The Breed

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed originating in South(ern) Africa where it was used (amongst other things) to hunt lions. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Hottentots (Khoi - khoi).
(Source: Wikipedia).

Lion Hunters?

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are known for their bravery and endurance and agility. They did not actually go for a kill but instead to hunt down the lion, to exhaust him and keep him eventually in a place where the human hunters could kill him. Sad, anyway.
A lion is way to strong and dangerous for a dog to attack him. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very agile and could avoid being hit by a lion's claws - you can still see this agility when watching a Ridgeback playing with other dogs. Also their bravery can still be observed. They don't feel intimidated by any other dog or human - and they are not aggressive at all, they often just don't care because they might feel in charge.

Physics

They weigh approx. 85-95 pounds (male dogs) and 70-80 pounds (female dogs). Male dogs reach a height of approx. 25-27 inch and females are usually 1-2 inches smaller.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an athletic appearance.

Visual

The famous 'ridge': It's the part on their back where the fur grows in the opposite direction. Young kids often ask us why BANTUU has this scar on his back and we explain it's not a scar but just his funky hair style. The ridge is something that has its origin in the South African Hottentot dog (semi-domesticated, still living in the wild in South Africa, which is an 'ingredient' in the Rhodesian Ridgeback).

Possible Health Issues

• Dermoid sinus: can be treated by undergoing surgery, however, breeders should make sure that diagnosed dogs are not used for breeding.
• Deafness caused by a genetic defect occurring at around age 9 months. Breeders should pay more attention to that defect in order to avoid spreading the health issue.
• Degenerative myelopathy (DM), a disease of the spinal cord.
• Hypothyroidism: is causing lethargy, excessive weight gain. The most common form of Hypothyroidism is easy to treat with a daily pill.
• Bloat: common in dogs with high chests. Stomach can be fixed at a 'safe' position by surgery. However, you can just make sure that your dog never exercises too hard right after a meal. Give your 1-2 hours after a meal and the likeliness of getting a bloat decreases significantly.

Resources

Find a list of web links, including Rescue Organizations, Wikipedia, etc. on our page: Resources