company of other people and dogs alike. The females, on the other had, tend to be the protectors and stand guard, alerting of anything out of the ordinary. Our Newby will go up to anyone and quickly make friends where as our Randi will duck and dodge anyone's hand as it comes closer to pet her and will not allow anyone to do so until she makes sure they are OK. This is what a ridgeback is supposed to do. Early, positive socialization is an important part of developing a healthy and stable temperament.
Physical Characteristics of the Breed
Newby
Now let's talk about color. When dealing with Rhodesian Ridgebacks, the color of the coat comes in various shades of wheaten. We have light wheaten to red wheaten. This coloring was named for the fields of wheat in which the ridgeback could be camouflaged when protecting the villages. Recently there has been a surge of mahogany red ridgebacks mostly of European decent. This coloring is an incorrect color for the breed. If a strand of hair is examined very closely, it should be banded called agouti, which basically means it is banded. This banded hair is darker at the tip than at the base and represents the changing shades of wheat. There are many variations of this coloring but what we want to see is some type of shading in the wheat family. Those red mahogany ridgebacks may be flashy in the ring and turn a judge's head but should not be rewarded for being incorrect. Other incorrect colorings include brindle and black.
Newby on the left and Randi on the right.
|
The first thing we will talk about is the most obvious: the ridge. When I take my dogs out in public, I can't tell you how many times I hear, "Is the dog mad?" "Why is his hair standing up on his back?", etc. Well, no, the dog is not mad....the ridge of hair on the dog's back run's in the opposite direction of the rest of the fur. This ridge of hair is what distinguishes a ridgeback from any other big brown dog. What is the purpose of the ridge? That is a very good question. I would like to believe that when the original African dogs were out hunting lions and other wild game, nature made them look more fierce than they really are to intimidate the larger game. It is also noted that when a ridgeback is mad or alert, the hair on the ridge does not stand up....it stays down while the hair around the ridge is what stands erect.
The ridge can come in different sizes and widths. What we really would like to see for the conformation ring is a nice long ridge starting between the shoulder blades and running down the back ending near the beginning of the rear legs. The top of the ridge near the shoulders is called the fan and this too can come in different sizes but for the conformation ring must not be longer than one-third of the whole length of the ridge itself. At the base of the fan there should be two swirls called crowns. These must be placed directly across from each other for the show ring but many are born with variations of this characteristic. Some have crowns that are offset, some have more than two crowns, etc. Some ridgebacks are born with no ridge at all. We call these ridgeless ridgebacks. They are ridgebacks in every other way but do not have that cosmetic distinction. They make wonderful additions to any family wanting a great loyal companion. 
If you look closely at the photo on the left, you will notice that even though Newby and Randi come from the same litter, they are very much different in coloring. Randi, our girl on the right, is called a "black-nosed" ridgeback. A black-nosed ridgeback can have a clean face like Randi does or have what they call a black mask that covers the whole muzzle and slightly runs up to the eyes. They also have black hairs running throughout the body, some more than others, and mostly black toe nails. Our Newby on the left is called a "liver-nosed" ridgeback. Liver-nosed ridgebacks have no black pigmentation at all anywhere on the body. There is no black lining the eye areas and the toenails are a brownish tan color. There are variations in the shading of a liver-nose. We had two in Margo's litter, one of which is Newby, who is light wheaten and then there was Maverick, who was a darker wheaten liver-nose. Both are correct as long as there is no black hairs anywhere on the body or running through the fur on the dog's coat. |
Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Children
|
|
I am often asked if Rhodesian Ridgebacks are good with children. What I tell them is yes, they are as long as the children are well-behaved as well. This goes for any breed. Raising a puppy is not that much different than raising a child. A puppy must know its limits when it comes to being part of the family. A dog is born with the desire to please you and that is where good training comes in to encourage this special bond. A ridgeback is a pack animal and in this pack there is a pecking order with usually the K-9 mother being the alpha of the pack. The mother dog will correct "bad behavior" in her puppies. Watching Margo with her puppies, she would correct them when they bite too hard...this is called bite inhibition. This correction is done with a quick nibble by the mother and that is just enough to tell the puppy to stop what it is doing. If children do something the dog does not like, it too may try and "correct" the child which can result in the child crying, "The dog bit me!" In all situations when children and dogs are involved, there should be supervision no matter what breed you are talking about. |
When training a puppy, the whole family, including the children, should take a part in this activity. All training should be done on a positive note. There should be no hitting or scolding. Rhodesian ridgebacks are very sensitive and will eagerly learn even from the smallest child in the house when great praise and tasty treats are the reward . You can find more information on training further on in this website. The whole point of dealing with children and dogs is that children must understand that a family dog has feelings just like them and we never should do anything that would make them feel sad or hurt.
Never allow a child to go into a dog's crate. This is the dog's special place...a place he or she can go to when things get a bit overwhelming or a place to find comfort. Never allow a child to carry a puppy around. A Rhodesian ridgeback is a large breed even as a puppy and it should be carried the correct way without hurting it. If a child wants to hold the puppy, they can do so by sitting on the floor or, if allowed, on the couch and the puppy can be placed in the child's arms to cuddle. Do not let the child hold on to the puppy if the pup wants to get away. The puppy should feel comfortable in the child's lap and will continue to do so even when the puppy has become a full-grown ridgeback. Unfortunately, even as adults, they do not know how big they really are! Another rule that I have seen broken many times is children like to run and they do so when a dog is around. Children tend to scream with excitement as they run which "turns the dog on", so to speak, and he or she will run after the child thinking it is in trouble or just having a good chase. A child in this situation may unintentionally get hurt by the dog jumping up on the child and pushing them to the ground or even nipping at the child's hands and arms. Again this is all in fun for the dog but it can cause serious harm.
Involve the child in the feeding ritual and other chores of taking care of a ridgeback. Maybe they would like to be in charge of making sure the dog has clean water or to help do clean up duty in the yard. My children would help me outside by pointing out to where the "piles" were when picking up poop. This is also a good way to teach children to always clean up after their dog while away from home in parks, on walks or on family vacations. But again, I must stress, that these things should all be monitored by the parents. You definitely do not want a dog to go days without water in case the child forgets.
Children and ridgebacks can work beautifully together. If your children are naughty, so will be the dog. It takes much commitment from you, the parents, to make sure the children are trained and so is the puppy. A Rhodesian ridgeback is a wonderful family dog who loves all members of his or her "pack" whether they are adults or young children.
Never allow a child to go into a dog's crate. This is the dog's special place...a place he or she can go to when things get a bit overwhelming or a place to find comfort. Never allow a child to carry a puppy around. A Rhodesian ridgeback is a large breed even as a puppy and it should be carried the correct way without hurting it. If a child wants to hold the puppy, they can do so by sitting on the floor or, if allowed, on the couch and the puppy can be placed in the child's arms to cuddle. Do not let the child hold on to the puppy if the pup wants to get away. The puppy should feel comfortable in the child's lap and will continue to do so even when the puppy has become a full-grown ridgeback. Unfortunately, even as adults, they do not know how big they really are! Another rule that I have seen broken many times is children like to run and they do so when a dog is around. Children tend to scream with excitement as they run which "turns the dog on", so to speak, and he or she will run after the child thinking it is in trouble or just having a good chase. A child in this situation may unintentionally get hurt by the dog jumping up on the child and pushing them to the ground or even nipping at the child's hands and arms. Again this is all in fun for the dog but it can cause serious harm.
Involve the child in the feeding ritual and other chores of taking care of a ridgeback. Maybe they would like to be in charge of making sure the dog has clean water or to help do clean up duty in the yard. My children would help me outside by pointing out to where the "piles" were when picking up poop. This is also a good way to teach children to always clean up after their dog while away from home in parks, on walks or on family vacations. But again, I must stress, that these things should all be monitored by the parents. You definitely do not want a dog to go days without water in case the child forgets.
Children and ridgebacks can work beautifully together. If your children are naughty, so will be the dog. It takes much commitment from you, the parents, to make sure the children are trained and so is the puppy. A Rhodesian ridgeback is a wonderful family dog who loves all members of his or her "pack" whether they are adults or young children.
Other Questions About Owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback
Simba playing with his lab friend.
Can a Rhodesian Ridgeback live in a house with a cat? Yes, they can! When grown up together dogs and cats get along beautifully. It is much easier to bring a puppy into a household where a cat already resides instead of the other way round. When a cat stops running, the dog will stop chasing it. If a cat still has its claws, the dog quickly learns to respect it. But a ridgeback may still chase cats that do not live in the same household. |
Are Ridgebacks good with other dogs? Definitely! The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a pack animal, working with others to hunt lions. They were bred to get along with other dogs and enjoy spending quality playtime with their friends. 
Lucky and his cat friend, Rufus.
|
Caninie Growth Plate Closure
|
A ridgeback must have a fenced-in yard. We have a 4-foot high chain link fence. Our first ridgeback, Tammi, learned how to climb this fence and did so when seeing a rabbit on the other side. The ridgebacks in our family now have been trained not to touch the fence and therefore, never jump up and climb it. I have also "trained" my neighbors not to reach over the fence to pet our dogs. This action teaches to dogs to jump up. Instead, our neighbors get down to their level and put their fingers through the chain link fence to lovingly rub their heads and scratch their necks. Never...I repeat...never get an invisible fence. This may or may not keep your ridgeback in. They have a great prey-drive and when they should see a rabbit or squirrel, they will tolerate any pain just to get at it. Also an invisible fence with not keep any animal or innocent child out of your yard. That can mean trouble for the other animal or cause unintentional injury to the unsuspecting child. Never tie a ridgeback out on a tether. This can cause serious injury to your ridgeback. Remember, a ridgeback is a family dog and wants to be with his family all the time. Never leave him outside by himself all day. He will do whatever it takes to be with you such as howling, digging and possibly going over the fence just to find out where you are.
|
|
You may ask how much exercise a Rhodesian Ridgeback needs. I usually give my dogs a good walk around the neighborhood as a way of training on a leash. A large area where the dog can stretch its legs and run off-lead is ideal. Indoors a ridgeback is a couch potato and loves his comfort (aka: your bed). Do not run or jog with your Rhodesian Ridgeback until they are two years of age. Start out slow each day adding distance when you and the dog are ready. A dog younger than this age is still developing and running for long distances and especially on hard pavements will cause permanent damage to the young dog's leg bones and muscles. This does not pertain to a young dog in play. That is not a demanding run and the dog can stop on his own when he gets tired. (See diagram above for age in months that it takes for growth plates to close for a large breed dog like a ridgeback.) You can see how much damage you can cause by running your young dog too soon. |
Margo
|