Frequently Asked (Ridgeback) Questions

Just The FAQ's ma'am.....

Q. How is the Ridgeback around children? 

A. The Ridgeback is an extremely tolerant, excellent companion for children, able to amiably withstand a great deal of abuse from even the smallest of toddlers. However, no child should be left unsupervised around any dog, as either may hurt the other, even unintentionally. And due to its large size, younger and more excitable Ridgebacks may knock smaller children over by accident.

Q. How is the Ridgeback around other pets?

A. The Ridgeback is a gregarious animal, enjoying the company of other dogs. Beware of having several male dogs -- this can lead to dominance struggles (as is true with several males of many breeds). They can be good with cats if brought up with them, but fiercely effective in defending their territory from stray dogs and cats.

Q. How is the Ridgeback as a watchdog?

A. The Ridgeback is an excellent natural watchdog and family protector, requiring only that the owner has control over it.

Q. Are they noisy? Do they have any bad habits?

A. Ridgebacks tend to bark only when there is something worthwhile to bark at (unless one has fallen into bad habits out of boredom). They are very athletic, easily able to clear high fences unless the owner has taken proper precautions to see that this does not occur. Proficient swimmers, they can be an annoyance if the owner does not want them in the pool! They are not usually nuisance diggers, but can create large pits to escape summer heat if left out of doors. A Ridgeback can become a roamer out of boredom, often falling victim to automobiles, so it is important to have a properly fenced yard.

Q. Is the Ridgeback a good house-dog?

A. The Ridgeback is an extremely clean dog with little odor, and minimal shedding due to the short coat. In general, a Ridgeback kept indoors sheds a little all year round, whereas an outside one will experience seasonal shedding. They do not drool, except in anticipation of food. They are generally easy to housetrain. They will take over the furniture unless their owners discourage this habit from puppyhood. A happily wagging tail will easily clear off low coffee tables.

Q. Are there any special feeding problems?

A. Most Ridgebacks would have to be dead before refusing to eat! They can drool quite a bit when their food is being prepared. They will inhale their food enthusiastically. Consequently, Ridgeback owners need to monitor their dogs' weight and cut back to prevent obesity. Sometimes a good cupboard lock is needed to keep a clever dog from helping itself.

Q. How much exercise does a Ridgeback need?

A. Like any medium-large dog, Ridgebacks need exercise--a daily romp in the back yard or park and a couple of longer trips to the park per week should be sufficient. More would be better, but Ridgebacks do adapt to their people.

Q. Are they energetic or hyper?

A. A young Ridgeback is a very energetic fellow. But as Ridgebacks mature, most of them become much more laid back. One author calls them the "kings of dozing." Some say that a mature Ridgeback is happiest when either running flat out across a field or flat out asleep at your feet. In general, they mature into lovely calm dogs that do well when raised with children and other pets.

Q. Where does that ridge on their back come from?

A. The Rhodesian Ridgeback's ancestry includes a dog native to Southern Africa--a tribal dog, a companion and a hunter, with a ridge of hair growing backwards down its back. European settlers admired the hunting ability and temperament of the native dogs and bred them with the dogs they had imported from Europe and North African colonies. They found that the "cross-breeds" that had the ridge had the most desirable hunting ability and temperaments and began to breed specifically for the ridge. And thus the breed was born.

Q. Were they really used to hunt lions?

A. Yes, when the breed was imported to Rhodesia, the big game hunters of the time found them to be excellent hunters and used them to hunt lions. They were found to be the only breed of dog that could, in a pack, keep a lion at bay for the hunter, and live.

Q. Are they good for general hunting?

A. Yes. The Ridgeback has been used successfully in hunting bobcat, mountain lion, bear, coyote, deer, wild boar and raccoon in the US, Canada, and Mexico. There have also been reports of Ridgebacks having been train to point upland game and retrieve game and fowl, but their true talent lies in cornering the prey for the hunter to finish off.