Rhodesian Ridgeback Information

Rhodesian Ridgeback Facts
Size	Large
Male Max Weight	85 lb
Female Max Weight	75 lb
Life Span	10-12 years
Energy Level	Medium -
Ease of Training	Medium -
Grooming	Low -
Shedding	Medium -
Exercise Requirements	Medium -
Playfulness	Medium -
Affection Level	Medium -
Friendliness Towards Dogs	Low -
Friendliness Towards Pets	Medium -
Friendliness Towards Strangers	Low -
Watchdog Ability	High -
Protection Ability	High -
Cold Tolerance	Medium -
Heat Tolerance	Medium -

Rhodesian Ridgeback Temperament

This breed is one great watchdog that the entire family can enjoy. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a scent hound that is an exceptional hunter. They can easily become excited when they play with little ones, making training as a pup a mandatory element to a safe environment for the kids to engage with the hound for years to come. They are terrific at gaining power over another dog and when they engage with strangers to protect their families. They can reside with a cat with no issues, and they also are built for performance and can handle just about any physical activity. Until you have properly trained your Rhodesian Ridgeback hound, be sure to leash him always as once they take off you will have a difficult time trying to catch them as they are extremely fast runners.

RhodesianRidgeback Upkeep 

This hound is good at living in any temperatureor climate be that one that is cold or warm and their short furcoats make it a cinch to care for them in hot conditions. TheRhodesian Ridgeback is a natural born athlete and will needstimulation each day to keep them happy. This may come in theform of a quick jog or run, and it can also come in the form ofsimple pet toys left for the canine to entertain themselveswith all day long. While they can adapt to any climate, they dodesire to spend their time resting inside versus outdoors. Theyare a long and strong breed, making them not very suitable toreside in a space such as a quaint apartment that does not bodeenough room for them to play and move around freely inside.

Rhodesian Ridgeback HealthConcerns

One nice thing about owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog is that they have very limited health concerns as they age. CHD and having an overactive thyroid can be an issue, but that is normal for any dog. Their build allows them to trap and hold their game while hunting which also onsets some hip conditions as they age if they were used as hunting dogs at one time. They can also become subjected to hearing loss, sinus complications and common canine thyroid issues as well. Average lifespan for a Rhodesian Ridgeback is anywhere from ten to twelve years long. These dogs can reach an average weight of seventy to eighty five pounds once fully grown. 

RhodesianRidgeback History 

When the settlers were seeking a dog that wasable to withstand frigid temperatures, they overlooked theother hounds such as the Great Dane and the Pointer and foundgreat their favorite in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. They hadjust enough athletic ability and strength to hunt and a couldadjust to cold temperatures when needed. Excellent at beingboth a sight hound and a scent one, they were utilized manyyears ago to trap lions until their owners came for them. Thesecanines were given the nickname of "lion dogs" and became verypopular in their native South Africa. Once they were bred inthe United States, they were bred as great family pets as wellas guard dogs in the 1900's.

RhodesianRidgeback Pictures

Puppies: 

MiddleAged:

Older:

RhodesianRidgeback Videos