Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Overview
- History of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed. Where Rhodesian Ridgebacks came from
- What the Rhodesian Ridgeback Looks Like
- How Much is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy?
- Best Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders
- Adopting or Rescuing the Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Growth
- What Colors do Rhodesian Ridgebacks Have?
- The Temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
- How Long Rhodesian Ridgebacks Live
- Rhodesian Ridgeback Litter Size
- How Fast Rhodesian Ridgebacks Can Run
- Good Names for Rhodesian Ridgebacks
- How Intelligent are Rhodesian Ridgebacks?
- How Popular are Rhodesian Ridgebacks with New Dog Owners?
- Health Problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and How to Prevent Them
- How to Take Care of Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Rhodesian Ridgebacks
- Other Things to Know About Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Overview
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog.
The adult Rhodesian Ridgeback stands 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group.
Dogs in the Hound Dogs group, like the Rhodesian Ridgeback, were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.
The fact that the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group is one of the reasons why Rhodesian Ridgebacks have the personality and temperament that they have.
The temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is generally described as:
- Dignified
- Intelligent
- Loyal
- Mischievous
- Sensitive
- Strong Willed
History of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed. Where Rhodesian Ridgebacks came from
When the Dutch Boers settled in South Africa from the 16th to the 18th centuries, they brought European dog breeds like Great Danes, Mastiffs, Bloodhounds, Pointers, Greyhounds, Terriers, and others with them.
By the 18th century, the Boers realized that their hunting and guarding dogs were unsuitable for the new climate`s two temperature extremes.
They needed a dog that could perform well in these conditions, so they crossed their imported dogs with the Hottentots or Khoikhoi tribes` dogs.
This reddish-brown dog had a distinctive fur ridge along the spine.
It is believed that this breed was used for a long time in that area, and that it may have had jackal-like characteristics.
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What the Rhodesian Ridgeback Looks Like
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a powerful breed with a beautifully symmetrical and balanced body.
The most distinctive feature of the breed is a ridge of hair that grows in the opposite direction as the rest of the coat along the spine from the shoulders to the hipbones.
The back is strong, and the legs are muscular and clean, resulting in compact paws with well-arched toes.
The neck is long, and the medium-sized head has a flat skull.
The medium-sized ears are wide at the base and taper at the point, and they are set high on the head, with expressive round eyes that sparkle in brown or amber.
The muzzle is long, with level jaws and a scissors bite.
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How Much is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy?
The average price of a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is $1620. The price of a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy ranges from $1250 to $1900.
A lot of factors determine the price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. These factors include what health records the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy has, the lineage of the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, the US state the breeder is located in, etc.
To estimate how much you can expect to pay for a puppy Rhodesian Ridgeback based on the many factors that determine the price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, check out our calculator that lets you estimate how much you should expect to pay for the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy based on what you want in the puppy.
When looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting instead of buying a puppy. Adoption costs are very low compared to the price of a puppy.
Best Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders
We have researched reputable Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders that you can buy a puppy.
Go to this page for our complete list of reputable Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in various states in the United States.
On this page, you will see how much these breeders sell their puppies for, and how many puppies they have available.
A few of these breeders are listed below.
Katherine MacGowan
Puppy Price: $1500.00
LionTamer Rhodesian Ridgebacks Kennel
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
SuwediRidgebacks.com
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Harry O`Neal
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Chicora Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Puppy Price: Check with breeder
Adopting or Rescuing the Rhodesian Ridgeback
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many dogs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks included, are currently available for adoption in your local dog shelters.
These helpless but adorable dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Dog adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300 or even less.
In addition to your local dog shelter, another good place to find dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Rhodesian Ridgeback named Ernie that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Ernie on pefinder.com.
Jack is the name of another Rhodesian Ridgeback (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new forever home.
You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are available for adoption on petfinder.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Growth
New Rhodesian Ridgeback owners need to know about the growth of their Rhodesian Ridgebacks. This will help them plan their living spaces accordingly.
Also, knowing the typical growth pattern of the Rhodesian Ridgeback will help new owners catch the abnormal growth of their Rhodesian Ridgeback early.
See our calculator for predicting how big your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy will get. You will also learn about the typical weight of the Rhodesian Ridgeback at different ages and how to catch abnormal growth in your Rhodesian Ridgeback
What Colors do Rhodesian Ridgebacks Have?
Rhodesian Ridgebacks come in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Black
- Brown / Chocolate
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
- Brindle
- Golden
The Temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
The temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback based can be summarized as in the table below.
The table shows the scores of the Rhodesian Ridgeback for 13 important dog behavioral factors.
We obtained these scores by analyzing raw data from the C-BARQ dog personality survey tool. The higher the score of a dog for a factor, the worse the temperament of the dog regarding that factor.
The C-BARQ tool was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, and it is a scientific tool that is used worldwide for reliably measuring the temperament of dog breeds.
See our complete analysis of the temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback here.
| Factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Prey Drive | 67.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 5.9 percent |
| Energy Level | 33.8 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 32.7 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 31.7 percent |
| Stubbornness | 28.6 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 28.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 26.4 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 25.0 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 21.8 percent |
| Excitability | 16.9 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 16.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 13.6 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 0.9 percent |
How Long Rhodesian Ridgebacks Live
The lifespan of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is typically from 10 to 12 years.
Moreover, a few years back, veterinarian researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 183 pet Rhodesian Ridgebacks lived.
From the study, it was found that Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average lifespan of 11 years. Furthermore, the study found that it is not uncommon for Rhodesian Ridgebacks to live as long as 16.1 years.
Note that you need to put in some effort if you want your Rhodesian Ridgeback to live long.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks live long if they eat well, drink well, exercise well, and visit the veterinarian regularly.
There are also dog supplements that you can give your Rhodesian Ridgeback to improve your Rhodesian Ridgeback`s quality of their life.
Click here to learn more about how to make your Rhodesian Ridgeback live long.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Litter Size
Researchers from the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science did a study where they counted the numbers of puppies in 30 different Rhodesian Ridgeback birth litters.
From this study, the researchers found that the average number of puppies that Rhodesian Ridgebacks can have is 8 puppies. Also, the Rhodesian Ridgeback can have as few as 1 puppies per litter and as many as 15 puppies per litter.
The number of puppies that the Rhodesian Ridgeback will have depends on factors such as the age of the Rhodesian Ridgeback, the method of pregnancy, etc.
Click here to see our calculator for predicting how many puppies your Rhodesian Ridgeback will have and how the litter size of the Rhodesian Ridgeback compares to the litter size of other dog breeds.
How Fast Rhodesian Ridgebacks Can Run
How fast a dog breed can run is a good measure of how athletic the dog breed is.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) regularly conducts dog running competitions. The AKC records the running speed of competing dogs in these competitions. These competitions are open to all dog breeds.
Based on our analysis of the speeds of 467 different Rhodesian Ridgebacks, the average speed of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 25.3 mph (40.6 kmph).
The fastest speed on AKC record that the Rhodesian Ridgeback ran in a race is 33.37 mph (53.7 kmph) and the minimum speed on record in a race for a Rhodesian Ridgeback is 7.86 mph (12.6 kmph).
Click here to see how the speed of the Rhodesian Ridgeback compares to the speed of other dogs and other mammals such as cats, horses, humans, etc.
Good Names for Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Here are some really good names that are typical for the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranked by popularity:
- Samson
- Duke
- Copper
- Atlas
- Rogue
- Ronan
- Magnum
- Noah
- Baron
- Ranger
How Intelligent are Rhodesian Ridgebacks?
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | |
|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 52 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, a Canadian psychology professor/dog trainer, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
- Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence that comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that have been historically bred to be guard dogs will have a high `guarding` intelligence compared to dogs that were not bred for guarding.
- Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. You can improve your dog`s adaptive intelligence by investing time to train your dog.
- Working/Obedience Intelligence: This type of intelligence is breed-specific. Certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. This type of intelligence can be measured for each dog breed and compared to that of other dog breeds.
Professor Stanley Coren measured and ranked the working intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an obedience intelligence rank of 52 out of 130 dog breeds. Thus, Prof. Coren put Rhodesian Ridgebacks in the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category.
This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
However, we should mention that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone. There are other important factors you need to consider when deciding on which dog breed to get. These other factors include sociability, adorability, and compatibility of the dog breed with your lifestyle.
See the intelligence ranking of some other dog breeds below:
| Breed | Intelligence Rank |
|---|---|
| Australian Cattle Dog | 10 |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 12 |
| English Springer Spaniel | 13 |
| Collie | 16 |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 26 |
| Giant Schnauzer | 28 |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 36 |
| Norwich Terrier | 38 |
| Bedlington Terrier | 40 |
| Curly-Coated Retriever | 41 |
| Kuvasz | 42 |
| Bichon Frise | 45 |
| Chinese Shar-Pei | 51 |
| Ibizan Hound | 53 |
| Norfolk Terrier | 56 |
| French Bulldog | 58 |
| Italian Greyhound | 60 |
| Lhasa Apso | 68 |
| Bullmastiff | 69 |
| Borzoi | 75 |
How Popular are Rhodesian Ridgebacks with New Dog Owners?
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds.
The graph below shows the popularity trend of the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
The popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback averaged over the years is Number 40 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Do not get a dog breed just because it is a popular dog breed. And do not reject a dog breed just because it is an unpopular breed.
Health Problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and How to Prevent Them
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it tends to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is an organization that keeps track of genetic health problems in dog breeds.
From the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop.
Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
If you want a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Rhodesian Ridgebacks for:
- Autoimmune thyroiditis
- Cardiac Evaluation
- Congenital Deafness
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
- Hip Dysplasia
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Rhodesian Ridgebacks here.
How to Take Care of Rhodesian Ridgeback
To take good care of your Rhodesian Ridgeback, you need to make sure that you groom your Rhodesian Ridgeback regularly.
Secondly, you need to find a veterinarian in your area that will routinely check the health status of your Rhodesian Ridgeback regularly, and give you appropriate recommendations on your Rhodesian Ridgeback`s preventative care.
Thirdly, you need to commit some time to exercise your Rhodesian Ridgeback daily. Regular exercise helps improve the health and quality of life of your Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Also, you need to feed your Rhodesian Ridgeback high-quality dog food, and the food should be of the right amount to prevent your Rhodesian Ridgeback from getting overweight or underweight.
See our recommendations on what to feed the Rhodesian Ridgeback and how much food to feed the Rhodesian Ridgeback at different life stages.
Finally, you need to make sure that your Rhodesian Ridgeback has access to clean water all the time. See our recommendations on how much water your Rhodesian Ridgeback needs to drink at different ages.
Dog Breeds That Are Similar to Rhodesian Ridgebacks
If you have not made up your mind on which dog breed to get, you may also want to consider some other dogs similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds that have similar behavior and temperament as the Rhodesian Ridgeback:
- Black Mouth Cur (79 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Learn more about the Black Mouth Cur here.
- Bluetick Coonhound (77 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Learn more about the Bluetick Coonhound here.
- Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Learn more about the Bracco Italiano here.
Other Things to Know About Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Here are some of the very important characteristics of the Rhodesian Ridgeback that you need to know about the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed: