Rhodesian Ridgeback

The short answer is: big. The slightly longer answer involves the breed standard — though it is worth knowing that many Ridgebacks today, males in particular, grow considerably larger than the standard might lead you to expect. This is not necessarily a good thing, and most responsible breeders aim to breed within the standard, but it is the reality.

You can reasonably expect a female to weigh between 30 and 40 kg (66–88 lbs) and stand somewhere between 52 and 67 cm (20–26 in) at the shoulder. A male will typically come in between 38 and 49 kg (84–108 lbs) and measure 58 to 69 cm (23–27 in) at the shoulder. Some are taller still — but that is not considered desirable.

A lot — but perhaps not in the way you might expect. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred to hunt across vast, hot and unforgiving landscapes, and that drive does not disappear just because they now live in your house. They need regular, genuine exercise and real opportunities to behave like the dogs they are. Plan for off-leash running several times a week, ideally daily, along with plenty of time for sniffing, digging, playing and chewing — all the everyday business of being a dog.

A good baseline is three walks a day, with at least two being long, varied and rich in sniff time. Beyond that, activities like nosework, mantrailing, lure coursing, play with other dogs or structured dog sports will all be gratefully received — and enthusiastically participated in.

When your puppy is old enough for more intensive activities — running, hiking, cycling, canicross — expect those to go down very well indeed.

Meet their needs consistently, and you will find that a Ridgeback is actually a surprisingly calm and easy couch potato companion at home. But the energy has to go somewhere — make sure it goes somewhere good.

Honest answer: it depends on your definition of easy — and on you.

The Ridgeback is a non-collaborative hunting breed, which is a polite way of saying it was designed to make its own decisions without checking in with a human first. That independence served a very real purpose on the African savannah. In a training class, it can feel slightly less convenient. Expect a dog that is perfectly capable of understanding what you want — and occasionally choosing not to do it.

But here is the thing: for the right person, this is one of the most satisfying breeds to train there is. They are intelligent, perceptive and, when genuinely motivated, surprisingly capable. Some Ridgebacks are passionate about working with their person and go on to excel in obedience, tracking and dog sports. Others treat training as an interesting suggestion rather than a firm plan. Most are somewhere in between — and almost all of them will surprise you.

Personally, I find them wonderfully trainable. But I also know that says as much about the match as it does about the breed. You cannot push a square peg through a round hole — and that is the whole point. Before you bring a Ridgeback home, meet some. Talk to owners and breeders. Ask the awkward questions about motivation and drive. Make sure the fit is right. Because when it is, there is nothing quite like it.

And most importantly: Train with rewards, not corrections. A Ridgeback is independent and intelligent — which means they need a reason to work with you, not a reason to avoid you. Find what motivates your dog, make training genuinely fun, and you will be surprised how far you can go together – RR Training Guide.

Again, the honest answer is: it depends on your family.

Let’s start with the practicalities. A Ridgeback is a big, strong, enthusiastic animal. Children cannot manage them safely without adult supervision, and that is simply a fact to build your expectations around. Beyond the physical, this is also — fundamentally — a one-person dog. They will love, cherish and protect your whole family. But they will choose one of you, and everyone else will know it.

In practice, this plays out in small but telling ways. Your Ridgeback will follow their person from room to room with quiet, unshakeable dedication. When that person is present, other family members may find the dog pleasantly friendly but essentially elsewhere in spirit. 

None of this makes the Ridgeback a bad family dog. It makes them a particular kind of family dog — one whose loyalty runs deep and narrow by design. Some family members will find that quietly difficult. If you choose this breed, the better approach is not only to accept but to embrace and cherish it. This devotion was cultivated deliberately, over generations, because it was exactly what was needed. It is not a personality flaw. It is the whole point.

A Border Collie herds because that is what it was made for. A Ridgeback shadows their person for precisely the same reason — with the same conviction, the same focus and the same utter seriousness of purpose.

An active family with older children? Could be a brilliant match.
Family with children under 8? Worth looking at other breeds first.

That depends on the dog — and on how well they have been socialised. Some Ridgebacks are relaxed and friendly with virtually any dog they encounter. Others have strong preferences and make no particular effort to hide them. Early socialisation, done thoughtfully and with care, makes a real difference. So do early negative experiences, which is a good reason to be selective about the situations a young Ridgeback is exposed to.

There is also something important to hold onto regardless of how sociable your individual dog turns out to be: the Ridgeback is not only a very big dog but also a a hunting breed, and those instincts are very much intact. A dog that is perfectly well-behaved around other large dogs may still clock a small dog as prey. As a responsible Ridgeback owner, the rule of thumb is simple — when in doubt, keep them on lead, don’t let them approach other dogs uninvited and supervise all interactions closely. Your dog may have the best of intentions. A small or timid dog being chased by a Ridgeback at full speed has no way of knowing that. Let’s take responsibility and make sure meeting a Rhodesian Ridgeback is a good experience for everyone involved.

Never forget. With big dogs comes big responsibilities. 

Absolutely! The Ridgeback was built for the desert. Short coat, no undercoat, engineered for days of running in baking heat. That makes them extraordinarily heat-tolerant and almost entirely defenceless against the cold — especially when rain, wind or snow enters the picture.

Here is a way to feel it rather than just understand it: step outside in winter in a t-shirt and leggings. On a cold but sunny day, you might be fine — as long as you keep moving. A fast walk, a jog, some kind of activity. But slow down, stand still, or just potter around, and you will want a jumper fairly quickly. If it is raining, you want a waterproof. If it is blowing or snowing, you want a proper coat. Your Ridgeback is wearing the t-shirt and leggings. Every single day.

And no — they do not adapt. Enduring cold winters does not make a Ridgeback hardier or grow them extra coat. What it does do is give them sore muscles and a bad back from spending every walk hunched and tightened, trying desperately to hold onto whatever warmth their body can generate.

Get the rain coat at the very least. It is not optional.

No. Not even up for discussion. They need the comfort of your company, warmth and a soft bed. If you are looking for an outside dog, a kennel dog, a utility room dog, or a garden ornament dog – LOOK ELSEWHERE. This is NOT your breed.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred to track and keep lions at bay, never ever to engage with the object of their hunt. Because that was supposed to be lions and you simply don’t try to bite one of those. Ridgebacks are an impressively versatile hunting breed and can work as both sighthound and scenthound. Some might even retrieve but don’t expect that, it’s not their thing. They are not suited for protection work, if that’s your dream, pick another breed. 

No, this breed is not divided into lines. If someone tries to sell you a working line Rhodesian Ridgeback, they are likely breeding outside the standard and this is never in the best interest for neither the dogs or the breed.

Granted, other breeds have lines, and some have created a breed standard that is focused on a specific look or style. This is not the case with the RR. The breed standard promotes health and longevity, not looks, fads or trends.

You want a dog that has been bred to meet the breed standard to ensure your dog is healthy and will live a long and active life. Steer clear of breeders who don’t health test comprehensively and who wouldn’t present a dog from their breeding at a show. It’s fine if they don’t show all the time but at the very least they need to prove that their breeding animals are up to standard.