The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a soft, signal-sensitive dog with a friendly disposition. They will show integrity, dignity, and a significant amount of loyalty toward its owner. They are smart, have a good sense of humor, and can easily outsmart its owner to achieve what it finds desirable. The upbringing during the younger years play a significant part in the Ridgeback becoming the balanced and calm family member we all wish for when adding a dog to our household. The breed places high demands on its owner and should be brought up with kindness, clarity, consistency and respect. In return, your trusted Ridgeback will continuously bring laughter, joy and a sense of wonder to your life.

Breed standard

"The Rhodesian Ridgeback should have a dignified, intelligent demeanor. Be reserved towards strangers without showing aggression or shyness."

Relationship with people

The breed standard states that the breed must have "a dignified, intelligent behavior, be reserved towards strangers without showing aggression or shyness". This means that the breed should accept contact with a stranger, but the greeting can be brief and without the dog himself encouraging the contact. However, the dog should not show any anxiety, shyness or aggression.

The breed generally has a friendly attitude towards the family and a neutral attitude towards strangers. People that the dog meets at regular intervals are accepted immediately, that is, they are remembered and welcomed. The breed has a great need for company and to be with his family.

Relationship with other dogs

When in contact with foreign dogs of the same sex, a Ridgeback is normally hesitant and can even measure up. When in contact with dogs of the opposite sex, it is usually just curious.
In general, it reacts positively to all of the family's dogs, regardless of gender.
If the other dog, regardless of gender, has indistinct body signals, behaves overly excited, or frenetic, a well socialized Ridgeback may correct the other dog in and effort to create order and balance.

Play interest

The breed has an origin as, among other things, a standing hunting dog with requirements to be able to work independently. The breed should thus have a play interest, as the dog's behavior when hunting can to some extent be linked to the dog's behavior during play.

An adult ridgeback usually responds to an acquaintance's play invitation if the situation is right, and also sometimes calls for continued play. But it can also respond only eventually, when the owner has invited to play for a while. Then the adult individual rarely calls for continued play. A Ridgeback may get tired quite quickly of playing with humans but will play longer with his/her dog friends.

Fear / insecurity

The breed standard states that the breed must have "a dignified, intelligent behavior, be reserved towards strangers without showing aggression or shyness". The breed has sprung from a dangerous environment where preparedness and quick instincts could be vital. It is therefore natural that the breed shows a moderate degree of escape behavior and quick evasive maneuver, in case of surprise or rattling. However, the Ridgeback should have the ability to analyze the situation relatively quickly and have enough curiosity to dare to investigate the source and react, ie lower its stress level as it was before it was surprised.

In the writing of the breed standard "reserved of strangers", passes through some individuals as an expression of social fear or insecurity, which can not be seen as typical of the breed as the standard states "without showing aggression or shyness". In order to function and feel good in our society, a Ridgeback needs to be accepting and have less of the suspicion that is sometimes associated with the breed standard's writing of "reserved of strangers".

Threat / aggression

In addition to hunting, the breed was originally used to defend land and property against both wild animals and uninvited people. In a threatening situation, the breed should thus show a moderate degree of threat (raised tail, stiff body language, raised rag, growls, bark) but the action should cease when the threat has been identified as "harmless". Bit behavior is unacceptable.

The breed generally guards property such as land and housing. The breed can also guard, for example, when someone approaches the car, then usually against other approaching dogs.

Activity Level

The breed standard states that the breed has an innate ability to work, both as a hunting dog and guard dog. The hunt, mainly for large game, in vast areas of land required a large portion of mobility, agility and perseverance. In addition to hunting, the dogs also had the task of guarding farms and campsites to keep intruders away. The breed thus has a relatively large need for both physical exercise and mental stimulation.

The adult ridgeback is usually calm indoors and active outdoors. However, young dogs can satisfy their activity needs and their curiosity with some additional work in the home environment, especially if the individual's physical and / or mental needs are not fully met. The breed feels best from varied exercise, which allows both leash walks at a fast pace and the opportunity to run free and "rush off". The mental stimulation can suitably be met through nose work such as game tracks, nosework or personal tracks. Lack of activation for a long time can lead to the dog being mistakenly perceived as lethargic and uninvolved when it is actually bored or in the worst case depressed. It can also lead to the dog developing unwanted behaviors.

Willingness to cooperate/Trainability

The Ridgeback is originally a hunting dog that is bred to be able to work independently. The breed is thus not bred for a high willingness to cooperate, such as working and retriever breeds.

The family always comes first for a Ridgeback and having company and being able to participate in everyday life is essential for the breed to feel good. The breed is very sensitive to signals, ie it has a great ability to read moods and intentions. The breed is also quick to learn, but may tire of the activity/task if it does not see it as meaningful or profitable. It understands very quickly what the owner wants, but may choose to stay “comfortable”. This places high demands on the owner’s ability to motivate the dog by varied training through developing rewards that the dog appreciates.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are generally very healthy dogs. Responsible breeders usually screen their dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia, thyroid and cardiac function, and eye abnormalities. According to the breed standard, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a well-balanced, powerful, muscular, agile and active dog. It should have a symmetrical whole with a capacity for great endurance and fairly high speed. The breed is not classified as one of the breeds that are at risk for health problems due to exterior exaggerations.

A rhodesian ridgeback can, like all dogs regardless of breed, suffer from various diseases. Below is a list for the most common reasons why the breed requires veterinary care. The breed also has a predisposition for the defective Dermoid Sinus.

Vomiting / Diarrhea / Gastroenteritis

Skin problems such as itching and bacterial hair follicle inflammation (folliculitis)

Allergy

Skin tumors

Skin damage, due to cuts, bite wounds etc.

Ear infections (otitis)

Pain musculoskeletal system (back)

Like many other breeds, the Rhodesian Ridgeback arose from a need that existed in a specific environment for a specific period of time. However, the origin of the breed is partly unknown, and will probably always remain so.

Brief history by Joy McFarlane for the Kennel Union of Southern Africa.

In 1879 Rev. Charles Daniel Helm brought two dogs from Kimberley (a small diamond-mining town in central South Africa) to his mission near Bulawayo in Rhodesia, now known as Zimbabwe. These two bitches are regarded as the origin of what is known today as the Rhodesian Ridgeback and their ancestry can be traced back to the semi-domesticated dogs accompanying theindigenous people, the Khoi-San, who lived near the southern tip of Africa.

A hunter, by the name of Cornelius van Rooyen, who operated mainly in Matebeleland (now Botswana), mated these two rough coated, grey-black dogs to his pack and the famous ridge emerged.

These dogs included - Bloodhound and Pointer – for good scenting. Bulldog and Bull Terrier – for courage and tenacity. Airedale and Irish Terrier – for dash and spirit. Deerhound – for stamina. Smooth Collie – for herding skills. Greyhound – for speed.

Hunting mainly in groups of two or three, the original function of the Ridgeback, was to track game, especially lion, and with great agility, keep it at bay until the arrival it of the hunter.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of only two registered breeds indigenous to Southern Africa, the other being the Boerboel.