How To Draw A Rhodesian Ridgeback

Kate Zimmer of So. Cal RR Rescue sent me this great annotation on considerations that should be taken into account before getting a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Even though I've spent almost every mean solar day for the past twelvemonth with Rufus, I withal learned something past reading this...

The Ridgeback brood has suffered profoundly in recent years from its popularization as a "panthera leo hunter". Ridgebacks were originally meant to be a medium to big brood, with the correct weight for a male being somewhere between 80 and 90 lbs. Females should exist smaller than that, somewhere between 65 and 75 lbs. However it is not uncommon today to see 120+ lb Ridgebacks. This is due to their "king of beasts hunter" reputation - people seem to believe that it must take a actually big dog to chase a king of beasts. However, Ridgebacks did not hunt and take down lions -- fifty-fifty a 120 lb canis familiaris would be no match for a 500 lb lion! Instead, Ridgebacks scented and then tracked them (and other game) and and then kept the game at bay by being quick and agile. A big, bulky dog simply does not have the quickness or agility to keep itself out of harm's fashion. Unfortunately, though, the result of that reputation has been to create overbreeding past irresponsible people convenance for a bigger and "badder" dog. This has resulted in an ever-increasing pool of dogs with health and disposition issues. Some Ridgebacks are existence produced in the puppy mills of Pennsylvania, Missouri and Ohio (by far the largest sources of puppy mill dogs in the US) and nosotros see Ridgebacks in pet shops from these sources more and more than often. The greatest number of Ridgebacks, even so, come from puppy mills in Texas-- unfortunately a large percentage of the dogs we're seeing in California today have been purchased from "breeders" in Texas. Plain we remember that Ridgebacks are a wonderful brood. Ridgebacks are, however, not necessarily the best "starter" canis familiaris -- that doesn't mean they tin can't be but they are a hound breed that was bred to hunt and baby-sit. Anybody wanting to adopt one has to be prepared for those iii aspects of their personality which are "hard-wired" into them.

Hounds : independent, bred to recollect for themselves and work independently of their owners. Recollect of bloodhounds and beagles. Both of those dogs do their affair and the "master" simply follows behind. That is true for Ridgebacks too -- they were bred for that contained thinking -- that'south how they survived and did their task.

They are non a "working breed" similar a Lab, Rottie, Doberman, Shepherd ... those dogs were bred (and are therefore difficult-wired) to piece of work by following the instructions of their possessor. This "hound" quality makes grooming and working with a Ridgeback a challenge for a lot of people but information technology is how they are SUPPOSED to be. You cannot expect a Ridgeback to respond the way a Lab or Shepherd would because they aren't hard-wired to do and then. A Ridgeback is hard-wired to remember for himself - a lot of people call that stubbornness and abound frustrated. For that reason information technology's important that a new Ridgeback owner either has some experience training large breed dogs (other than Labs, Goldens, Shepherds, etc) or is very willing to learn and be very consistent. The cunning that helped Ridgebacks survive on the African veldt ways that they see whatsoever inconsistencies as weak spots and exploit those very quickly.

Hunting : Ridgebacks were bred to chase big game and concur them at bay. They did not take down the game. In the US they are classified as sighthounds which ways their attention is oftentimes focused on things they see in the distance ( i.e. non on their possessor!). They were supposed to browse the horizon and use their noses (while they are classified in the The states as sighthounds, in almost other places around the world they are classified equally odour hounds -- truly they are a dual purpose hound) to seek out large game so, once they'd establish it, corner it and harrass it and then that the hunter had fourth dimension to come up along and get a shot. For that reason they had to be quick and active.

Ridgebacks are not a skilful brood to let off leash for this reason -- near will have off after squirrels, etc. that they run into. They are bred to be endurance animals -- to get all day on the African veldt. Their body standard is based off of the Dalmation standard -- a breed that was meant to exist able to run alongside the fire truck for up to 20 miles at a time. For this reason it can accept a lot to tire out a Ridgeback -- typically several longer runs/walks per week are needed.

Many people ask about Ridgebacks and cats - many Ridgebacks alive happily with "their" cats, so long as they are properly introduced. This video demonstrates a Ridgeback quite happily co-habitating with a cat:

Still, nigh Ridgebacks will instinctively hunt cats -- and so if you have neighborhood cats or an existing cat that is likely to run ( i.e. one that isn't used to dogs) Ridgebacks and cats may not exist a good friction match. Many people believe that getting a puppy is the only fashion to have a Ridgeback and a true cat -- I actually disagree with this but I do recall that some developed Ridgebacks (those with a very high prey drive) volition never exist able to live with a cat. Many (similar mine) definitely could be introduced to a new true cat and live with information technology (though I do remember that if the cat decided to commodities both of my dogs would certainly scurry later on it!)

Rufus and "his" true cat, Nikita

Guarding : the correct Ridgeback is a true-blue hunting companion and family guardian. Ridgebacks were bred to be faithful protectors of the homestead. They are loyal family dogs just they are very aloof with strangers. Typically they will (briefly) acknowledge a company to your dwelling and then quietly position themselves between the visitor and their possessor. They have very strong bite inhibition -- recollect, they did not accept down the game, they just held it at bay -- but it'southward not suprising to see a Ridgeback back a stranger to the house into a corner and "concur" them there (non physically with teeth but they will keep them cornered there). If you accept a very busy household with a lot of comings and goings of various people, this is something to take into consideration. Because of their guarding instinct proper socialization to all kinds of strangers (with hats, on bikes, using walkers, etc) is imperative.

Ridgebacks are usually billed every bit proficient family unit dogs and I whole-heartedly agree with this.

However, considering of this reputation they are often caused by well-meaning but naive folks who don't empathise that "expert with kids" simply comes later proper socialization and "good family dogs" are achieved but with proper handling, raising and training. Considering of the independent nature mentioned above, some people find accomplishing this grooming a chip difficult. They are, if socialized correctly, patient with "their" children (though of course children should never be immune to harrass dogs) but, in my experience, a lot of running/yelling children not familiar to them is not a nifty combination. Perhaps that is the sighthound part of their nature -- the running/flailing style of children may incite their natural prey drive.

If you are going to have a large, athletic dog, it is Disquisitional that they be socialized with other dogs. Big dogs, small dogs, hairy dogs, aggressive dogs, passive dogs, etc. Unless you have a large number of friends who have dogs, this means taking your domestic dog to dog parks. For those not experienced with the breed it'due south important to recollect that because Ridgebacks had to exist active and quick they do those behaviors when they are at play. They tend to practice a lot of pouncing and body slamming. They use their paws and mouths (open mouth play, while it can look aggressive, is really very advisable play for a Ridgeback) quite a bit.

Here's another link of three Ridgebacks playing - note the both the raw athleticism and the roughness with which they treat each other:

This can be problematic at a domestic dog park because not every dog likes to be body slammed and pounced upon. At the dog park you'll tend to encounter Labs and Goldens running afterwards a ball or toy (remember, they were bred for this very purpose), and Shepherds and Rottweilers running around (they were bred to herd, remember) -- your Ridgeback *may* practice this simply it's far more than likely that he'll engage in body slamming, paw slapping and quick right/left moves. It'southward as well important to remember that your Ridgeback may make up one's mind to play this way (with paw, mouth and body) with young children that he takes to exist just 2 legged pack members - and obviously allowing a canis familiaris to play this way with young children is non safe.

They are a wonderful and instinctive protector of their family and home. It is said about Ridgebacks that if they bawl y'all should check it out -- they are non big barkers unless there is a reason. Like any cocky respecting hound they spend a big portion of their day sleeping and love nothing more than to follow sun patches through the house.

Ridgebacks are famous for being fantabulous (and devout) "counter surfers". When I was get-go researching the breed I was told that a typical Ridgeback can be fast asleep (on the couch) while you are preparing dinner. You turn your back to wash a dish or put something into the oven and when you lot plough back the pot roast that y'all had sitting out on the counter to absurd is gone and your Ridgeback is back asleep on the couch. Though this sounded like lore to me when I was researching the breed I take since learned (through my ain Ridgeback and many many foster dogs) that this is actually non far from the truth. For your own sanity and for the health of the dog, y'all'll desire to go on your counters free from food and, in general, forestall access to trash cans that might contain food. Ridgebacks, like any deep chested dog, are decumbent to bloat - something that can easily come on if your canis familiaris gorges himself on food from the counter.

The national Ridgeback social club'southward website (www.rrcus.org) has several very good articles about Ridgebacks and to help you decide if Ridgebacks truly are the correct breed of dog for you. Here are links to ii that I think are very important to read:

http://world wide web.rrcus.org/assets/html/breedinfo/For_you.htm

http://www.rrcus.org/assets/html/breedinfo/living.htm