25 Dec Interesting Facts about the Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog Breed

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, muscular and well-composed hunting dog. He has been used for hunting lions and large animals throughout history. They are friendly with their family but won’t hesitate to confront an intruder approaching your home. Rhodesian Ridgeback dog is brilliant and enjoys playing a role in your family. These dogs need a lot of exercises. This handsome dog breed in Africa is known as a versatile hunter and home guard. The Ridgeback is intelligent but sometimes stubborn, with moderate energy and easy to groom. Stay tuned to the end of this article to learn more.

Vital statistics of the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog

• Breed classification: Greyhound
• Height: 61 to 68 cm
• Weight in males: (43) kg, in females: (35) kg.
• Height in males: (62-67) cm and (60-65) cm in females.
• Lifespan: 10 to 12 years

Highlights of the Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed

• The Rhodesian Ridgeback can handle children but can be too unmanageable for toddlers.
• Due to their size, intelligence, and strength, Ridgebacks aren’t recommended for first-time or timid dog owners.
• Ridgebacks will be friendly with other pets quickly. However, he can still be aggressive towards strange animals outside the family, even if he is well-socialized and trained.
• If he gets tired, he can be very destructive.
• The Rhodesian Ridgeback needed a high fence to keep him from escaping.
• His coat sheds a little, and you can keep him clean by brushing him once a week and wiping him with a damp cloth. They also need to have their nails trimmed and brushed regularly.
• Training can be difficult for this dog. The Ridgeback Ridgeback can be stubborn and strong-willed, but if he is compatible with you, you can train him at a high level.
• The Ridgeback is young, energetic, and active, but he generally becomes a calmer dog with maturity and training. He needs at least an hour and a half of exercise every day.
• The Rhodesian Ridgeback can adapt to living in a variety of situations, including an apartment, but his ideal is a home with a large fenced yard.
• The Ridgeback doesn’t bark much in general. His barking will often alert you to something out of the ordinary, and some of his barkings will be when he is tired.

Diseases and health of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Ridgebacks are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they are prone to certain diseases. Not all dogs of this breed get sick, but if your dog is dealing with this breed, it’s necessary to pay attention to it and be aware of it.

Elbow dysplasia

This problem is a common hereditary disease in large-breed dogs. Due to the further growth of the three bones that make up the dog’s elbow, joint laxity is created. It can lead to painful lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem or medication to control the pain. Treatment includes surgery, weight control, medical management, and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia usually occurs in dogs of this breed. Many factors, including genetics, environment, and diet, contribute to this hip deformity. Affected dogs may be able to live every day and healthy life, but some of them require surgery. This problem is a hereditary disease in which the ratio of the femur to the hip joint isn’t proportional and is stuck. Although some dogs show pain and lameness in one or both hind legs, you won’t see any signs of discomfort in a dog with hip dysplasia. In older dogs, arthritis can develop. A dog with hip dysplasia should be treated. Hip dysplasia is hereditary, but environmental factors, including diet, can cause its rapid growth.

Dermoid sinus

This disease is a congenital disability in which a skin cyst with a narrow structure occurs along the spinal region. It can penetrate to different degrees of the skin, and some reach the muscle tissues and sometimes the spinal cord. Some puppies are euthanized with this defect, but others are treated with surgery.

Nutrition

It’s recommended to give him 2-3/4 to 4-3/8 cups of high-quality dog food per day, divided into two meals.

Note: How much food an adult dog consumes depends on size, age, metabolism, and activity level. Dogs don’t need all the food that humans eat. It’s normal for a highly active dog to need more food than a solitary dog. There are also differences in the quality of dog food, and the better food you buy, the more it will feed your dog, and vice versa. Get your dog used to the right time to feed and feed them twice a day instead of having food available all the time.

If you’re unsure if he’s overweight, do the eye and hand test. First, look at him. You have to be a waist taller than him to see him. Then put your hand on his back, thumbs along the spine, and extend with fingers pointing down. It would be best if you were sure to feel his ribs without having to press hard. If you can’t, know that the dog needs less food and more exercise.

Grooming 

General rules

• Rhodesian Ridgeback has short, shiny and odourless hair. Ridgebacks that live indoors shed little throughout the year, while those that live outdoors have heavier seasonal shedding.
• His distinguishing feature is the gradual receding of the ridge of hair on his back, in the opposite direction of the rest of the growth and just behind the shoulder. The bank usually has two rings of hair growing in a circular pattern directly opposite each other.

Brushing 

• When it comes to grooming, the Ridgeback is very economical. Keeping him clean can only be done with weekly brushing and cleaning with a damp cloth.
• Other grooming needs include oral hygiene and nail care.

Teeth care

Brush your dog’s teeth at least two or three times a week to eliminate bacteria in the mouth. Daily brushing is essential to prevent gum disease and bad breath.

Nail trimming

• Nail trimming is necessary once or twice a month. If you hear the nails dragging on the floor, they are too long. Keeping the toenails trimmed regularly in good condition will help you avoid scratching your hands and body when the dog jumps enthusiastically to greet you.
• There are blood vessels in the dog’s toenails, and if you bite too hard, it will cause bleeding, and your dog may not cooperate with you the next time he sees a nail clipper. Therefore, if you haven’t experienced dog nail trimming, ask a veterinarian for complete information.
• Train your dog when he’s a puppy. His paws have been taken care of often because this breed is considered a sensitive dog in front of his feet. Look inside his mouth and ears to make sure it’s clean. Grooming the dog makes it easier for veterinary tests.

Total check

Look inside his mouth as you clean him, and check for signs of sores, itching, and symptoms of infection such as redness, sensitivity to touch, and inflammation of the skin in the nose, mouth, eyes and feet. The look should be free of any redness or discharge. A detailed weekly check-up will help you find potential health problems in the early stages.

Cleaning ears

The dog’s ears should be checked weekly for redness or foul odour, which could indicate an infection. When you check your dog’s ears, it’s essential to clean them with a damp cotton ball with a mild, pH-balanced ear cleaner to help prevent infection. If it gets dry along the edge of the ear, lubricate them with baby or coconut oil. Don’t insert anything into the ear canal; cleaning the outer ear is enough.

Compatibility with children and other pets

The Ridgeback is tolerable for children of all ages but is very large and can be too unmanageable for a toddler.

As with any breed, you should always teach children how to handle and touch a dog and supervise any activity between dogs and young children to prevent any biting, ear-grabbing, or tail-pulling. Never let your young child feed, play with, or disturb a dog in training. No matter how tame the dog is, you must be careful when playing with children, and this dog never likes to be left alone.

In general, this dog isn’t aggressive towards other dogs, although he can become aggressive in a military environment, especially if small dogs are playing around. If this dog is trained, he can play with other animals, even cats.

Keeping place

The Rhodesian Ridgeback dog breed is suitable for keeping in an apartment, but he must have enough physical activity during the day. He’s very calm inside the house, and you can easily keep him home. A small yard or the terrace of your apartment is enough for him to live and do his daily physical activities.

To wrap up

Keeping a dog is a big responsibility; knowing how to keep a dog at home and understanding the meaning of the dog’s movements is essential for the one who takes care of him. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments before the next session.