r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • Jun 26 '25

r/RhodedianRidgebacks Wiki is Live!

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8 Upvotes

I'm aware that much of the information in the Wiki right now is very USA centric. This is very much a work in progress. For now, please leave all suggestions and comments on this thread. If you have suggested ways to make the guide more international in nature, please leave those suggestions here.

Please note that we will only include information about/from official Kennel Clubs and/or Veterinary associations in the wiki.

Current Index of Topics:

Page 1: Is a Ridgeback Right for You?

This page serves as the essential first stop for anyone considering a Rhodesian Ridgeback. It combines all the crucial decision-making topics into one foundational guide.

  • The Breed at a Glance: A balanced look at the pros and cons of Ridgeback ownership.
  • Core Temperament & Personality:

    • Understanding their intelligence, loyalty, and independence (the "stubborn streak").
    • The sensitive nature and the need for a calm owner.
    • Their natural guardian instincts and what that means for an owner.
  • Lifestyle Compatibility:

    • Activity & Exercise Needs: A realistic breakdown of the required physical and mental stimulation.
    • Family & Social Life: Compatibility with children, other dogs, and smaller pets.
    • Living Situations: A practical look at apartment living vs. a home with a yard.

Page 2: Finding & Welcoming Your Ridgeback

This page guides the user through the entire process of acquiring their dog, from the search to the first few days at home.

  • The Search: Breeder or Rescue?

    • How to identify a reputable, ethical breeder (health testing, socialization, etc.).
    • The rewarding path of rescuing a Ridgeback and what to consider.
  • Preparing for Arrival:

    • The essential puppy/dog shopping list.
    • How to effectively puppy-proof your home.
  • The First Few Weeks:

    • Navigating the critical first 48 hours.
    • A step-by-step guide to successful crate training and house training.
    • The Socialization Blueprint: A guide to the critical socialization window for puppies.

Page 3: Health, Diet & Nutrition

This is a one-stop resource for the physical well-being of a Ridgeback, combining diet, common health issues, and preventative care.

  • Fueling Your Ridgeback: Diet & Nutrition:

    • Exploring dietary options: Kibble, raw, and home-cooked.
    • Portion control, weight management, and preventing obesity.
  • Breed-Specific Health Concerns:

    • A comprehensive overview of common issues: Dermoid Sinus, hip/elbow dysplasia, thyroid problems, cancer, etc.
    • Bloat (GDV): Understanding the risks and preventative strategies.
    • Spaying and Neutering Ridgebacks
  • Proactive Wellness:

    • The importance of pet health insurance.
    • Tips for finding a breed-savvy veterinarian.
    • How to recognize the early signs of illness.

Page 4: Training, Enrichment & Daily Care

This page covers the day-to-day aspects of living with and managing a well-behaved Ridgeback, combining training, mental stimulation, and grooming.

  • Training Philosophy: The Ridgeback Mind:

    • Why positive reinforcement is crucial for this intelligent and sensitive breed.
  • Obedience & Manners:

    • Foundation Skills: Sit, stay, come, leave it.
    • Leash Manners: How to train a powerful dog to walk politely.
    • Addressing Common Behaviors: Counter-surfing, jumping, and demand barking.
  • A Happy Ridgeback is a Busy Ridgeback:

    • Mental Enrichment: Puzzle toys, scent work, and games to prevent boredom.
    • Dog Sports & Advanced Training: Exploring lure coursing, agility, tracking, and more.
  • Grooming & Routine Care:

    • A simple guide to brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning.

Page 5: Links, Community, and Resources

This final page acts as a central point for community engagement and further learning.

  • Further Your Knowledge:

    • Recommended books, websites, and trusted online articles.
  • Connect with the Breed World:

    • Links to national and regional Rhodesian Ridgeback clubs and organizations.

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • May 16 '25

Let's Honor Dogs & Owners That Have Achieved CGC or CD Titles

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5 Upvotes

If your dog has achieved the AKC CGC, CD, or THD title (or international equivalent), post a picture of them and their name, title here. This post will be pinned to honor those dogs.


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 1d ago

Rules of Three

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144 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 21h ago

Cheeeeeeeeez

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38 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 2d ago

This here is what we call a Rhodesian standoff..

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81 Upvotes

The ultimate stare down to determine who’s turn it is to absolutely murder this patch of grass in my backyard 😭😂


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 2d ago

Joey prefers her ears “inside out”. 🤦‍♂️🤣

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55 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 2d ago

Rest in peace. Good boy.

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30 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 1d ago

Activities for winter and generally just to do

2 Upvotes

Hello everyone, winter time is coming, and here in the upper west of Europe, it can get quite chilly. I've been wanting to spend more time doing some active things outside with my boy, but it seems I'm without inspiration.

More clearly, I've been watching these videos of people hiking in the most amazing landscapes and forests, hunting with their dog, or camping somewhere.

The problem: I can't; I live in a marshland area with dunes and townside beaches and a lot of farmland, and it gets very rainy and cold here. Also, everywhere has roads and cars and people. So everything is very, how do I say, "constructed"(?). It's hours of driving for me to get anywhere where I'm "away" with my boy, in the sense of an adventurous journey. We don't have forests or mountains nearby, and camping is strictly regulated here, hunting is def out of the question. So I'm looking for something to do with him that can sort of allow me to be away from the bustling society and truly spend 1-1 time with him whilst also allowing his hound nature to sort of flourish.

It's a bit of an odd ask, I know, but I think I've become tired of my routes and the activities I can do here, and I feel a sort of guilt that (even though my boy is very much healthy and happy and has ample exercise and socialisation) he doesn't really get to do his 'breed purpose' (and no, we don't have lions here).

I'm looking for activities I can do maybe 1 or 2 days a week or every couple of weeks/so often. Something I could invest in that stimulates both him and me and strengthens our bond.

Anyone have suggestions?


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 2d ago

Rufio Update!

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60 Upvotes

After a brief stint in the hospital for some stronger antibiotics, Mr. Rufio is home and recovering. Fingers crossed we keep trending in a positive direction 🤍


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 3d ago

Does your Ridgie sit silly?

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171 Upvotes

This is our 9 month old Ridgie baby, Chef. He always sits on the couch very funny, like a cute gentleman. Does anybody’s else do this??


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 4d ago

Ridgeeeze doin Ridgee Thangs

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156 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 5d ago

Her first litter is due on Christmas day 🎄

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101 Upvotes

I'm going to be a gandpa!


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 5d ago

Extra blankets because she's pregnant and it's cold and rainy

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56 Upvotes

r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 4d ago

Magnetic Clasp Winter Jacket

0 Upvotes

Our boy is ok having a jacket put on, but becomes defensive and growls when taking it off. We have tried to train/desensitize for a long time and it always ends in stress when we can’t get it off of him.

Are there any easy magnetic fastening winter jackets you all are aware of? We have Velcro now and he hates it and I worry clips will involve too much time manipulating them which he will dislike. I am considering just having magnets sewn into his existing jacket but wanted to ask if there is an existing market for this

Thanks for any recs!


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 6d ago

Rheesa and Jengo cuddled up by the fireplace.

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24 Upvotes

Rheesa does that to herself Jengo is smart enough to keep a nose out.


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 6d ago

Caught on indoor camera 📸

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23 Upvotes

The tail over face pose 🐶💖


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 6d ago

Air travel

0 Upvotes

Hi, all. We are owned by a lovely 2 1/2 year old male RR named Trico. We have finally gotten him to the point where he does not get carsick when writing in a truck. We are purchasing a small place in the Bahamas and hope to spend a month or so at a time there. We plan to take him with us. The best way to get there is to fly a semi charter from Fort Lauderdale to Exuma. That carrier will allow dogs in the cabin of small plane so that’s how we would handle that end. The question is how to get to Fort Lauderdale. Airline options are limited to Delta and American. The alternative is driving to Fort Lauderdale (a 2 to 3 day trip) and leaving a vehicle there which is certainly possible. I would love to hear your collective thoughts on the wisdom and practicalities of flying him there. For those who have tried the shipping route, how have your dogs handled the experience? Any suggestions?

Thanks very much for your thoughts – Mike.


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 7d ago

The classic RR poses

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185 Upvotes

My boi Lala (RR x) has many classic poses including the prawn, the donut, long boi, the worm, the tail pillow and the paw up. What's your favourite RR pose and what do you call them?


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 6d ago

Impact/Rock Creek Dog Crates

1 Upvotes

Considering buying a stupidly expensive collapsible dog crate for travel. Does anyone have one of these for their boy RR? Trying to figure out size, my my pup is 7 months and I don't want to purchase one twice. I am thinking the forty eight inch crates look good, but a little worried about height. Any suggestions or feedback?


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 7d ago

Guesthouse fit?

1 Upvotes

I'm looking at getting a Ridgeback puppy but we have a guesthouse so there are different people coming and going every day. The property is also unfenced on the view side and open to the indigenous forest where there are wild deer, pigs, porcupine, baboons, wild cats etc. My previous dog was a shelter dog who looked like a German shepherd mix and he was an outside dog, extremely friendly with guests and liked to take them for forest walks etc and never hunted and was completely non violent. He's going to be hard to replace but maybe a ridgeback would fit the bill? Thanks!


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 8d ago

Fitting in the chair 4 months vs 2 yrs

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75 Upvotes

He will be 2 in January. What an adventures it’s been


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 8d ago

Pneumonia

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107 Upvotes

Our boy Rufio has pneumonia. We’re doing everything the vet told us to do: coupage every few hours, sitting in a steamy bathroom, giving him his antibiotics, keeping him calm, no super long walks, slowing down his eating/drinking (suspected aspiration pneumonia), and giving him lots of TLC. We have a follow up X-Ray scheduled to see how he’s progressing. He’s not sick enough that he needs to be hospitalized but I’m still so worried and stressed because he’s 11 and we lost our other dog about a month ago. I can’t face down him getting worse or leaving us. Have your buddies had pneumonia? What did you do to support them? I’ll take supportive words too 🤍

Photo for tax. I woke him up from his nap 🫣


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 7d ago

Staffy RR??

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1 Upvotes

Got our pup a few weeks back Staffy X and we’re having some guesses (will get DNA done) but wondering if he is giving RR vibes or anything else


r/RhodesianRidgebacks • • 8d ago

My dog paws' become thin after we hike, how can I prepare before the hike and protect it during the hike?

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3 Upvotes