Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a large breed of dog that could be fierce in hunting but very calm and gentle at home.  They have strong stamina and should be given sufficient mental and physical exercise or else they would get unmanageable. Passive owners or those that are very gentle and treat dogs as   family than pet have hard time training a Rhodesian Ridgeback because this breed only reacts best when approached firmly but calmly.  They tend to dominate their owners if they seem to  feel more authority.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are intelligent and skillful. They are good companions for athletic owners and they are excellent jogging companion.  They are also highly commendable watchdogs but not security dogs because they tend to be over protective which could be alarming for neighbors. They should be trained to socialized with other pets like cats so cat-dog-fight like problems will be prevented.

They can withstand sudden changes in the weather or the temperature around them. however they are prone to hip dysplasia (an abnormal formation of the hip socket that can lead to crippling lameness and painful arthritis of joints),  dermoid sinus (a skin defect caused by incomplete separation of the skin and the neural tube during embryonic development of the dog) and cysts.

Appearance

The Rhodesian Ridgebacks have broad head that is flat between their ears, which are set high.  The colors of their noses depend on the color of their coats.  They have strong legs  and fairly long tails. Their coats are short and dense. The color of their coats may vary from light wheaten to shades of red or sometimes with a little white on the chest and toes.

A grown up Rhodesian Ridgeback is about 25 to 27 inches  or 63 to 69cm tall. Their bitches are about 24-26 inches or 61-66cm.  They could weight from 80 to 90 pounds  or 36 to 41kilo grams for grownups and 65 to 75 pounds  or 29-34 kilo grams for bitches.  They are expected to live for about a decade or more.

The owners of Rhodesian Ridgebacks have no problem grooming them.  They only need shampoo for their coat which could be fixed with a firm-bristled brush.    

 Lifestyle

They are not active indoors but could live in a small apartment as long as they get the exercise that   they need. They are very active outdoors, and they love running off the leash.