How the Rhodesian Ridgeback appeared, the characteristics of the breed's appearance and behavior of the dog, health and care: procedures, nutrition and training. Purchase and price of a puppy. These dogs are very strong, sturdy and sociable. They have a "working" constitution. Dogs are able to defeat a strong beast. They boldly face death and keep going forward. Animals can assess the situation themselves and make a decision. For their proud, arrogant appearance and hunting qualities, they are called dog lions. Noticing some kind of predator, they rush forward after him with lightning speed.
Ridgebacks have become a real sensation in the dog training world. Confident, brave, careful, alert, empathetic, intelligent and agile dogs amazed people. Gradually they became friends of families and favorites of children. You will be amazed by their intelligent temperament, and their independent personality will command respect. Understanding the owner will thrill, it will seem to you that the ridgeback is almost human.
How did the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed come about?
The ancestors of the modern Rhodesian Ridgebacks lived in the African nomadic Hottentot tribe. The Hottentots crossed the entire African continent. Part of the tribe settled in South Africa. The Dutch also sailed here in the 17th century. They were accompanied by dogs, which here began to interbreed with local aboriginal breeds. For centuries, Ridgebacks have been used to hunt lions and protect farmhouses from marauding leopard hyenas.
For the first time, Rhodesian Ridgebacks appeared on the territory of the Russian state at the beginning of the 20th century. They were brought in by the Russian general Pavel Nikolayevich Putilov, a serviceman who was a hero of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877. After serving, he secretly took part in reconnaissance maneuvers in southern Africa, on the side of the Boers. General Putilov was an avid hunter, so he immediately noticed the working qualities of these outwardly unusual dogs.
A dog in South Africa is much more than a creature that walks on four legs. In this country, there are breeders who are engaged precisely in the working breeding of Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Such canines have slightly different behavior than purely show animals. If you go for a walk with them out of town, they will constantly observe what is happening around. The local Kruger National Park has a huge number of dangerous animals. Ridgebacks are well aware of what they are. Dogs must protect the person next to whom they are walking. Few are as observant as these dogs.
Rangers who work as guides in the park and are constantly busy do not think about the danger that lies in wait at every step. Because they have ridgebacks that take on both vigilance and protection. At the slightest suspicion, the dog will press against the leg and growl, and the person will raise his head and decide how serious the problems are. Even on a regular walk, they are constantly looking out for rabbits or something else. It is unlikely that the pets will kill the animal, but they will definitely bring it to the owner's feet. This is their main job.
Where did the name ridgeback come from? Translated from English "ridge" is a crest, and "badge" means back. If you put them together, you get a ridge at the back. This breed feature is what distinguishes these dogs. For four thousand years such wonderful dogs with unusual hair on their backs have been living on planet Earth. The standard was first established in 1934. At the same time, the Rhodesian Ridgebacks received the recognition of the cynologists' union. Since then, the criteria have been constantly changing. Sometimes the club could have its own standard. And even today this dog is one of the best and most recognized in the world, it has four different standards. Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders hope that someday all four criteria will be unified in one breed.
The first officially registered representatives of the species looked more like the American Pit Bull Terrier. They were sturdy, strong, and one might say massive. Now these dogs have outwardly become more athletic, but they have retained their temperament.
Characteristics of the appearance of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
An attractive, strong dog with a harmonious, athletic build. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is hardy, active and energetic. The coat is in light colors, short and thick, with a characteristic fur growing in the other direction on the back. He is tenacious, intelligent, and perfectly nervously balanced. It is used for hunting, guarding and as a companion pet.
According to the accepted standard, the height at the withers is from 62 cm to 68 cm in males, from 60 cm to 65 cm for bitches. With a variation of plus or minus one centimeter. Weight from 35 kg to 37 kg, for 30 kg to 31.5 kg. They move energetically, straightforwardly.
- Head beautiful, rolling. The cheekbones are well defined and dry. The frontal part is slightly flattened, wide between the ears. The occipital part is smoothed. The superciliary arches are moderate. Starting from the bridge of the nose, the frontal groove is slightly visible.
- Muzzle equal in length to the skull. It is rectangular in shape, solid, long enough. The transition from the forehead to the bridge of the nose (feet) is visible in moderation. The bridge of the nose is straight, parallel to the forehead. The lips are dry, tight-fitting, black pigmented. Large, strong and developed white teeth form a scissor bite. The jaws are developed. The flews hang slightly over the lower jaw.
- Nose voluminous, eye-catching. His nostrils are open. The color of the nose depends on the color of the eyes. Dogs with black-brown eyes have a rich black pigmentation of the nose, and those with amber-yellow eyeballs have a dark brown lobe.
- Eyes Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very wide, round in shape, of medium size. The eyelids are dry, tight-fitting, black-pigmented. Corneal shade varies with color. Dark brown, black-brown, amber or yellow-brown. The look is smart, focused, lively and bright.
- Ears - located high. Their size is medium, hanging on cartilage, triangular at the ends, rounded, adjacent to the head with the front edge.
- Neck long enough for the ridgeback to lower its head and sniff the ground. She is muscular and strong. The withers are well developed, there is no dewlap.
- Frame - stretched, muscular. The ribcage is well developed, reaching to the elbows, oval and deep to give the dog good endurance at work. The loin is slightly arched, strong, well muscled. The croup is slightly rounded. The back is firm, straight and strong. And its most important feature is the ridge on the back, the hair growing in the opposite direction - the ridge. The ribs are moderately oval, not protruding. The underline is nicely pulled up to the groin.
- Tail Rhodesian Ridgeback Medium Occupation. Strong at the base, tapering towards the end, not long. When moving, the dog carries it slightly above the line of the spine, it bends slightly.
- Front limbs - when viewed from all sides, parallel to each other, strong muscles and strong bones. Elbows are harmonious. The shoulder blades are tightly connected to the body, muscular. The shoulders are well angulated and angled to allow good speed. The hind legs are prominent, powerful, strong in structure, slightly laid back. Stand upright when judging. Thighs with mesomorphic muscles. The angulations are expressed harmoniously, the metatarsus are shortened.
- Paws - short and rounded like a cat's, with fingers tightly pressed to one another, hair grows between them. The nails are strong, the pads are voluminous and resilient.
- Coat dense, short, smooth and shiny. The undercoat is insignificant.
- Skin dense, fits the entire body of the animal.
- Color can't be dark. It ranges from light cream to sandy orange-sand. Colored spots on the dog's body are not permitted. Black hair is concentrated around the muzzle, eyes, and ears.
Rhodesian Ridgeback behavior
One of the main breed characteristics of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a balanced character. This implies, on the one hand, distrust of outsiders, on the other, not a manifestation of aggression. That is, if a person just walks down the street, there is no need to bite him, catch up and do something bad with him. However, their hunting qualities are impressive. According to the classification of the International Cynological Organization, Ridgebacks are classified as hounds.
As a rule, such a dog finds an animal, picks it up and drives it away with barking. There is another variety of such dogs that pursue the wounded animal on the blood trail. But Ridgebacks are not exactly ordinary hounds. They hardly use their voice. When they catch up with their "opponent", they do not engage in single combat with him, but upset and wait for the hunter's approach. They reflect the attack, dodge bites, but they themselves do not attack their victim.
They are excellent watchmen who warn of an approaching stranger. This is a guard, friend and nanny for children. Such dogs are very restrained in their behavior with babies. They can forgive the mischievous people almost everything. Many people who first see a Rhodesian Ridgeback understand that this is love at first sight. They are versatile dogs that are smart and beautiful. Natural intelligence and a rich inner world are not the only advantages of the breed, animals are unpretentious and have excellent health.
Rhodesian Ridgeback dog health
Since the Rhodesian Ridgeback is descended from native canines, it has a strong immune system. With their parameters, they practically do not get sick all their lives and live up to fifteen, or even seventeen years. But no matter how excellent their natural parameters are, how you take care of, and what you put into an animal will grow out of it. With improper feeding and excessive physical exertion, the pet's body will suffer and develop incorrectly. That is, the dog will not meet the standard and acquired diseases will appear.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Care Tips
- Wool smooth-haired dogs are short, but this does not mean that they do not need to be monitored. These pets shed in the same way as other dogs and need to be combed out. Only for the procedure you will not need a slicker or furminator, but rubber brushes or mittens. They perfectly remove dead hair. It is recommended to comb your pet once a week, and during the molting period and until its end, several times a week. Ridgebacks are bathed as they become dirty. PH-balanced concentrates are diluted with water so that there is no irritation of the skin, that is, dandruff. Do not allow any residues to be on the wool. After the "bath", dry the dog well with a towel.
- Claws must be trimmed with special claws. When manipulating, do not touch the living edge where the blood vessels pass. The dog will be hurt and will resist during the next procedure. If you do not know how to use a nail clipper, then you can cut your pet's claws with a natfil or a coarse file.
- Ears it is better to check and clean constantly, because they are hanging in shape and are less ventilated than dogs with erect ears. For cleaning, there are ready-made lotions that will perfectly soften the accumulated sulfur.
- Eyes Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not require special attention. If necessary, be sure to wipe them with anti-irritation products towards the inner corner of the eye.
- Teeth dogs that eat ready-made food are rarely cleaned. When the pet eats, the hard particles mechanically remove the accumulated plaque. Individuals receiving natural food have their teeth brushed several times a week. For manipulation, use a brush and paste purchased at pet stores. It is possible to clean the dentition with activated carbon. All it takes is to wet it and rub your teeth.
- Feeding such dogs should include all the elements necessary for good growth and the functioning of all his systems. With natural food, this is primarily high-quality, non-fatty meat (veal, chicken, turkey), then add a little different cereals (rice, barley, rolled oats, buckwheat), as well as vegetables and eggs. Do not forget about fermented milk products (cottage cheese, kefir), but by no means milk. It is only suitable for puppies. The body of adults cannot properly assimilate it and in most cases your four-legged friend will have diarrhea. Introduce vitamins and minerals into your food every day. For busy breeders, this pet diet option is not applicable. Premium and super premium foods are great for their dogs. They have a whole, well-chosen spectrum of substances that will shape your four-legged friend and give him a wonderful appearance.
- Walking - at least several times a day. But best of all, ridgebacks are kept in a country house with the possibility of free walking in a large fenced area. These are working dogs that have retained their qualities to this day, therefore, for their good physical shape, appropriate physical activity is needed.
Rhodesian Ridgeback training
Psychologists say that a person gets the most vivid memories in childhood. In this regard, dogs are no different from humans. In South Africa, Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are specially tested - their character is checked. The test is very simple, but you can immediately see what inclinations a dog has.
The puppy is given a treat - dried animal liver. If he is interested in a tasty treat, then we can say that he is active, persistent in achieving the goal, makes contact and is interested in food. Through such an irritant, you can call the dog, force it to walk on some kind of projectile, and sometimes even overcome fear. As a rule, if a dog is interested in food, then he has a strong nervous system. A balanced animal can be easily negotiated and trained in various commands. In the process of initial training, try not to impose your views on the world around the puppy and do not force him to perform complex commands. Observe his behavior, try to understand what he likes.
There is a special tennis court for dogs. It is especially suitable for breeds such as hounds and greyhounds. Such dogs, in order to run over, need to "wind on the counter" many tens of kilometers. This sport is also to the liking of Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and a person can simultaneously work out a kick from the right or serve a ball. This is how he is, tennis with dogs.
Interesting facts about the Rhodesian Ridgeback
There is a legend about how the crest appeared on the back of ridgebacks. In ancient times, when only animals lived on earth, there lived a dog that knew how to run quickly and a brave snake. The dog was jealous of the reptile, thinking that he was cowardly. Therefore, they hunted together and lived under a lush tree. Once the king of beasts passed by him - a lion, he roared loudly, the whole Earth shook and the snake fell from the tree onto the dog's back. Since then, a characteristic mark has remained on her back - a ridge and she has acquired unprecedented courage.
Purchase and price of a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy
Nowadays, a lot of Ridgebacks are bred by people, not thinking about the quality of the breed. They breed insecure and unadapted dogs with a vulnerable nervous system. Naturally, this psychotype is passed on to puppies. If you buy a four-legged friend without thinking about who his parents are, you may be in big trouble. A dog that hunts lions will be afraid of harsh sounds, strangers, and new surroundings.
You will have to work for a long time to correct his behavior. Many people, acquiring a Ridgeback for themselves, forget that they are energetic and need regular long and active walking. If the dogs do not run out, they will: disobey, pull the leash, run away and destroy the apartment, have nervous manifestations. It is better to buy a ridgeback from specialists. Price from $ 1000 to $ 2000.
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