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Rhodesian Ridgeback - The Lion Hunter
By: Tippy
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a calm, gentle, good-natured,
loyal, obedient, skillful, straight-forward dog that with
training can become a ferocious hunting dog. They have a
tendency to play rough with children so it is not
recommended that little ones play with the dog unsupervised.
They are brave and vigilant dogs that can be reserved around
strangers so be sure to socialize your puppy well. This dog
will get along fine with cats and other household animals
provided it is introduced to them when it is young and grows
up with them.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a great deal of stamina and need a
lot of mental and physical exercise; otherwise they may
become high strung. This dog breed, even more than most,
needs a confident and consistent owner who is a natural
authority in the household. Otherwise it can be hard to
control and may become combative with other dogs. When all
of their needs are met this breed is a fine companion dog
but they are a high energy breed and aren't recommended for
everyone.
This breed is intelligent and quick to learn, but needs to
be consistently and firmly trained.
Dog training should start as
young as possible and should be gentle and firm. The
Rhodesian Ridgeback makes a great watchdog, but it isn't
suggested that it be used as a guard dog because it may
become too aggressive. They are very protective of their
owners and this must be addressed during early training. If
not given enough exercise they can be quite destructive,
especially if the owners are meek or passive.
Be sure to not overfeed your Rhodesian Ridgeback as this
breed is vulnerable to the bloat and
Hip Dysplasia that
plague all large dogs. Male dogs can reach twenty-five to
twenty-seven inches in height and weigh between eight and
ninety pounds. The females stand twenty-four to twenty-six
inches in height and weigh between sixty-five and seventy-
five pounds. They have an average life expectancy of between
ten and twelve years.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a very hardy dog that can
withstand extreme temperatures. These dogs have great
stamina and can run and play for hours without tiring. Your
Ridgeback must be taken on a long daily walk to take care of
the physical and psychological needs that all dogs have.
These dogs make great jogging companions. They also need a
lot of time off the leash in a safe area to run around,
otherwise they can become destructive and other behavioral
problems will arise. These dogs are high energy and need an
active family.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback will do fine in an apartment or small
house provided that it is given enough exercise every day.
They are relatively inactive indoors and will do best when
they have a large yard to play around in.
The short-haired, smooth coat of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is
easy to care for. Brush it weekly with a firm bristle brush
and bathe only when necessary. This dog breed shed
averagely.
Picture of Rhodesian Ridgeback
Here's some Tips for Keeping the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed
Jane Bicks, D.V.M.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are determined watchdogs.
These muscular animals need exercise, high quality
food, and love.
Because they can manifest the same problems as
any big dog - bloat and hip dysplasia - precautions
must be taken.
Skin and coat supplements can add that shine your
dog may lack, but go easy on the oils because
calories count.
What you should Feed a Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian Ridgeback Treats
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