RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK



"The dog would have to be smart, agile and cautious enough to stay out of reach of the lion's claws."


The Rhodesian Ridgeback was originally called the South African Lion Hound because they were famous for their use in hunting the "King of Beasts". Although, RRs were multipurpose farm and hunting dogs, it was their association with big games hunters like Cornelius van Royen and Selous that brought them the most attention.

Now, while the lion is among the most ferocious of cats, that does not mean the Ridgeback is also fierce. Many breeds of hunting dogs are very keen when after their quarry, but are gentle companions to people. Black and Tan Coonhounds, Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Borzoi - the Russian Wolfhound - all these breeds are used to hunt and no one would think twice about lumping their temperaments with their quarry! The lovable little Dachshund is a formidable hunter of badger but lives quite happily in our homes.

What you need to understand is HOW the RR was used by hunters. In those early days, the hunters did not have powerful guns, instead they had to be within 50 yds of a lion to kill it. A lion is very fast and can cover 50 yds in about 3 seconds, so the hunter needed a dog that would keep the lion's attention on it and away from him. The dog would also have to be smart, agile and cautious enough to stay out of reach of the lion's claws. This is why the Ridgeback must be athletic - supple and fast.

Baying lions was not the Ridgebacks only job on the veldt, they had to guard and herd the stock that went along on the hunting treks. There weren't any fast food stops along the way! The wagons were pulled by oxen, there were also cattle and goats for both meat and milk and horses to ride. The new settlers had farms that needed protecting from marauding predators and a dog who could fetch a downed bird or gazelle for the dinner table as well. The Ridgeback was often the breed of choice.

Many times people see a breed of dog and fall in love with it’s looks, never considering that that breed may be totally unsuitable for their lifestyle, their facilities or their ability to train and control it. All they know is they’ve got to have one! Buying a dog on impulse is always a bad idea! As with buying anything, YOU must educate yourself first: find out what the breed is truly like, visit in the home of several people who have that breed and find out what problems they have encountered. Learn to ask the correct questions , not only about the positive aspects of a breed but the negative, too. And learn what questions to ask of the litter owners....think of it as finding out what the "warranty" covers and the "features" of the item.

Ridgebacks are not Labradors or Golden Retrievers in short coats. They are hunting dogs and have a high prey drive . Translation: They are quite independent - they don’t fawn over your every word, they can be oblivious to being called and require a lot of positive motivation to train them in traditional obedience. Many people are just not prepared for the stubbornness and hard-headedness in this breed.

Any dog ownership requires responsibility. Dogs are not something to decorate your home or yard, they are living, feeling creatures who should be treated as members of your family. This is especially true of Ridgebacks. They must be made to feel as part of your "pack", ie your family, or they will strike out on their own. You should think of them as a new addition to your family and plan for them as you would a new child.

Copied with permition from the web-site of Kennel Kalahari.