So, you want to own a Ridgeback

So, you want to own a Ridgeback

Congratulations! We can tell you from experience that you have made an excellent choice! Below, you will find our top 15 things to know before you bring your new Ridgeback home (all from our time with Ridgebacks and our lessons since having them).

1. Be consistent: And by that I mean be Really consistent. These dogs are smart and will get around your rules unless you follow through every time. Always require a particular behavior before reward. For instance, have them sit and wait before releasing them to their dog bowl.

2. Be Firm: Always, of course, be kind and gentle to your Ridgeback, but stay firm. They do need to be aware of who the pack leader is. They will be happier once they know where they stand. This means, you eat first, you walk through doors first, they go to their kennel if they misbehave, etc. Once their position in the pack is established, they will be happy to stay there.

3. Train for obedience: If you are not already familiar with obedience training (and even if you are) puppy classes are a must for this breed. Start them as early as possible – make sure they are properly inoculated first – and you will be thrilled with the results. They want to please. Use positive reinforcement for the best results.

4. Get ready to exercise: Rhodesian Ridgebacks need to run. They are bred for stamina and endurance and can become quite unhappy and unruly, if they are not properly exercised. Take them on a walk, run them on a beach, hike with them up a mountain. A tired Ridgeback is a happy Ridgeback.

5. Get ready for a new family member: Your Ridgeback will not consider itself anything less than a family member. They are loyal and will want to be around you almost all the time. Nothing is better than a tired Ridgeback asleep at your feet after a nice long hike.

6. Yes, you need a yard with a very good fence: Your Ridgeback needs a secure place to call home. They sure can jump though, so make sure that fence is safe. These are NOT dogs that you should leave outside or kenneled by them selves. NEVER chain them or confine them. Treat your new Ridgeback like a member of the family. If you live in an apartment, this is not the breed for you.

7. They are good with kids: You will need to slowly introduce and socialize your Ridgeback to children, but they can be remarkably good with those smaller humans if trained properly. These are big dogs so always keep that in mind. Always have an adult walk your Ridgeback (just in case a squirrel should run past!)

8. They need to be socialized early: Socialize your Ridgeback in every way possible. Get them around people, around other animals and around various places, smells and sounds. We start our puppies off strong with good socialization, but this needs to be continued throughout life.

9. They are bred to chase: Did I mention a squirrel earlier? If they can see it, smell it or hear it, they will chase it. Many Ridgeback owners participate is organized activities based on luring or coursing because of this. Be aware.

10. Yes, they chew: The good news is you can make sure they chew the right things. Teach the command “leave it” early. Take away anything you do not want destroyed and substitute something that is theirs. This is one of those areas where consistency is key.

11. They love to take a car ride: Our experience is that our Ridgeback is happy to go wherever we go. Our girl has been happy to take long road trips (with breaks for some exercise and potty time of course) mostly sleeping on her pad in the back seat. They want to be with you.

12. They like to eat: We feed a BARF (bones and raw meat) diet supplemented with high quality kibble. Although many owners swear their Ridgeback will eat anything that is available, we have not found that to be the case. Each dog will differ but our kibble is out for free feeding and she seldom finishes the bowl. Raw chicken however is another matter. We can set our clocks by when she wants her twice-daily ration. In addition, we always – always only feed our dogs from their bowl which I think helps. They never receive food at our table. They do, of course, get handed treats when following a command or for good behavior.

13. Ignore the puppy: One of the best tricks we ever learned was to tell all visitors to “ignore the puppy/dog” until he/she is completely calm. That means not looking at them, no talking to them, not petting them until the dog is almost bored with them. This keeps the dog in its rightful spot in the pack and helps to prohibit over excitement and jumping on guests.

14. They love to sleep: Our experience is that when adequately exercised, a Rhodesian Ridgeback will sleep with the best of them. Whether on their bed or at your feet, those deep sleep hours will amaze you.

15. It takes about 18-24 months for them to “grow up” and mature: Although they reach their physical size before then, the puppy behavior will continue. Be patient, be firm, be kind and they will mature into the most amazing dog.