Rhodesian Ridgeback Purebred
Dog Breed Information

A member of the AKC Hound Group, The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed of dog that is able to retrieve, track, hunt game, and protect property.

These dogs are still considered hunting dogs. Their nature is to chase, hunt, corner or tree any kind of game. They simply love the thrill of the chase. A mature Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding, and athletic dog, capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed as well.

Ridgebacks are well known to be loyal, intelligent, gentle, and very independent but they need to be independent thinkers so that they can outsmart game. They are also very aloof when around strangers.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are remarkably clean dogs and are easy to keep as they are rarely noisy or quarrelsome, unless provoked. Acceptable colors are reddish gold to wheaten. Ridgebacks are intelligent, strong-willed, exceptionally clever, loyal, gentle, and very independent. They do not make a good first dog to inexperienced dog owners.

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The best known feature of this breed is the ridge of hair which grows forward on his back. It consists of a fan-like area (called "crowns") and then tapers from immediately behind the shoulders, all the way down to the dogs hip area.

The Ridgeback is not the dog for everyone; he needs an owner who will invest the time it takes to build a bond of trust. Dignified and even tempered, they are often quite reserved with strangers.

Socialize them to cats and other small animals while they are young to prevent any future potential problems before they happen.

The Ridgeback is a large, muscular dog originally bred in South Africa to hunt lions - because of their ability to harass a lion and keep it at bay while awaiting their master. They are also known as the African lion hound.

Country of origin: South Africa
Lifespan: 10-12 years
Colors: Any shade of wheaten, from pale to rich red
Known health problems: Hypothyroidism, mast cell tumors, dermoid sinus