Rhodesian Ridgeback

History of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed

Jackal-like dogs, which had an oblong crest of wool on the spine, have been bred in Africa since time immemorial. The animals were especially liked by the Hottentots, who, because of their semi-nomadic lifestyle, needed four-legged defenders. In addition, these few people were engaged in cattle breeding, and since it was always a difficult task to preserve livestock in the conditions of the savannah, black shepherds attracted dogs to the cause.

Everything changed in the middle of the XIX century, when the European nobility had a new fashionable hobby – hunting African lions with dogs. The breeds of the Old World were not suitable for such a dangerous event, so the hunters turned their attention to native dogs who already had experience with giant cats. The pioneer in this business was a certain Cornelis Van Royen, who bought Hottentot dogs from a hunter from Southern Rhodesia (formerly Southern Zambezi) and began to breed the ideal lion beater.

Breeding of the breed was the good old method of crossing, and here Van Royen had a wide scope for imagination. So, the clan of aboriginal dogs was replenished with the genes of mastiffs, terriers, bloodhounds , great danes, retrievers and pointers. The experiment, oddly enough, bore fruit, and soon queues of those wishing to purchase a puppy began to line up at the amateur breeder's farm. By the way, initially the animals were not called ridgebacks, but Van Royen's dogs, and this praise of the breeder's personality continued until the beginning of the XX century. It was only in 1922 that Francis Richard Barnes initiated the creation of a separate standard for the breed, according to which all dogs with a crest on their backs were renamed Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

In Russia, Rhodesian ridgebacks began to appear in the early 90s, while the first pair of manufacturers were imported not from Africa, but from the USA. In 1994, domestic breeders received the first litter of puppies, in which there were 5 "girls" and 1 "boy". A year later, the kennels were replenished with several more breeding individuals who became great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers of almost all Russian ridgebacks.

Interesting fact: despite the fact that Rhodesian Ridgebacks have always been regarded as unsurpassed lion hunters, they have never entered into a direct fight with the beast. The task of the dog was to chase and detain the predator before the arrival of a person, but not in any way to attack him. Subsequently, unscrupulous breeders deliberately began to conceal this fact, endowing ridgebacks with fantastic strength, allowing them to face off with the king of beasts.

Video: Rhodesian Ridgeback

The standard of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a hunter and a stern guardian in one person. Strong, muscular, but at the same time not devoid of elegance, he is not distinguished by either a special massiveness or an exquisite "drying" silhouette. Figuratively speaking, this dog is more of an athlete than a wrestler, which is clearly hinted at by a taut body and dry, bony legs. To date, the breed exists in two types – a rougher, tending to the appearance of Molossians, and a lightweight, so-called borzoid variant. At the same time, frank large-format, as well as excessive elegance of the animal's constitution, are not welcome by breeding specialists.

Head

The triangular, flat skull of the dog continues with a long, powerful muzzle with a moderate stop.

Jaws and teeth

Representatives of this breed are distinguished by strong, massive teeth and strong jaws. The only acceptable type of bite for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is scissor bite.

Nose

In individuals with a dark color of the iris, the lobe is black. A brown tone is also acceptable if it occurs in dogs with golden-amber eyes.

Eyes

Representatives of the breed have rounded, shining, relatively distant from each other eyes. The color of the iris is in harmony with the shade of the coat, that is, the lighter the dog, the darker the eye color.

Ears

Ridgeback ears are not small, but also not too large, set high, lowered down along the cheekbones. The base of the ear cloth is massive. The tip is thin, rounded shape.

Neck

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a muscular, dense, medium-length neck. There is no suspension.

Housing

The dog's body is harmoniously developed, slightly stretched format, with a powerful back and deep, spacious chest.

Limbs

The front legs of the Rhodesian Ridgeback are bony, perfectly straight, with elbows pressed tightly to the sides. When examining the animal in profile, the legs seem noticeably wider than when looking at them from the front. The shoulder blades are muscular, set at a good angle. Pasterns are strong and also inclined. The hind legs of the dog are strong, dryly muscular type, with distinct angles of articulation and strong hock joints. The paws of the Rhodesian Ridgeback are relatively small, with cat-like curved fingers and tufts of hair between them.

Tail

The purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback has a medium-length tail with a thickened, strong base and a slight bend.

Wool

The dog's coat is short, dense and shiny.

Ridge

The brand "brand" of the breed is ridge: a comb of stiff wool no more than 5 cm wide, located along the spine of the dog. The correct ridge is formed by a hair growing in the direction opposite to the rest of the coat. The crest should be clearly outlined and have a contour tapering towards the croup. It usually starts from the withers and ends in the lumbar region of the animal, reaching the pelvic bones. In addition, the classic ridge has no more than two symmetrically arranged corollas / curls (so–called crowns).

Color

Rhodesian ridgebacks are characterized by colors from light wheat to bright red. At the same time, it is quite natural if the dog's ears and muzzle are painted black. Small patches of white on the paws and chest of the animal are not considered a defect, but the presence of large white spots on the coat is unacceptable.

Possible vices

Disadvantages are external features that do not fit into the standard standard. Most often, these include excessive "pumping" of the dog, the square format of its trunk, a short tail, twisted elbows and loose paws. The ridge also has a number of requirements: it should not be too narrow or short, and its curls should not be barely distinguishable and asymmetrical.

Rhodesian ridgebacks are disqualified mainly for cryptorchidism, pronounced malocclusion, incompleteness, atypical colors, ridge with three or more crowns, as well as for deviations in behavior – cowardice, rage, aggression.

Photos of Rhodesian ridgeback

Character of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog with nerves of steel and a great sense of self–worth. This muscular handsome man is not at all intrusive, although communication with a person for him is the highest of available pleasures. In addition, he is always ready for the work that you will come up with for him. In particular, ridgebacks make hyper-responsible guardians: dogs are very sensitive to the violation of territorial borders and encroachment on the wealth surrounding them.

Nevertheless, it is not quite right to consider the Rhodesian ridgeback a brawler who sleeps and sees who would pat the skin. On the contrary, the true representative of this glorious family has a strong nervous system, which is not so easy to shake. He is not quick-tempered and knows how to curb his own feelings. A vivid example of this is the attitude towards strangers. In the depths of the soul of the dog from them, of course, are not enthusiastic, but when faced with strangers, ridgebacks demonstrate cold indifference.

In everyday life, the Rhodesian Ridgeback gives the impression of an absolutely phlegmatic creature, misleading those who are not familiar with the breed. This energy-saving mode has been "turned on" by dogs since time immemorial, thus accumulating strength for the upcoming hunt. Modern individuals are also in no hurry to abandon ancient traditions, in the absence of work, passing into a static contemplative state and leaving it at the first request of the owner.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback does not conflict with the guys. He is not annoyed by children's tricks, and he does not get hysterical from sharp screams and other "noise effects" that usually accompany games. If necessary, the dog will always support the company and please your heirs with some simple trick. At the same time, it is important to observe the measure and not to hang one-year-old crumbs on the pet. The ridgeback will most likely find an approach to them, but it may not calculate the strength – there is a very significant difference in dimensions.

Rhodesian ridgebacks can be attributed to those breeds that see rivals and prey everywhere, so the rest of the pets, as well as street animals, the dog is not a friend. As an example: if the neighbors on the landing got a charming fluffy, which is periodically released to "air out" in the yard, you will have more worries. Otherwise, get ready to explain to the owners of the cattery the "ritual sacrifice" that a dog can arrange when confronted with an animal on the street. Rhodesian ridgebacks also conflict with each other, so it makes sense to keep two males in the same territory only if you are entertained by the constant clarification of relations between pets, grumbling and competition for a more delicious piece.

Education and training

Briefly about the training of Rhodesian ridgebacks: it is difficult, but it is possible if the training is preceded by a preparatory stage, after which the animal will be more attentive to the requirements of the owner. For example, it is very important to awaken a pet's interest in toys, since Rhodesian ridgebacks like to play with each other, and not with inanimate objects. In addition, toys help quite well in cases when the puppy needs to be distracted, for example, from biting the owner's hands. However, you should not overdo it with entertainment either: the game should not be protracted and tire the animal. Decide on the boundaries of what is allowed. If you expect to relax on the couch in an embrace with a pet, it's enough to put a tiny ridgeback on it a couple of times. Those who are not yet ready to share a bed, even with a pet, but still an animal, will have to guard soft horizontal surfaces like the apple of their eye. Once a kid lies on the sofa, he will always practice it, especially in your absence.

The establishment of tactile-emotional contact between a person and a puppy also refers to the preparatory stage of training. Teach your baby not to be afraid of your touch, often sit him down next to him, lift him up, passing his hand under his stomach. The command "To me!" is not used for 3-month-old babies, but the pet must necessarily approach the call of the owner. If this does not happen, you will have to be cunning, luring the dog with a treat and loudly pronouncing its nickname. Smoothly bring the Rhodesian Ridgeback to the acquaintance with the leash. At 3-4 months, the puppy should adequately perceive this accessory and not go crazy when a collar appears on it.

When training, take into account the characteristics of the breed. The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a somewhat distracted attention, so prolonged concentration on one subject is torture for him. Reduce the duration of lessons as much as possible (the best option is no more than 5 minutes) and increase the breaks (from 10 minutes or more). Do not forget to monitor the mood of the pet: if the dog shows obvious boredom at the very beginning of training, classes will have to be temporarily stopped.

The attention of the Rhodesian ridgeback can and should be trained, which will then make it much easier to work with it. The classic technique for fixing this property of the psyche looks like this: the owner treats the dog with a tasty treat, after which he clamps the rest of the treats in his fist, raising his hand high up. An interested puppy will immediately try to get an object of gastronomic lust, jumping up and hypnotizing a person's hand with a glance. When attempts to get a delicacy are unsuccessful, the Rhodesian Ridgeback will use the last resort – look piteously at the owner. It is necessary to keep the puppy's gaze as long as possible, after which the "sufferer" should be treated well.

Dog handlers recommend starting the training of basic commands with a Rhodesian ridgeback from 4-5 months. By this age, the puppies have become relatively stronger and more independent. How appropriate it is to learn all the commands from the General training course, everyone decides for himself, but the Rhodesian Ridgeback must learn the call "To me!" and the ban "Fu!". Otherwise, the dog's life will be very short.

As for the methods of education and training, positive reinforcement is more suitable for representatives of this breed, and it does not necessarily have to be a treat. Among the Rhodesian ridgebacks, there are real gamers for whom the best incentive is the opportunity to chew on their favorite toy. Other dogs have enough of the owner's praise and stroking on the head. Negative reinforcement in the life of the Rhodesian ridgeback also takes place, but it should be used in exceptional cases when the animal demonstrates a clear disregard for the rules or tries to measure strength with a person. No, it is strictly forbidden to beat a pet, but it is quite permissible to pat it by the ear, pull the collar or roll it on its back, pinning it to the floor. It is very desirable to accompany the "execution" with a verbal ban, for example, the command "No!". And, please, no slapping with a wet towel, quilting with a twig or other offensive physical influences. Such humiliation in the Rhodesian Ridgeback will be remembered for a long time and will significantly undermine your authority in his eyes.

Important: do not make excessive demands on the animal. Rhodesian Ridgebacks have never been service dogs and will never be. They are smart, trainable, but you can't get perfect command following from these stubborn people. So be prepared for the fact that even a mature animal will periodically have "system failures" when the pet ignores your order.

Maintenance and care

A Rhodesian Ridgeback doesn't care if you put it in a city apartment or rent a country house for this purpose. Provided a good walking distance and a sufficient amount of sports loads, it will easily fit even into a small living space. Where the ridgeback definitely does not belong is in a kennel and an aviary. Whatever one may say, but the breed is not adapted to the Russian climatic realities, and the dogs themselves perceive moving to the booth as exile. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are intelligent, proud and in need of human society.

Hygiene

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a thin, dry, almost odorless coat with pronounced seasonality of molting. Daily combing of the breed, in fact, is useless, but walking over the animal with a comb a couple of times a week, there is a chance to keep relative order in the house. By the way, buying a vacuum cleaner with a high suction power also makes sense, since it is, alas, unrealistic to keep track of every hair that has fallen out of the dog.

It is not customary to cut and trim Rhodesian ridgebacks, this is one of the neatest breeds that practically does not need grooming. The dogs themselves are sensitive to their own hygiene, so they do not favor walking in bad weather. Promenades through puddles and muddy park paths for representatives of this breed are a dubious pleasure, which they will willingly sacrifice for the sake of cleanliness and comfort.

Don't turn into a perfectionist by dragging your pet to the bathroom every week. The ancestors of ridgebacks quietly managed without "bath days" and looked no worse than modern individuals. So wash the dog a couple of times a year with a neutral pet shampoo, the rest of the time being content with dry cleaning with talcum powder or wiping the animal with a damp cloth (does not apply to representatives of the show class). If you bought a puppy in the spring or summer, try to interest him in swimming in open reservoirs, provided that the water is sufficiently warmed up. Just do it unobtrusively: if the baby's hydrophobia has transformed into a phobia, it's pointless to try to defeat it.

In general, the care of the Rhodesian Ridgeback does not require extra effort. Trim the claws once a month, wipe the eyes if dust gets into them, remove plaque from the enamel and clean the ears – all this is a matter of a few minutes if the dog is accustomed to such procedures. Well, the notorious "airing" of the ears, which ridgebacks badly need, can generally be done in passing. Just lift the pet's ear cloth and wave it slightly, providing air flow into the ear funnel.

Walking

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not a dog for a "pleasant background". The breed needs an active, energetic owner who will not be lazy to spend two hours in the morning and evening in the nearest park or on the training ground. Prepare puppies to go outside in advance. For example, to wean a baby away from sharp unfamiliar sounds, it is worth rustling newspapers or packages more often in his presence, blowing a whistle and slamming the door loudly. For the first time, a Rhodesian ridgeback puppy can be carried in a backpack (if the animal is less than 3 months old). Then, when the baby receives comprehensive vaccinations and spends the required time in quarantine, he can be walked on a leash.

Do not get ahead of events and do not try to raise a daredevil in the Rhodesian ridgeback during the first outings. The puppy needs time to get used to the new environment, so you should not pull him to walk near the freeway and near shopping centers. Start introducing the animal to a new reality for him in quiet squares, in his own yard or on suburban lawns, gradually moving to more noisy locations. At 4-5 months, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is relatively stress-resistant, so it is quite possible to walk to the supermarket, go down to the underpass or take a bus ride with it.

No matter how well the Rhodesian Ridgeback was brought up, instincts rule over it. Seeing a stray cat or a chicken walking along the road, the dog forgets about everything and rushes after the prey. It is good if at this moment the animal was walking on a leash. In this case, a forbidding command and a sharp tugging of the strap will cool his ardor. If not, the problems are provided. Accordingly, if you let ridgeback run, give him the opportunity to do it in safe places, for example, in a fenced-in backyard or on a lawn outside the city.

Feeding

Rhodesian ridgebacks are not the most picky gourmets, but they will never refuse an additive. Indulging a pet's brutal appetite is not recommended, because members of this family are practically champions in extreme weight gain. Accordingly, if you need a dog, and not a pig in its guise, stop worrying about the underfed four-legged friend.

The daily norm of meat for the Rhodesian ridgeback is 300-500 grams, that is, about 80-100 g per 10 kg of body weight. The optimal varieties of protein will be beef (not veal) and lean lamb. From 7 months, meat can be replaced with beef tripe, however, due to its low energy value, the portion should be twice as large. A good alternative to tripe is mutton flank, which is given both boiled and raw. Once a week, you can experiment with turkey or chicken breast. Tubular bones are forbidden to Rhodesian ridgebacks, but they can easily be replaced with calf legs – puppies gnaw them no less willingly.

Useful

• Sea fish (cod, hake).
• Low-fat cottage cheese, kefir.
• Cereals: rice, buckwheat.
• Chicken and quail eggs (once a week, if no allergies are detected).
• Green apples (red ones provoke allergies).
• Cabbage: broccoli, cauliflower, Chinese.
• Zucchini.
• Carrots (grated and flavored with vegetable oil).
• Greens: parsley, celery, dill.
• Vegetable oil: sunflower, olive, corn.

Rye or bran crackers, cheese, dried fruits are also suitable for Rhodesian ridgebacks as stimulating treats.

Harmful

• Starch-containing vegetables and fruits, including potatoes and bananas.
• Any meat and bone broths both in pure form and as an additive to cereals.
• Pasta.
• Smoked meats and pickles.
• Sweets.
• Canned food.
• River fish.
• Garlic and onion.
• Spicy and spicy dishes from the master's table.

Health and diseases of Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Rhodesian ridgebacks have strong immunity, high body resistance, but this does not free them from genetic ailments, the most unpleasant of which is the dermoid sinus. Surprisingly, this defect of intrauterine development, as a result of which the skin is not infected in the spine and their germination deep into the tissues, is closely related to the formation of ridge. In addition, animals are susceptible to other hereditary diseases, in particular:

• hip dysplasia;
• hypothyroidism;
• intestinal inversion;
• osteochondrosis;
• ear infections;
• obesity;
• allergies;
• deafness;
• cataract;
• entropion.

How to choose a puppy

• Make sure that the nursery you have chosen is registered with the RCF.
• Give preference to a breeder practicing suburban breeding of ridgebacks. At the same time, pay attention to the presence of aviaries on the territory of the nursery. A seller who values his reputation should not have animals sitting in them.
• Rhodesian ridgebacks are very prolific and sometimes bring 10 or more puppies. Some breeders get rid of excess offspring, others keep the whole litter, but if you take a baby from a bitch feeding more than 6 crumbs, get ready to get a small, weak, in need of increased attention creature.
• Ask the kennel worker to show all the puppies. If babies have almost the same size and constitution, this indicates a high quality of offspring.
• Check with the seller when the Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch had the penultimate litter. If less than a year has passed between births, the dog is unlikely to have had time to physically recover, which means her offspring will be frail. In prestigious European nurseries, breeding bitches are allowed to give birth no more than 2-3 times in a lifetime.
• Ask the breeder to provide maximum information about the puppy's parents: their age, champion titles, pedigree, number of births.
• The presence of a ridge in a puppy is a mandatory item. Do not believe the sworn assurances of the seller that in a couple of months the comb will grow. It won't grow! Not in a month, not in a year, not in ten years.

Photos of Rhodesian ridgeback puppies

Price of a Rhodesian Ridgeback

The price tag for a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy can be both impressive and symbolic. It all depends on the age of the animal, its class and the purpose pursued by the seller. Purebred representatives of the breed from advertised nurseries are put up for sale at $400 - $600. Amateur breeders have lower prices: pet class – from $200, breed – $300 - $400 . The most economical option is urgent announcements from owners of Rhodesian ridgebacks who purchased a puppy, but did not calculate their own strength and could not get along with the breed. In the same way, grown-up puppies or adults are sold, and their cost is greatly underestimated.