Rhodesian Ridgebacks

**colcifer** · #1 04-20-2011, 09:28 AM

Anyone else have one?

sloasdaylight · #2 04-20-2011, 09:30 AM

My neighbor had a couple I used to play with when I was a kid. They're great dogs.

CrispyDelicious · #3 04-20-2011, 09:32 AM

Don't own one but I've met a few. Typical hunting dogs; calm, dignified, intelligent. The ridge thing is kind of gimmicky, I think, but visual aesthetics obviously matter when getting a dog.

MJ5150 · #4 04-20-2011, 09:51 AM

We have friends who have one. They don't pay it enough attention, so it acts weird.

-Mike

ElMon · #5 04-20-2011, 09:55 AM

Zu'l (RIP) was hands-down the best dog I've ever owned. Would gladly own another some day. Excellent breed.

bmc · #6 04-20-2011, 10:09 AM

Never owned one, but they are an excellent breed with really nice personalities. Furthermore, they're great looking dogs.

One of my favorite breeds.

**colcifer** · #7 04-20-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

We have friends who have one. They don't pay it enough attention, so it acts weird.

-Mike

That's horrible! Bad dog owners piss me off.

MJ5150 · #8 04-20-2011, 10:40 AM

Yep, me too. We tried to adopt the dog away from them, but no go. The purchase of the dog was more of a status symbol for them, so they threw a bunch of money at training and amenities for the dog. Then it just runs around in the backyard starving for someone to pet her or play with her.

-Mike

**colcifer** · #9 04-20-2011, 11:42 AM

That's really sad. They have so much energy too; the poor thing must be dying inside (I am just thinking about it). Keep trying!

Here's my pup, Ellie.

Raising her has been amazing (she's about 19 months old). You need to have had large dogs previously (Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, etc.) but you have to treat them very differently than any other dog. They very quickly become stronger than you so you can't make them do anything, they must be trained. Training them is difficult to do because they're smart enough that they'd just as soon train you. I kid you not, these dogs are so smart they can actually be mischievous, **** eating grin and all (although I guess for a dog, that's just a regular grin). In addition, you're constantly having to remind yourself that they're dogs because they seem so human with complex emotions and vocalizations. If you get it right though, these dogs are the best companions you can have. They don't care for strangers but they are sweethearts to the people they know and there is no more loyal breed; these are dogs that live and die for their masters.

If you're an experienced large dog owner that can put in a couple miles a day with them, I highly recommend RRs. I'm a little worried that Ellie ruined me for other dogs though!

Edit: Will fix the pic (I need to switch hosts).

totallyfrozen · #10 04-20-2011, 11:50 AM

My wife used to have one when she was a little girl. It was...uh...

Well, let's just say that her dad sold it to a guy who wanted a guard dog for his car lot. He came over to meet the dog, reached out to pet it, and got bit! He said, "He's perfect! Exactly what I'm looking for!"
So the dog was sold and got a job guarding a car lot at night.

James Hart · #11 04-20-2011, 11:59 AM

yes and no... I picked up a pair of litter mate pups in 1996 that were born of a female Ridgeback and a male Catahoula. One pup was very much typical Ridgeback in look and personality, the other very Catahoula like (one will be 15 in July, the other we lost to cancer in 2009). We will get a pure Ridgeback some day... but the local breeders fancy the 'sighthound' side of the breed and the wife and I prefer the more 'scenthound' look (skinny vs wide head and shoulders).

**colcifer** · #12 04-20-2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

My wife used to have one when she was a little girl. It was...uh...

Well, let's just say that her dad sold it to a guy who wanted a guard dog for his car lot. He came over to meet the dog, reached out to pet it, and got bit! He said, "He's perfect! Exactly what I'm looking for!"
So the dog was sold and got a job guarding a car lot at night.

Hmm.

Here are some pics of Ellie:

I'm going to try to get a video of her running sometime. When they accelerate they don't just make the same motions but faster, they change their whole form. It's really neat to see but it'll be hard to keep the camera on her.

arbitrary · #13 04-20-2011, 02:51 PM

I had a psych prof that had one; amazing dog!

Fassa Albrecht · #14 04-20-2011, 03:37 PM

They're banned in the UK I believe...they're damn awesome dogs though.

RayG · #15 04-20-2011, 05:42 PM

My uncle had a wonderful RR named Turkana around the late 60's. It was the most well trained dogs I have ever met to date.

He rarely barked, but would howl whenever the fire siren rang. My uncle had a horse and they would often travel afield together. Very atheltic and a great hunter.

If I had the land to let one run, I would get one myself even now. Great dog.

Regards------

i_got_a_mohawk · #16 04-20-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fassa Albrecht

They're banned in the UK I believe...they're damn awesome dogs though.

I really don't think they are.

I know some people who have them, and they are great dogs.

BUT, the asthetic ridge that breeders look for? That's a mild case of Spina Bifida, many of them suffer from more severe cases but are put down/die as pups. And it has been known for breeders to kill off dogs without the ridge (which would have the exact same personality, just not the defect).

So while they are great dogs, I think it's horrible to be breeding in such an obviously terrible trait (yeah, I know, not the only breed that suffers in such a way, and most do to some extent, but this is still a pretty bad one).

James Hart · #17 04-20-2011, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

BUT, the asthetic ridge that breeders look for? That's a mild case of Spina Bifida, many of them suffer from more severe cases but are put down/die as pups. And it has been known for breeders to kill off dogs without the ridge (which would have the exact same personality, just not the defect).

Actually it's a trait of their ancestry (semi-domestic hunting dog of the Khoikhoi people in south Africa) that can lead to 'Dermoid Sinus' which is like 'Spina Bifida' and the few breeders I've dealt with over the last 15 years I've researched them on and off ALL test for and neuter any pups that carry it. As far as culling ridgeless dogs, that is also untrue for reputable breeders here on the atlantic side of the US... pups are sold in grades, generally the ridgeless are altered and sold as 'pet' grade at significantly cheaper prices (still WAY more than the typical Lab or Retriever).

i_got_a_mohawk · #18 04-20-2011, 06:29 PM

I'm all for checking like that (just as many breeds should be hip checked/scored).

The Ridgeback breeders club (in the UK) was advising breeders to cull pups without the ridge (Breed Club Recommends Healthy Puppies Be Killed*|*Dog Magazine | The K9 Magazine Blog). Which I think is deplorable.

As I said tho, I think the dogs are great, just some breeders seem to be the issue, over here at least.

ShredderMaximus · #19 04-20-2011, 07:28 PM

weren't these dogs bred for hunting lions? Rhodesian Ridgeback - best dog for metal

James Hart · #20 04-20-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

The Ridgeback breeders club (in the UK) was advising breeders to cull pups without the ridge (Breed Club Recommends Healthy Puppies Be Killed*|*Dog Magazine | The K9 Magazine Blog). Which I think is deplorable.

That article references a rule that has not existed since at least Sept 2008. If you follow it through the 'current' rules state...

"3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes."

I don't doubt it was as the article suggest, but I'm glad it was corrected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

As I said tho, I think the dogs are great, just some breeders seem to be the issue, over here at least.

That happens more than it should... and yeah, I think RR's are great breed.