Rhodesian Ridgeback

I know that Ridgebacks are great dogs. My Ridgeback client however is not great. He only stayed my client for a short amount of time as he was very aggressive. He didn’t want anyone coming in his home. He hated getting his leash on. This was totally the owners fault though. The owner would put a cone on him when his walker came so it wasn’t possible for the dog to bite his walker. You can’t let one bad apple spoil the whole batch though. I’ve met many Ridgebacks outside of work that were lovely. They’re not typically the ones to run up and say hi. But they will tolerate a few pets before running off to mind their own business. Plus they’re so gorgeous it’s fun to admire

The dog refused to walk, and instead wanted to play tug agressively with his leash. He was also went crazy around other dogs. We spent an hour and maybe walked less that a mile because he was simply not interested in walking. Putting a stick in his mouth helped some. It was clear he wanted to run free and play instead of being on a leash

Walking a young Rhodesian with little training is a little like training a young stallion. They grow very quickly in size and strength -perhaps outgrowing the rate at which their owners can train them. Being that they are so large, getting excited on a walk can cause difficulty and danger if they take control. For that reason, it is important to use a firm, strong voice when giving commands. A short lead is also helpful so that you can leverage your weight against their strength if they pull or dart at something; with a longer lead, they are likely going to take the reigns. Unfortunately, my experience matches that of other walkers in that I have only worked with pretty wild, untrained ridgebacks.

I have not had much experience with these breed and have not heard too much about it either. It was a completely new experience when I walked Harry the Rhodesian Ridgeback for the first time. He was a young boy, about a year old but already the size of a miniature pony!! This was a shock as I walked in the owner's home and did not know what to expect. Because of Harry's age, he did not exhibit breed specific traits/quirks. He was a little bit shy when meeting me but not in an aggressive way. He was a sweet boy who did seem happy to go for a walk and knew to wait while I put his leash on. That is a testament to the owners' training. One thing that they did wrong that I would advise against for all large breed owners is to get a sturdier fabric leash and collar. Do not get a chain or leather leash/collar because this will make it extremely difficult to control the dog if it starts getting excited and starts to pull and run!! Get a gentle leader or even a harness to prevent tracheal collapse from constant tugging with the collar. That being said, Harry was generally pleasant to manage, except when he saw a squirrel or cat (but most dogs have a prey drive and thus will want to chase the small animals). Also I must note what a beautiful breed rhodesians are! Harry seemed to be purebred and had a gorgeous chestnut coat, with the distinctive ridge running down his back. These dogs do need a LOT of exercise because of their large size, and also a LOT of training because of their large size. You will not be able to control them physically if they are badly trained, unless you are of a larger stature! Having the dog obey verbal commands is much better than struggling to physically control them. Another important thing to note is they could easily be prone towards aggression if not socialized properly, so with a dog this size it is crucial to take care of that. Overall, they seem like intelligent dogs that stay loyal to their families, obey commands well when trained, have a decent amount of energy, reserved nature, posh appearance, beautiful coats, and good health. They are best suited for homes with yards, DEFINITELY would not do well in tiny NYC apartments!!

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very dignified dogs, they move with such grace and all the pictures I've snapped of them make them look like royalty! They are pretty friendly and open to meeting new people but they also like to have things there way. The Rhodesian Ridgeback that I walked was for the most part agreeable, but there were certain areas he did not like--such as walking underneath noisy bridges, and he was very firm about not letting me lead him that way. He also decided when the walk was over and tugged me back towards his front door. He was very sweet and happy though. His energy was very even and refined and it was a lot of fun to get to know him.

The Ridgeback Max was another new experience for me. He was minorly suspicious when I first arrived, yet he did not bark or jump at me at all. He simply waited for me to pull out some treats and sit on the floor. I placed one between us and waited for him to get the idea and then realize I had another in my hand. After that it was straight to face licking and got excited for the leash. From there it was all running and exploring the neighborhood. He really did not sit at one spot for too long, and he responded well to verbal queues. Definitely displayed some prey drive when a cat came in his sight and I took a bit to get him back to the running. I got some great pictures of him once I got him sit down at a place where I could keep him more at eye level. Even as an apartment dog, he had great manners and was very excited to be on a good run.

The little rhodesian ridgeback that I walked was a mix and much smaller than the common ridgeback. He had a pointy face, short reddish fur, and the distinct ridge that the breed is named after. He was a fantastic dog. He had been well trained to respect the leash and was a very good listener. As I learned from the owner, he had a disease that required a great deal of attention toward what he ate, how much stimulus he could receive, and what sort of interactions were good for him. If he got too riled up or frightened by something, it could cause some sort of complication for him. Because of these instructions we tended to veer away from any main streets or subway lines, nevertheless, there was little ability to keep away from the banging of shutting store gates, honking cars, sirens, and other common and noisy city sounds. Although he never got too overwhelmed, it was very clear that at the sound of it, he was not able to focus or relax as well as he had at the beginning of the walk. When we were able to avoid any big sounds, he was a really fantastic boy to walk with a great personality.

It was a 360 experience, he is no G.S. we learn about him and understood his behavior and our love just keeps on growing. He pushed a pizza delivery man who was attempting to creep in the house while making his delivery and our teenage daughter was with his yourger brother in the house while we where in the backyard. Obedient, sweet, full of joy .....words cannot express how much we have grown to love him!

It was a big surprise. We have 2 young children. One is now a year old and the other is 2 years old. I have always had dogs but my partner grew up with cats. I had forgotten the early obstacles. We live on a farm which we are doing Up. Mazu has become an unmissable part of our family. We are still having some issues with her behaviour when she's frustrated but we are learning and so is she. I'd say if you've never had a dog before then start with a different breed and if this is your first dog as an adult then be aware they require a lot of patience. That said she is sitting with her head on my lap right now as I type this and she is wonderful. The other day someone asked how come she is so calm. It was a lucky moment but it was appreciated on both sides. We all love her. If you do get this dog realise that other people have different dogs and their advice although well meant doesn't always fit. I have been told to keep her on the leech and to keep her off, that she's too skinny and too fat. All in a day. I live in Holland perhaps that's it. The vet, who has a ridgeback, says she's doing really well. We will eventually work on her gun dog training as we live in a built up area. This will require a big investment in time and effort but I look forward to it. Our dog is 6 months now and I love the bond we have. Wouldn't trade her for the world. If you want a great stunning dog and are willing to put in the effort you can't get much better than a ridgeback. Lastly they are powerful dogs, she's no where near fully grown and if she loses attention it's a tug of war...

Lovely dog, very sensitive, friendly but also protective

My Skippy was rescued from the local shelter. He was listed as a stray. He was also listed as a beagle mix. After some research,I found out he was a Ridgeback mix with what they think is a whippet. My dog is on the shorter side,coming up to above my knees. But he has the distinct coloring, face and slight ridge of the Ridgeback. He is an amazing dog, so loving and playful. He shows his affection and always wants to play. He gets antsy if I wait too long to play with him. He is very trainable and is eager to please. Treat oriented and will pull your arm out if he sees a cat.

Xena was an amazing dog. The best dog we have owned. Excellent recall. I call her off anything from rabbit to moose. Very Smart. Very quick to pick up training and the wrong things if you weren't paying attention. If someone came to house and I just opened door she would be happy. If someone came to door and I grabbed her collar, she would act her part and it looked like she was a guard dog. Very loyal. Would run beside me when baling hay and when got tired, she would wait at gate for me, even if it took hours. Best dog ever

He's great. What else do I say.

He’ll be 11 this year October, and he’s been the most loyal and loving friend any person could have wished for. From his teddy bear eyes to his heart stopping bark, he’s been a pleasure and a great member to our family. 11 years definitely well spent