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So you're thinking a Ridgeback might be right for you.... but before you frantically start searching for a puppy, I suggest you consider whether your family is right for a Ridgeback! Both need to be compatible to get along.
You'll find plenty of breeders who'll tell you about the advantages of owning a Ridgeback. I believe it's important to take the good & bad into consideration when choosing a breed of dog that will suit you/your family.
The GOOD points are:
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They're great with Kids! From very early on, our children have kissed, hugged, lead, tied up, pushed in prams, taken on swings and slides and generally loved our Dogs to bits. IMPORTANT - This is the nature of a Ridgeback but, it is also in the training. (We have specifically trained our dogs that the kids are their masters too! We have also trained our RR's that it is not acceptable to be possessive of food) |
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Ridgebacks have a short coat, don't shed much and are practically odour free. |
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They are quite discriminating in whom or what they bark at...when they bark you should ALWAYS go check it out. |
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They are not fussy eaters and have virtually "cast-iron" digestive systems. |
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They love living with people and are quiet in the house. |
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Ridgebacks are intelligent and want to please their owner. |
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Ridgebacks are easily house-trained. |
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And, of course, they are the most handsome of dogs! |
The BAD points are:
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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. |
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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. (Fortunately, this is a molar-teething period that is usually over by 12 months of age...or thereabouts). |
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Are you smarter than your dog? RRs are quite clever and can be wilfully disobedient - you must be constantly aware. They are not Golden retrievers with a ridge! They have a mind of their own, which is good & adds to their personality. Good at least..most of the time. |
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They are not fussy eaters and have cast-iron stomachs.and you thought this was a good thing! It also means they will attempt to eat anything that doesn't eat them first. Some examples from personal experience include: a turtle, apricots including the plastic bag the were in, strawberries and tomatoes straight out of my garden, guinea pig food, guinea pigs, chook food, and Xari has a tendency to believe that if the chickens are out of their yard, they're fair game too! Jala, on the other hand, is out of the pen all day when the chickens are free ranging and has never killed a chook. She'd rather eat the chicken food than be bothered eating a chicken (no much energy, too many feathers) Jala likes chicken from the supermarket but not the feathery fluffy kind. |
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RRs are "people" dogs, which means they should be treated as family and not made to live alone in the yard with no human interaction whatsoever, otherwise, you might go out there one day and discover the doggy version of your crazy Uncle Burt! A big, powerful, pushy creature of your making! That's right...YOU are responsible for your dog's behavior! |
Well, if you're still interested, then here's the good news...THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS! We've had our Ridgebacks for years and wouldn't have any other breed. Once you've had a ridgeback you'll fall in love!
Ridgebacks have PERSONALITY!
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