I've recently been walking with a new friend who has a Rhodesian Ridgeback bitch. I tentatively looked at the breed before but there has always been a bit of a 'reputation' about them, but since meeting this girl I am smitten. Her owner has done such a good job with her and she is a really lovely dog, she gets on with Cooper (Dalmatian) well and they play really well together and are matched well for walks. She seems more willing than Cooper when being asked to do something, is this common with Ridgebacks or just unique to this girl? She isn't a bend over backwards to do as you ask type, but if you ask she will do it, where as you can always see the cogs clicking in Coopers head where he is deciding to do as you have asked She seems quite reserved with dogs and people at first, then when she gets to know them she is all over them (I had a lovely nose in my eye kiss the other day as she misjudged the distance when she ran up to kiss me ) It says on the breed website this is fairly common with them, she doesn't seem to have the issue of having to greet everyone she meets like Cooper. Anyone got any pics or tales of Ridgebacks to share? They are now on my list of future breeds I would like
I like Ridgebacks. A guy I work with has one who is lovely but ENORMOUS. Probably way bigger than what they should be. There are a couple of dog walkers with Ridgebacks around here and they all seem like nice dogs. The bitches I've noticed are a bit more aloof and reserved than the males. The boys are a bit more forthcoming and up for a play (with my dogs).
Might be why you like them .lol ''The original breed standard was drafted by F.R. Barnes, in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in 1922. Based on that of the Dalmatian, the standard was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926''.
A person I meet out on my walks has 3 ridgebacks, 2 bitches and a male. Their behaviour is impecable and although they don't go out of their way to "meet and greet" they do warm up once they have had time to weigh the situation up. A ridgeback pup came to a training club a few years ago but unfortunately she was quite shy and frightened and the lady only came with her a couple of times, which was a shame. Ridgebacks are a very capable guarding breed and it is important to make sure of a sound and stable temperament. They would definitely need appropriate socialising and training when young together with a knowledgeable owner. I think they make good family dogs in the right situation. I like them a lot and maybe (only maybe) I would consider a ridgeback puppy if I wasn't so besotted with retrievers - most of whom have very little if any guarding instinct at all. That would be a significant thing for me to consider.
I've met a few Ridgebacks. My fav 2 were brothers called Eric and Dave They were lovely, huge and extremely laid back. Great with other dogs, both got there gold KCGC but sometimes the recall went out the window if they saw a pheasant lol training wasnt their fav thing, they didnt see the point in getting up to do the exercises
I've only met a couple and one growled at Parker and the other one was at a dog show and the owner advised the judge not to touch it! It still won reserve best in show though! I did complain afterwards to the organisers and they said they would mention it to the judge as they agreed with me that temperament was as (if not more) important than looks and they had seen this dog before at other dogs shows and it would not let the judge handle it.
I've just found out they are on the DDA list in Ireland, bit of a pain in the bum if I wanted to take the dogs with me on holiday there (I am planning to take Cooper with me to Ireland in the near future). My friends girl is quite a bit bigger than Cooper (he's 24 inches) and she's younger than him, so she's going to be a big girl
We met a gorgeous boy on the beach a while back. He was really playful with Tilly but so gentle. When she stopped running suddenly, he leapt into the air so as not to crash into her. His owner said he hates hurting little dogs and will do all he can to be gentle with them. He was a great ambassador for the breed!
One of the dogs I meet most often at a local park is a male Ridgeback - he is absolutely stunning. He is very wary and slow to approach both other dogs and people; I asked the owner and he said the dog is very 'aloof' and that he ignores his wife even! He said it's a 'breed thing' but I'm not sure as I've only ever met this one Ridgeback.
There was one who used to come training, the owner bred them. When I first saw him I thought he was a Great Dane because he was quite pale (like the fawn colour in a GD) and he was the size of a horse! But I knew his head didnt look right for a Dane and then I saw his ridge... Then there are the people whom I sometimes see if I choose to go on a certain park who have 2 littermates and they are quite reactive. They will charge up to your dogs barking and growling and if your dog goes over it will get a telling off. The first one I ever saw was owned by a small Asian man who I think kept it for a bit of protection (he had a large property and owned a shop) but it seemed of very steady temperament and took everything in it's stride.
