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Is a Rhodesian Ridgeback the right Dog for You and Your Family?
Many times people see a breed of dog and fall
in love with it’s
looks, never considering that that breed may be totally unsuitable
for their lifestyle, their facilities or their ability to train
and control it. All they know is they’ve got to have one!
Buying a dog on impulse is always a bad idea! As with buying
anything, YOU must educate yourself first: Find out what the
breed is truly like, visit the home of several people who have
that breed and find out what problems they have encountered.
Learn to ask the correct questions, not only about the positive
aspects of a breed, but the negative, too. And learn what questions
to ask the litter owners....think of it as finding out what the "warranty" covers
and the "features" of the item.
Ridgebacks are not Labradors or Golden Retrievers in short coats.
They are hunting dogs and have a high prey drive. Translation:
They are quite independent - they don’t fawn over your
every word, they can be oblivious to being called and require
a lot of positive motivation to train them in traditional obedience.
Many people are just not prepared for the stubbornness and
hard-headedness in this breed.
Any dog ownership requires responsibility. Dogs
are not something to decorate your home or yard, they are living,
feeling creatures
who should be treated as members of your family. This is especially
true of Ridgebacks. They must be made to feel as part of your "pack",
i.e. your family, or they will strike out on their own. You should
think of them as a new addition to your family and plan for them
as you would a new child.
Planning
for your Rhodesian Ridgeback is essential
Dogs, especially puppies, will make a big demand on your time.
It takes time to properly feed, train and play with a new puppy.
Just like babies, young puppies are not able to make it through
the night and you will have to get up and take them out. If you
work, a new pup might require that you come home at lunch time
to let him out or hire a noon time helper to assist you.
Ridgebacks need plenty of exercise to stay happy and healthy.
You'll need to set aside playtime and time for training. Young
puppies need a lot of socialization to be good companions. A
weekly obedience training class and daily practice is a must
for your Ridgeback to become a welcome member of the community!
If this seems like too much for you and your family's schedule,
then perhaps this is not the right time to get a Ridgeback.
Your
Ridgeback will need your protection
Ridgebacks naturally want to hunt and have no sense of cars
or yard when they go after a squirrel, rabbit or cat. A fenced
yard is important for your dog's safety. Once a Ridgeback starts
after a squirrel or rabbit, nothing short of a six foot wall
or fence may stop him. Dogs allowed to roam are in danger from
becoming lost, of being hit by a car or being poisoned. You certainly
don't want your dog to run away or get lost or killed. It's also
good idea to have your Ridgeback wear an identification tag or,
better yet, to have your dog permanently identified with a tattoo
or microchip, just in case he manages to get loose despite your
efforts. And, of course, when he leaves the yard he'll need a
leash.
Your Ridgeback must have adequate shelter, if he is outdoors,
while you are away. Shelters must be cool in the summer and warm
in the winter.
Ridgebacks
grow to be big dogs
Puppies don't stay little very long! When looking
for any breed you need to consider one that suits your environment
and lifestyle.
Take the time to research a breed you are interested in....visit
the homes of breeders or individuals who own that breed. Ridgebacks
may be appealing to you in a physical sense, but they may not
have the temperament suitable to your lifestyle. For example:
Ridgebacks at play are very energetic - they need lots of space
and can knock down children or adults, when they are roughhousing.
If you live in the city, you will need to locate a dog park,
or an area where your Ridgeback can safely run and exercise…..
a tired puppy is a good puppy!
It's those people, who buy on impulse, who most
often find they can't live with a Ridgeback and decide the
dog has to go.....this
is not fair to the dog! Often it’s these irresponsible
owners, who further burden rescue organisations with having to
take the dog and rehabilitate it.
Again, take the time to read up on the Ridgeback, talk with
several knowledgeable owners, check the internet and try to visit
the home of several breeders. Try to go to some shows and talk
with exhibitors, but most of all observe, observe, observe!
Money Concerns
The initial price of a dog is of concern to some
(Ridgebacks, as a rare breed are more expensive than other
dogs), but it’s
the lifelong cost that they sometimes forget. In most communities,
dogs need a license. Failure to comply with local laws may result
in fines or penalties and may endanger your right to keep your
dog!
In addition to the purchase price of your dog, you must plan
for food, grooming, collars, a leash and some toys and a special
bed. Add in veterinary care and those training lessons!
All dogs need annual vaccinations, heartworm medication, and
...just like humans...regular checkups. Dogs require flea, tick
and heartworm treatments and sometimes expensive treatments for
unexpected ailments or accidents. Ask yourself if you can afford
a dog.
Ridgebacks
need companionship
Friendship is a two-way street. Your dog deserves plenty of
attention! He will be less inclined to bark or chew your belongings
or run away from home, if he gets your love and devotion. Dogs
are emotional beings and to neglect them by banishing them to
a lonely life in the yard, on a chain or in a kennel is cruel
and abusive. Just like children, you have to love and instruct
them on proper behavior! Then you will have a well adjusted Ridgeback,
that is a pleasure to be around.
Ridgebacks
need all of the above for their lifetime
The average life span of most Ridgebacks is ten to twelve years,
but some have lived for sixteen years! So, your dog will depend
on you for love and care for a long time. Being a responsible
dog owner is an important job and requires your serious commitment.
What are the GOOD points of Ridgebacks?
Ridgebacks have a short coat, don't shed much and are practically
odor free - great for hot climates.
They are quite discriminating in who or what they bark at...you
should ALWAYS go check it out...
They are not fussy eaters and have virtually "cast-iron" digestive
systems.
They love living with people and are generally quiet in the
house.
Ridgebacks are intelligent and want to please their owner.
Ridgebacks are easily house-trained.
And, of course, they are the most handsome of dogs!
The Drawbacks:
As puppies they have surgical-knife sharp teeth and the jaw
power of a Doberman Pinscher...they should never be allowed to
play roughly with humans of any age. They can do major damage
to coffee tables, shoes and anything else they can find to chomp
on....crate training is a must to protect home furnishings while
you are not at home. As juveniles, if left unattended, they can
cause your house to self-destruct...at least, it may appear that
way! If left in the yard, they will find things to chew on that
you may not even know you own until it ceases working. A bored
Ridgeback is a major disaster waiting to happen.
They are capable of digging ranch-sized holes, biting the limbs
off shrubs and ripping up small trees. People who love
to garden must accept the fact, that their backyards will belong
to the dog!
They are not fussy eaters and have cast-iron stomachs - and
you thought this was a good thing - NOT! It
also means they will
attempt to eat anything that doesn't eat them first. They are
master counter surfers...nothing is spared and they are fast.
Ridgeback owners have a tendency to overfeed their dogs, causing
gas - not the most pleasant aspect of dog ownership. Remember,
a Ridgeback always thinks it’s hungry! You have to feed
on schedule and stick to your plan.
RRs are "people" dogs, which means
they should be treated as family and not made to live alone
in the yard,
otherwise you wind up with a big, powerful, pushy creature of
your own making! An adult RR can clear a 5 foot fence, if he
wants to. A bored dog is going to look for something to do, even
if that means outside your yard. No one wants to live next door
to someone, who lets their dog out to eliminate on the neighbors
lawn, whose dog gets out and kills cats, or scares the walkers,
joggers and bike riders.
RRs grow to be big dogs and must attended obedience classes
with you so he won't become a "bad apple" and
give an ugly impression of the breed! Learning to walk on a
loose
leash at an early age is essential - nobody should be pulled
around by a big dog.
Ridgebacks are intelligent…this too, has been said.
What is means is, that they are fully capable of training you
before you can train them. They are quite clever and can be willfully
disobedient. The earlier the obedience classes start the better.
We can’t say this enough - A bored Ridgeback can be quite
destructive and may develop bad habits of chewing, escaping crates
and backyards, barking out of boredom, and generally making a
pest of themselves. It is essential, that you have the time to
put in with them. This can be as simple as having them in the
house with you, when you are home. Make sure, they get a good
amount of exercise…whether outside hiking, training, running
or walking with them in safe areas.
Ridgebacks must be introduced to cats and even so, may be aggressive
towards strange felines.....
Before you get a Ridgeback , please consider the adult size
of a Ridgeback and whether you and your family members will be
able to properly keep and train the dog, to be a great companion
and a good canine citizen!
Written by Sandra Fikes from Kalahari Rhodesian
Ridgebacks
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