General Information on the Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed of dog that is ferocious in the wild but is a great pet when domesticated. It appeals to all pet owner types and is a great pet even when there is children around. It is a type of pet which can be loyal to its owner and will be protective of all of their owners interests.
Since this breed is can be agile in its natural habitat, this dog can be very active if given the right space to encourage it. This breed of dog can be a great running or walking companion, and will work just as great to complement its owners physical activities.
Although this dog has all of these good qualities, it can be a very wild and unruly dog if left untrained. It may learn to go against its owner if the owner does not have enough conviction to train and to discipline the dog. Other than that, you will find that this dog will be a great pet that you can take care of for years.
Size
Male Ridgebacks will stand up to 27 inches, while female Rhodesian Ridgeback sizes will range from 24 to 26 inches. The weight of a male Ridgeback will be much heavier than its female counterparts, with a peak weight of 90 pounds compared to a females peak weight of 75 pounds.
Fur Care and Maintenance
The fur of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is quite short and is very smooth to the touch. Occasional bathing can help in maintaining the furs texture and color, and can help in preventing parasites such as lice from digging deep into the dogs skin.
Family Compatibility
Although it seems that this dog to appeal to all family types, it still needs to have an active rather than a passive owner most of the time. It doesnt have to be all of the members of the family, but it helps that all family members are aware of how to treat the dog well.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of this type of dog generally adapts to the lifestyle of its owner, but there are some qualities to the dog which are innately wild. Providing a space exclusively for the dogs use can help in adapting to this nature of this breed.
Life Expectancy and Health
A Rhodesian Ridgeback can live for up to twelve years, for as long as its diet and exercise is consistent. Aside from these aspects, this type of dog can also have complications which can be fatal to its health. A regular check-up with the veterinarian can help in improving the quality of the dogs life.
Exercise and Well-Being
Its important to avoid overfeeding the dog and to maintain a healthy exercise regimen for this breed.
Training and Behavior Adjustment
A Ridgebacks training can be easy and may not really take a long time to finish. Since the ridgeback picks up easily and can be an obedient dog, its not that hard to carry on with training.
