They are one of the best breeds. Training with this breed goes both ways, they have to be given a choice. Ei, if walking on a leash, sometimes you let them choose whether they want to go left or right, allowing them to also make choice forms a better bond. Our RR's have never been allowed to jump on ppl since pups. Most ppl allow puppies to do anything & everything bc it's 'cute' only to punish them for the same unacceptable behaviour when they get older. Allow pups to play & have freedom whilst teaching what they can & can't do, this is important stage which sets them up for success. If an owner allows their pup to sit near the dining table whilst you & your family are eating & then give them bits of food off your plate, they will have a hard time stopping this habit when older. We don't feed our dogs from our table, plates or scraps leftover from dinner, firstly, it's unhealthy for them & they don't need it. Our dogs have never taken or eaten food from the table,etc, they won't accept food from others, which was important from the start. If I had dogs who ate off tables, I definitely wouldn't be taking them to other ppls homes, no matter how polite they may be BC your dog took their food from their table, noone should overstep a friendship. RR must be trained, but also allowed to make choice, so that they feel comfortable when they must obey their owner, it's a 2 way street. Hmm 90 yr old woman owning a RR, perhaps a better example would be someone who is a couch potato, doesn't like leaving the TV, has no strength to walk a flight of stairs,etc should steer clear from a RR, there are younger ppl that would be no different from that 90 yr old woman.. Space, they need room to get that explosion of energy out, if you live in an apartment & are only able to walk your RR on a leash exclusively on concrete or a walk which is always the same routine, same route, then this too us a reason to perhaps look at another breed. They need space, to be allowed to run off leash, explore,etc, a 1hr walk on leash once a day isn't acceptable for them. They are awesome with small children if shown, not trained the correct way, they have an uncanny sense of care for little one's & must be shown correctly. Lastly, food, their diet has to be prime quality food, not junk or substandard, cheap dog food, it has to be a variety & carefully portioned as bloat can kill them. Never excersise them right after a meal. These dogs are the best in the right hands, all the training in the world won't help if you don't understand these dogs, they are not trick dogs to jump & dance for treats, they are a part of your family, a role they take seriously, they love back just as much as they get. Their respect & loyalty is given, not through treats but by the way they are handled.
what helped me is choice base training for my dogs, it really is a Rhodesian Ridgeback thing... if they want to do it they will, if not they won’t and it helped me understand them and deepen our bond. i’m fine with this behavior from my dogs so we make a good match also, i think understanding this breed is key they aren’t like other dogs in so many ways. ✌🏻
I agree! Alot of people want to put these dogs in the same category as every other dog but I couldn't disagree more! Its hard to understand until you own one... I love them! They deserve an owner that can give them attention and love they deserve!
Agree, with training and lots of patience this is the perfect dog. My dog is 2-1/2 y… now we train off lease walks… took lots of patience its can be done…why are people so scared of this enthousiast ic dog???❤
i have two, my dogs are chill and don’t require a lot of exercise. i have sand in my backyard for them to run in tho, they love it! i also work from home and am with them 24/7 they are amazing dogs and they fit my hermit lifestyle! they are very smart and stubborn, which i love and find funny lol very cuddly and loving!!! they need someone very loving and chill would be my advice & they want to spend lots and lots of time with you, they require lots of quality time! i’ll never have another breed in my life 🤍
Yea my Nala needs quite a bit but she he is getting older now and settling down . But up to 3 wow! We would go for a 4 hour hike and she would take an hour nap and be ready to go again haha... thats the thing with these videos I'm telling you my personal opinions and experiences but every dog is a little different! My Nala is cuddly though and I lovvvveeee that .. shes my shadow , my best friend , and protector ❤.. aren't they so funny though?! I love it as well! They are so entertaining to watch . Thanks for watching!
Our RR is also Nala…and your description is so accurate - thanks!!!! Nala is stubborn - aka smart, she needs lots walks and is always hungry (level black hole). We adore her ❤ On a personal note, after 10yrs I still don’t trust her when it comes to getting along with foes. Perhaps a positive trait!? Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Nala is our 2nd RR and we are doing our best to give her the best life she can have ❤
So true about the exercise. My guy is 6 months old and 50% of the time he’s a cuddly couch potato but the other 50% he’s a velociraptor that needs to run.
@@avrilbaker3343 mine just hit 7 months, he isn’t super stubborn yet. the worst he gets is having to be told 3 times to sit. I haven’t ever used any treats for training him and I think it made him a lot better at doing what he’s told.
Great advice for those who are deciding. Your bang on with our ridgies traits too. Ours is amazing with our baby, Maybe a tad clumsy around him, but overall very protective. They need to let loose and run often.
I agree with alot of comments and experience but regardless of breed. Dogs suss us out from weeks old. If you are not a dog person then the dog with play you like a piano. I have had labrador's, Border collies, jack russell's Golden retriever's and mongrel's. Now on my 2nd Ridgeback. They are way beyond, amazing loving dogs. They will read you like a book from day one. Maybe dogs should have human training classes.
I had three over the years and i generally agree exapt smart , they just aren't. They are not stupid but more often then not don't they solve puzzles and thinking problem with smarts but with stubbornness more often then not.
We own a 4 year old male and he can have all the traits, but most of the time he's really the perfect dog. We walk about an hour per day in the week, a bit more in weekends. Almost always off leash, even on the streets as he always wants to be close to me. Strange dogs are indeed a bit more difficult as they indeed are quite rough in there handling with other dogs. However our friends amstaff likes it very much that way. But we also have a cat, and they are friends. And the cat is now just 1 year old. So he was an adult when we got the cat. No issues whatsoever. I did consistently let him now everybody is higher in the pack than you, as we also have kids ranging from 4 to 12. But he really is the perfect dog for us. Calm inside, a good guard dog, great energy to go out. Just one thing: he HATES the rain. Would rather keep his pee in for hours and hours than to go outside in the rain.
Yea, my dogs are almost always off leash as well except around the apt complex(rules). But you're lucky that he likes cats! Nala hates them ! Will chase them and paw them around haha 😄 and wow only an hour?? My dogs would never allow that hah
this gave me great insight on the breed. i adopted a border collie mix from the shelter about 4 years ago and i finally did a dna test on him to try and figure out what his problem was or my problem cause he is so beyond stubborn. the dna test came back as border collie, australian kelpie, mcnab, american staffy, great dane, and rodisian ridgeback. i had to laugh cause everything you described in the video is how he is. he’s super smart and super stubborn. if he decides he wants to do something and his mind is set it’s hard to change it and they really do go after anything and everything. much to my dismay he’s broken countless leashes by snapping them to go after turkeys or squirrels or coyotes. that scares me when he does that. he decided he was going to try and take on a deer the other day. he just doesn’t seem to be scared of anything or anyone. this video really helped me understand my boy better
@@rockymountainruckus1041 it’s really fun but at the same time it’s scary if your not used to it. he’s so pray driven and so stubborn that he’s snapped a few leashes in the past and gone after coyotes. i thought he was done for but he just trotted back and was all proud of himself lol. then i feel like i’m being the crazy owner trying to explain to him that they are dangerous and that he has to stop doing that. other issue i’ve been having with him and i’m not sure if it’s the rodisian ridgeback part of him but he will be playing with one of his friends one minute and the next he goes from playing to pinning the dog down or going after the dog and i’m like wtf just happened. to me it looks like both dogs are just standing there sometimes and he goes from 0 to 100 within 2 seconds. i was at the dog park once with a friend of mine and she had her pit with her. one minute her dog was taking a piss and the next my dog was on top of hers trying to sink his teeth into his skull or something. her dog sadly needed stitches. i don’t know if that’s a trait of a rodisian ridgeback or if it’s one of the many other breeds he is but he tends to either do this to dogs he’s played great with constantly in the past and one day he just snaps or if he thinks a dog is maybe challenging him or something i don’t even know honestly 😂😂to me it just looks like the dog is watching him or something and not doing anything and he just randomly flips. i’ve taken him to multiple trainers and none of them have been able to help. right now i’m just managing it the best i can. he seems to be getting better as he gets older
I can relate. I have a female, 1.5yo Rhodesian / pit bull. You have to be a strong alpha. And she never returns when I call her off leash. How are you hiking with her?
Most comments are correct. They are a one person dog ,but love their family. You need at least a half acre that the dog will tear up running. Professional training by a real dog handler will help. A male can pull a250 pound man down the street. If you are attacked by another dog ,you let them go. Mine was by a Rot. The Rot left swiftly. They are for people that can spend hours with them. When left alone,they tend to howl. Best dog I ever had. I would not recommend to someone that just wants a guard dog. Lots of training and cleaning ears. They will never leave the one they consider their master. I never hit mine. And when scolded. Would turn his back to me. Mine was big. Eighty -five in his prime. So hard to get another dog. He was wonderful. 🇱🇷
Basically, you are active, you love them aaand... you will forgive them aa lot. ' nough said 😉. Thanks for pointing out to this video. Nala is such a beauty 😍😍
You have sensational dogs. I love your Channel. The look on Lara's eyes is just hypnotic! I have a 4 month old Ridgeline puppy "ridgeless": a Prince. I now live in Brazil by the beach so this is the perfect son i never had! What a life he gave me. Congrats. Much love.
Ridgebacks are by far my favorite dog. I hope to own one someday too! I hear conflicting anecdotes about their energy/exercise requirements though; Some say that they have excellent 'off-switches' and are rather lazy indoors but will gladly take as much exercise as you are willing to give them. But then I hear some videos really stress the fact that they're very high energy dogs and need tons and tons of exercise to keep them sane. I guess every dog is unique but It's hard to get an idea of what to expect.
So they do need a lot of exercise . Everyone that I know that has one agrees.. BUT once you exercise one they sleep for hours and can be very lazy inside . A tired dog is a happy dog.. this also apples when they mature.. they settle down a lot at 3-5 years..but they are hyper and crazy as puppies.. if you aren't an active person I dont suggest getting one . They need exercise everyday. But if you like to exercise then they are a great dog for you! They aren't a dog to be kept in a crate all day either they need to be with you. Hope this helps.. my knowledge on RR comes from experience, talking with my friends that have them , breeders that I have relationships with and research! Thanks for commenting!
Yes I have a 7 month ridgeback mix and she needs a good 30-40 minute walk/run or time at the dog park. When she's home she's a cuddle monster but she needs excercise daily.
I will say tho I'm a lazy person but I grew up on a couple acres of land and my RR was perfectly happy running with our other dogs during the day/ just going out when he wanted and that was plenty of exercise for him if you have that luxury
The 2nd day after we found a Rhodesian Ridgeback in our yard in late December (shivering pile of skin and bones), almost lost a full plate of spaghetti to him. Been very watchful of him during meals ever since. 😁
thanks for the practical summary of Ridgeback characteristics, I can confirm - this is absolutely true, I have exactly the same experience with my four-year-old female Ridgeback;
110% truth observations. Having 5 month old Marlon, puppy will behave all the way U have described. 24 kg puppy, well. Love him so much but need to remember is my son dog. Needs plenty of training and likes it, when he ...wants. will keep watchin* your channel.
I can confirm that they are for sure stubborn. Especially as puppies and adolescents. The one I had as an adolescent ripped through the trash, stoke food but never mine. I stole from my partner, my mother, friends kids etc. But never from me. I was lucky when it came to wild animals. He showed no interest in those whatsoever so it was never a problem to handle him off leash in the wild.
The hunting instinct is very strong with this breed. Our family had 2 very large Ridgebacks years ago. The male was 105 lbs of muscle and the female even bigger, although she was 1/4 Great Dane. Once on a walk a sheep crossed us on the footpath and the dogs took chase despite being on the lead. I was 19 and in shape but got pulled over and then dragged for 20 metres over sharp stones, but somehow held on till they stopped. I was torn to shreds, but the sheep lived to see another day. Definitely not a dog for Grannies or small children.
I'm SO drawn to these dogs, but I think even more demanding and high drive than my Working Line German Shepherd, and he's a super handful. But they ARE lovely dogs!!!
Mine is a rescue and doesn't like being left alone. Understandable. So I don't leave her unless going into town, she go's with me. Always remember they were originally bred to hold off lions. People have misconstrued this story, it was not to kill. However, mine wanted to eat the J.W. knocking on the door.
Boy ! Do you need to be very very consistent...😂and agree... counter surfers ...yes they are...a whole slice of ham disappeared from the table too..in a heart beat . I was dragged 3 times while he was a teen...like to the ground, still have the scares to prouve it!. However he was the most protective loyal dog I have ever had...now my life is shared by a wonderful rescue, mixe races of all sorts and she is equally smart, food motivated and wonderful. Love the breed, not for everyone, definitely.
thanks for all the tips ! 3 hours a day... :-o well, I don't have this time right now, so.... I guess I will wait again before getting a Rhodesian Ridgeback.....
We adopted a pair when they were 3. My girl is the smart one. It is insane. My boy is the stubborn one. What a combination. Love them but agree with you, def not for everyone.
Mine can run like the wind but rarely does, and sleeps for 23 hours a day. He's also very friendly, unless you walk up my driveway and ring my doorbell ;) Very stubborn breed, but I wouldn't have any other breed now. Just got my 2nd RR last week :)
I agree with you, 100 %. We have had 2 Roxer, they were smart and cute, very secitive.They have died and we have bought a Ridge. Now I have no time at all, our 4 Months old dog takes all our attention,it makes all kinds of chill every minute.In spite of the fact wir love her.
Depends on where you live and what you are looking for. There are breeders out there that bred certain characteristics out of them to make them better family pets. There is show quality vs. Working...
@@youtubewatcher7378 something to look out for is dont get a dog from Craigslist. Check out the parents before getting a puppy so you can see how they live etc. And make sure they have legit papers .. good breeders usually range from $2,000-$3,500
My 2 year old male is very obedient because I use Cesar Millan's methods in training. You have to be the alpha dog for a Ridgeback. Controlling the dog's energy is the key.
Their energy will go down with age , from 120 pct to 20 pct ....Also, they can be extremely active for one or two or 3 hours , and be lazy for the rest of the day . In contrast to Belgian Shepherd Dogs I had before, these really go non stop from early morning till the evening, to the point where it becomes annoying. My ridgebacks never steel from the table. The point "I think" is to avoid there first success with steeling. At young age I put a webcam where they are and talk to them from an other room , as soon as I can see the nose go up to an interesting smell... "Sssst , I can still see you " , once they are adult , I can go away for 2 hours with food on the table , they will not touch it . (starting a new puppy in january , fingers crossed hehe) . I never want any other breed than ridgeback ...
My female was easy to train on all commands except she would knock me down and run out door and come to strangers NOT ME! She got unfortunately was hit by a car and killed. I was devastated and feel totally 😢:13 .😢😢
Yes, i get why you'd say that. I dog walk a Rhodesian Ridgeback for a couple years now and i have a big husky or possibly northern inuit dog and they're best friends. But to be honest i think my husky is soo much smarter and easier to train and has better stamina and is friendlier compared to the Rhodesian.
I had a rhody mix ! She was not friendly with other dogs . a Total tennis ball dog . She ran for balls and could do that endlessly . Use to take her out to a football field and used a tennis racket . Hiking yes . She was a complete athlete . and very protective of us . Not good
They naturally have a guarding instinct. They were meant to go out hunting during the day and guard the family home at night. HOWEVER, they are not a dog to be chained in the front yard all day to guard or to be trained as a guard dog ( it intensifys their natural instinct usually leading to someone getting hurt). With that being said if we had an intruder I know Nala would protect me with her life and I trust her with my life. Hope that helps!
Nice video lots of useful facts but what on earth was it you don't want to divulge, its going round and round in my head trying to figure it out "something we were celebrating that I don't want to divulge" highly curious. 🤔🤔😟
3 hours a day? Other owners confirm? I mean unless you are working from home, I don't see how a normal 9-5 person can give a dog 3 hours a day. Unless we are including a yard play 🤷♀️
We picked up our female Rhodesian last June.....she was 8 weeks. Now close to 8 months she is almost 80 LBS HOLY smokes. Light Wheaten and beautiful like your girl. We live in the Sierra Nevada's close right on BLM land so ummm yeah Rio is always staring out the window saying LET'S GO!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA also we picked up an XL Big Barker bed for her and she loves it. We highly recommend Big Barker beds. The cool thing is in our neighborhood there are a total of 5 Ridgebacks so yeah they have taken over!
It sounds like your more suited to a hungarian vizla. Looks the same but a miniature version so it won't pull your arm out of your socket everytime you take it for a walk.
Not at all they are too small . I dont like their personalities .... I like a strong dog . I can control them 99% of the time its the 1% I'm not paying attention or half asleep at night
@@rockymountainruckus1041 👍 one question-- their coats are they hard to take care off-- they look pretty smooth and not the type to shed alot, my current dog is a real shedder and also a drooler, do they drool much?
@@doodles9358 they still shed but their coat is very short so I've actually never brushed her just wiped her down. When I give a bath I just really message her coat and it gets rid of most of excess hair
All dogs require some form of exercise but you shouldn't decide against getting a Ridgeback because you don't take them out running everyday. A couple of hours at the dog park and mine sleeps the rest of the day. I guess I got a lazy one lol.
I'm not saying running everyday but to be active. These are active dogs generally. I dont want someone that is willing to go on 1 walk a day with these dogs because RR's deserve better than that. All dogs deserve better than that. I hate when people want to get a dog and they don't put in any effort exercising them. And it sounds like yours is a lazier one than mine bc Nala would never be satisfied with that.
Our Ridgeback is only 14 weeks old but she is pretty wild. I fully expect her to stay that way until around 2 years old. That is when our Doodle (now 8 years old) started to mellow out. I plan to go to the dog park with our Ridgeback for an hour every day if I can once her vaccines are finished in a couple more weeks. Otherwise it'll be multiple walks on days that I can't take her or its bad weather. When our Doodle was a pup we had to walk her 3x per day or take her to the dog park where she could really cut loose. If we didn't get the exercise in, she would be wild at home and a major pain. End of the day some breeds need more exercise than others, but pretty much any dog until they hit 2 years old is gonna need a lot. That is just how it goes!
@@jasonschwanke916 exactly! I do suggest not that long at a dog park though.. especially for bigger breed puppies their joints arnt fully together and that can cause damage... I would also suggest maybe a low impact exercise like walking for about 40 min because that teaches them to be calm next to you as well!
@@rockymountainruckus1041 Good point, I will have to see how she behaves the first couple times she goes to the dog park and then figure out what a good time limit is depending how hard she plays. With our Doodle, she could handle an hour at the dog park because shed be pretty calm after the first 20 minutes or so. Non-park days she would get 3 walks a day, each about 20 minutes, for a total of 60 minutes walking time per day. She'd of course play with toys and whatnot at home too, but the shorter walks broken into multiple sessions seemed to be ideal and make sure that even while playing at home she would never get too wild. I am anxious to get our Ridgeback out walking and to parks as soon as her vaccines are done. So close!
All of that is not necessarily true. I know personally some Rhodesians who love water. And mine swims and plays in water. Rhodesians are actually really social with other dogs because they had to work in packs when baying lions. They are protective yes and they have a good intuition for that. Yes they should be leary of strangers however mine is not. Shes super out going and loves attention. Each dog is slightly different.
Our 3 year old Ridgeback LOVES water, other dogs and people. He has never met a dog or person that he doesn’t like. Dogs/puppies should be socialized as much as possible. We are fortunate that our dog, Zebedee is so friendly. Could be the genes too. Every dog is different.
just he had white out of no ware but its so beauty, i had maybe all day whit him running and he still want it, for the food u just start cooking for him, they love that! for me its really so crazy and so nice having my god in this 2
Disobedient equals charm? Well no, but disobedience does equal 🎉some independence and not complete submissiveness. They are smart, but that’s a two edged sword. They are smart and use it to manipulate you. Extremely food motivated is correct, they eat anything and you need to watch this in the field. They are strong and will go where they will and you too, if you hang on to the leash. In short, they are suited for masochistic people who enjoy a dog playing them for a fool. Yes, I’ve owned them for 25 years.
Oh really? Interesting... I don't mind it . Shes a great bird dog. I let her go chase birds then whistle for her and she comes right back ... im thinking she would be great for a golf course
My Ridgeback was nothing short of a gift from God. Best friend I ever had.
Agreed!
They are one of the best breeds. Training with this breed goes both ways, they have to be given a choice. Ei, if walking on a leash, sometimes you let them choose whether they want to go left or right, allowing them to also make choice forms a better bond.
Our RR's have never been allowed to jump on ppl since pups. Most ppl allow puppies to do anything & everything bc it's 'cute' only to punish them for the same unacceptable behaviour when they get older.
Allow pups to play & have freedom whilst teaching what they can & can't do, this is important stage which sets them up for success.
If an owner allows their pup to sit near the dining table whilst you & your family are eating & then give them bits of food off your plate, they will have a hard time stopping this habit when older.
We don't feed our dogs from our table, plates or scraps leftover from dinner, firstly, it's unhealthy for them & they don't need it.
Our dogs have never taken or eaten food from the table,etc, they won't accept food from others, which was important from the start.
If I had dogs who ate off tables, I definitely wouldn't be taking them to other ppls homes, no matter how polite they may be BC your dog took their food from their table, noone should overstep a friendship.
RR must be trained, but also allowed to make choice, so that they feel comfortable when they must obey their owner, it's a 2 way street.
Hmm 90 yr old woman owning a RR, perhaps a better example would be someone who is a couch potato, doesn't like leaving the TV, has no strength to walk a flight of stairs,etc should steer clear from a RR, there are younger ppl that would be no different from that 90 yr old woman..
Space, they need room to get that explosion of energy out, if you live in an apartment & are only able to walk your RR on a leash exclusively on concrete or a walk which is always the same routine, same route, then this too us a reason to perhaps look at another breed. They need space, to be allowed to run off leash, explore,etc, a 1hr walk on leash once a day isn't acceptable for them.
They are awesome with small children if shown, not trained the correct way, they have an uncanny sense of care for little one's & must be shown correctly.
Lastly, food, their diet has to be prime quality food, not junk or substandard, cheap dog food, it has to be a variety & carefully portioned as bloat can kill them. Never excersise them right after a meal.
These dogs are the best in the right hands, all the training in the world won't help if you don't understand these dogs, they are not trick dogs to jump & dance for treats, they are a part of your family, a role they take seriously, they love back just as much as they get.
Their respect & loyalty is given, not through treats but by the way they are handled.
Thankyou for your kind words of wisdom
what helped me is choice base training for my dogs, it really is a Rhodesian Ridgeback thing... if they want to do it they will, if not they won’t and it helped me understand them and deepen our bond. i’m fine with this behavior from my dogs so we make a good match
also, i think understanding this breed is key they aren’t like other dogs in so many ways.
✌🏻
I agree! Alot of people want to put these dogs in the same category as every other dog but I couldn't disagree more! Its hard to understand until you own one... I love them! They deserve an owner that can give them attention and love they deserve!
Agree, with training and lots of patience this is the perfect dog. My dog is 2-1/2 y… now we train off lease walks… took lots of patience its can be done…why are people so scared of this enthousiast ic dog???❤
i have two, my dogs are chill and don’t require a lot of exercise. i have sand in my backyard for them to run in tho, they love it!
i also work from home and am with them 24/7
they are amazing dogs and they fit my hermit lifestyle! they are very smart and stubborn, which i love and find funny lol very cuddly and loving!!!
they need someone very loving and chill would be my advice & they want to spend lots and lots of time with you, they require lots of quality time!
i’ll never have another breed in my life 🤍
Yea my Nala needs quite a bit but she he is getting older now and settling down . But up to 3 wow! We would go for a 4 hour hike and she would take an hour nap and be ready to go again haha... thats the thing with these videos I'm telling you my personal opinions and experiences but every dog is a little different! My Nala is cuddly though and I lovvvveeee that .. shes my shadow , my best friend , and protector ❤.. aren't they so funny though?! I love it as well! They are so entertaining to watch . Thanks for watching!
Our pup Rocky has al these features but doesn't steal food.
He is 3 days/week home alone and has a inside bench with access to the garden.
Our RR is also Nala…and your description is so accurate - thanks!!!!
Nala is stubborn - aka smart, she needs lots walks and is always hungry (level black hole).
We adore her ❤
On a personal note, after 10yrs I still don’t trust her when it comes to getting along with foes. Perhaps a positive trait!?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Nala is our 2nd RR and we are doing our best to give her the best life she can have ❤
So true about the exercise. My guy is 6 months old and 50% of the time he’s a cuddly couch potato but the other 50% he’s a velociraptor that needs to run.
🤣🤣 they're the best!
heyy my ridgy is 7 months and is currently coming into the main adolescents stage, and holy hell they are stubborn nhahah
@@avrilbaker3343 just be consistent (use lots of treats) and patient for the next... 2 years lol
@@avrilbaker3343 mine just hit 7 months, he isn’t super stubborn yet. the worst he gets is having to be told 3 times to sit. I haven’t ever used any treats for training him and I think it made him a lot better at doing what he’s told.
@@avrilbaker3343 Only one motivation works: food. :-)
Great advice for those who are deciding. Your bang on with our ridgies traits too. Ours is amazing with our baby, Maybe a tad clumsy around him, but overall very protective. They need to let loose and run often.
I agree with alot of comments and experience but regardless of breed. Dogs suss us out from weeks old. If you are not a dog person then the dog with play you like a piano. I have had labrador's, Border collies, jack russell's Golden retriever's and mongrel's. Now on my 2nd Ridgeback. They are way beyond, amazing loving dogs. They will read you like a book from day one. Maybe dogs should have human training classes.
I had three over the years and i generally agree exapt smart , they just aren't. They are not stupid but more often then not don't they solve puzzles and thinking problem with smarts but with stubbornness more often then not.
We own a 4 year old male and he can have all the traits, but most of the time he's really the perfect dog. We walk about an hour per day in the week, a bit more in weekends. Almost always off leash, even on the streets as he always wants to be close to me. Strange dogs are indeed a bit more difficult as they indeed are quite rough in there handling with other dogs. However our friends amstaff likes it very much that way. But we also have a cat, and they are friends. And the cat is now just 1 year old. So he was an adult when we got the cat. No issues whatsoever. I did consistently let him now everybody is higher in the pack than you, as we also have kids ranging from 4 to 12. But he really is the perfect dog for us. Calm inside, a good guard dog, great energy to go out. Just one thing: he HATES the rain. Would rather keep his pee in for hours and hours than to go outside in the rain.
Yea, my dogs are almost always off leash as well except around the apt complex(rules). But you're lucky that he likes cats! Nala hates them ! Will chase them and paw them around haha 😄 and wow only an hour?? My dogs would never allow that hah
this gave me great insight on the breed. i adopted a border collie mix from the shelter about 4 years ago and i finally did a dna test on him to try and figure out what his problem was or my problem cause he is so beyond stubborn. the dna test came back as border collie, australian kelpie, mcnab, american staffy, great dane, and rodisian ridgeback. i had to laugh cause everything you described in the video is how he is. he’s super smart and super stubborn. if he decides he wants to do something and his mind is set it’s hard to change it and they really do go after anything and everything. much to my dismay he’s broken countless leashes by snapping them to go after turkeys or squirrels or coyotes. that scares me when he does that. he decided he was going to try and take on a deer the other day. he just doesn’t seem to be scared of anything or anyone. this video really helped me understand my boy better
I'm glad the video helped you understand him better 😊 yes they are fearless due to what they were bred for . Its really fun to watch!
@@rockymountainruckus1041
it’s really fun but at the same time it’s scary if your not used to it. he’s so pray driven and so stubborn that he’s snapped a few leashes in the past and gone after coyotes. i thought he was done for but he just trotted back and was all proud of himself lol. then i feel like i’m being the crazy owner trying to explain to him that they are dangerous and that he has to stop doing that. other issue i’ve been having with him and i’m not sure if it’s the rodisian ridgeback part of him but he will be playing with one of his friends one minute and the next he goes from playing to pinning the dog down or going after the dog and i’m like wtf just happened. to me it looks like both dogs are just standing there sometimes and he goes from 0 to 100 within 2 seconds. i was at the dog park once with a friend of mine and she had her pit with her. one minute her dog was taking a piss and the next my dog was on top of hers trying to sink his teeth into his skull or something. her dog sadly needed stitches. i don’t know if that’s a trait of a rodisian ridgeback or if it’s one of the many other breeds he is but he tends to either do this to dogs he’s played great with constantly in the past and one day he just snaps or if he thinks a dog is maybe challenging him or something i don’t even know honestly 😂😂to me it just looks like the dog is watching him or something and not doing anything and he just randomly flips. i’ve taken him to multiple trainers and none of them have been able to help. right now i’m just managing it the best i can. he seems to be getting better as he gets older
I can relate. I have a female, 1.5yo Rhodesian / pit bull. You have to be a strong alpha. And she never returns when I call her off leash. How are you hiking with her?
Food is their love language, number one
Most comments are correct. They are a one person dog ,but love their family.
You need at least a half acre that the dog will tear up running.
Professional training by a real dog handler will help.
A male can pull a250 pound man down the street.
If you are attacked by another dog ,you let them go.
Mine was by a Rot.
The Rot left swiftly.
They are for people that can spend hours with them.
When left alone,they tend to howl.
Best dog I ever had.
I would not recommend to someone that just wants a guard dog.
Lots of training and cleaning ears.
They will never leave the one they consider their master.
I never hit mine. And when scolded. Would turn his back to me.
Mine was big. Eighty -five in his prime. So hard to get another dog.
He was wonderful. 🇱🇷
We have small children and our Ridgeback does really well with them. Only thing he's not a fan of is children climbing on him.
Basically, you are active, you love them aaand... you will forgive them aa lot. ' nough said 😉. Thanks for pointing out to this video. Nala is such a beauty 😍😍
You have sensational dogs. I love your Channel. The look on Lara's eyes is just hypnotic!
I have a 4 month old Ridgeline puppy "ridgeless": a Prince.
I now live in Brazil by the beach so this is the perfect son i never had! What a life he gave me.
Congrats.
Much love.
Ridgebacks are by far my favorite dog. I hope to own one someday too! I hear conflicting anecdotes about their energy/exercise requirements though; Some say that they have excellent 'off-switches' and are rather lazy indoors but will gladly take as much exercise as you are willing to give them. But then I hear some videos really stress the fact that they're very high energy dogs and need tons and tons of exercise to keep them sane. I guess every dog is unique but It's hard to get an idea of what to expect.
So they do need a lot of exercise . Everyone that I know that has one agrees.. BUT once you exercise one they sleep for hours and can be very lazy inside . A tired dog is a happy dog.. this also apples when they mature.. they settle down a lot at 3-5 years..but they are hyper and crazy as puppies.. if you aren't an active person I dont suggest getting one . They need exercise everyday. But if you like to exercise then they are a great dog for you! They aren't a dog to be kept in a crate all day either they need to be with you. Hope this helps.. my knowledge on RR comes from experience, talking with my friends that have them , breeders that I have relationships with and research! Thanks for commenting!
Yes I have a 7 month ridgeback mix and she needs a good 30-40 minute walk/run or time at the dog park. When she's home she's a cuddle monster but she needs excercise daily.
Ridgebacks should come in pairs
I will say tho I'm a lazy person but I grew up on a couple acres of land and my RR was perfectly happy running with our other dogs during the day/ just going out when he wanted and that was plenty of exercise for him if you have that luxury
You'll definitely be in shape if you get a Ridge;)
The 2nd day after we found a Rhodesian Ridgeback in our yard in late December (shivering pile of skin and bones), almost lost a full plate of spaghetti to him. Been very watchful of him during meals ever since. 😁
thanks for the practical summary of Ridgeback characteristics, I can confirm - this is absolutely true, I have exactly the same experience with my four-year-old female Ridgeback;
Thanks for the feedback!
110% truth observations. Having 5 month old Marlon, puppy will behave all the way U have described. 24 kg puppy, well. Love him so much but need to remember is my son dog. Needs plenty of training and likes it, when he ...wants. will keep watchin* your channel.
Hi
What do you say about Rhodesian ridgeback x Golden retriever mix?
I can confirm that they are for sure stubborn.
Especially as puppies and adolescents.
The one I had as an adolescent ripped through the trash, stoke food but never mine.
I stole from my partner, my mother, friends kids etc.
But never from me.
I was lucky when it came to wild animals.
He showed no interest in those whatsoever so it was never a problem to handle him off leash in the wild.
The hunting instinct is very strong with this breed. Our family had 2 very large Ridgebacks years ago. The male was 105 lbs of muscle and the female even bigger, although she was 1/4 Great Dane. Once on a walk a sheep crossed us on the footpath and the dogs took chase despite being on the lead. I was 19 and in shape but got pulled over and then dragged for 20 metres over sharp stones, but somehow held on till they stopped. I was torn to shreds, but the sheep lived to see another day. Definitely not a dog for Grannies or small children.
I'm SO drawn to these dogs, but I think even more demanding and high drive than my Working Line German Shepherd, and he's a super handful. But they ARE lovely dogs!!!
Excellent family dogs. Great with kids
Mine is a rescue and doesn't like being left alone. Understandable. So I don't leave her unless going into town, she go's with me. Always remember they were originally bred to hold off lions. People have misconstrued this story, it was not to kill. However, mine wanted to eat the J.W. knocking on the door.
Boy ! Do you need to be very very consistent...😂and agree... counter surfers ...yes they are...a whole slice of ham disappeared from the table too..in a heart beat . I was dragged 3 times while he was a teen...like to the ground, still have the scares to prouve it!. However he was the most protective loyal dog I have ever had...now my life is shared by a wonderful rescue, mixe races of all sorts and she is equally smart, food motivated and wonderful. Love the breed, not for everyone, definitely.
Mine pulled me down the driveway in the winter time. Glad the snow was there. Mostly it was funny!
Mine is trained very well but still just kinda listens when he wants to😂😂
🤣 takes a lot of coaxing aka treats 🤣
@@rockymountainruckus1041 well, treats only work if there is nothing else more interesting...
@@michelle778 🤣😂
they listen only if they wont, also they make thing something on perpos :D
They are wonderful dogs!
They love going hunting with you in the bush
thanks for all the tips !
3 hours a day... :-o
well, I don't have this time right now, so.... I guess I will wait again before getting a Rhodesian Ridgeback.....
We adopted a pair when they were 3. My girl is the smart one. It is insane.
My boy is the stubborn one. What a combination. Love them but agree with you, def not for everyone.
Do you know any good places to get a ridgeback. My family is looking to get one but don’t know where to look?
Mine can run like the wind but rarely does, and sleeps for 23 hours a day. He's also very friendly, unless you walk up my driveway and ring my doorbell ;) Very stubborn breed, but I wouldn't have any other breed now. Just got my 2nd RR last week :)
Congrats! Yea each one is a little different! Mine wouldn't stand for sleeping that long 🤣
I agree with you, 100 %. We have had 2 Roxer, they were smart and cute, very secitive.They have died and we have bought a Ridge. Now I have no time at all, our 4 Months old dog takes all our attention,it makes all kinds of chill every minute.In spite of the fact wir love her.
we got a Rhodey mix and she is great with kids
I have 3 ridgebacks....12, 3, and 10 weeks...the best breed.. that said.. you have to live for your dogs.
I think that as well!!
Does anyone know where my family can get one. We are looking for a good breeder but don’t know where to look?
Depends on where you live and what you are looking for. There are breeders out there that bred certain characteristics out of them to make them better family pets. There is show quality vs. Working...
@@rockymountainruckus1041 ok thank you! I live in pa so I will look around for a family breeder
@@youtubewatcher7378 something to look out for is dont get a dog from Craigslist. Check out the parents before getting a puppy so you can see how they live etc. And make sure they have legit papers .. good breeders usually range from $2,000-$3,500
@@rockymountainruckus1041 thank you
Try Black Powder, great breeder!
My 2 year old male is very obedient because I use Cesar Millan's methods in training. You have to be the alpha dog for a Ridgeback. Controlling the dog's energy is the key.
Thats what I use as well! Very affective . Thats why I mentioned being the alpha leader.
She is so pretty.
Their energy will go down with age , from 120 pct to 20 pct ....Also, they can be extremely active for one or two or 3 hours , and be lazy for the rest of the day . In contrast to Belgian Shepherd Dogs I had before, these really go non stop from early morning till the evening, to the point where it becomes annoying. My ridgebacks never steel from the table. The point "I think" is to avoid there first success with steeling. At young age I put a webcam where they are and talk to them from an other room , as soon as I can see the nose go up to an interesting smell... "Sssst , I can still see you " , once they are adult , I can go away for 2 hours with food on the table , they will not touch it . (starting a new puppy in january , fingers crossed hehe) . I never want any other breed than ridgeback ...
My female was easy to train on all commands except she would knock me down and run out door and come to strangers NOT ME! She got unfortunately was hit by a car and killed. I was devastated and feel totally 😢:13 .😢😢
My Ridgeback learned to open the fridge, I had to put a baby lock on it
😱 oh no! Hahah It doesn't surprise me though because they are so smart ! Yea Nala would eat everything in the fridge if that was an option for her
@@rockymountainruckus1041 my girl was also Nala
😂🤣😂🤣
@ken overton what?! 🤣🤣 I love that motto! Its very true. They definitely know how to problem solve 😂
My mum had used to have a RR and it learnt how to open the oven and eat a hole turkey 😂😂
Great information. They sound like short-haired Malamutes!
Thats interesting! I dont know much about malamutes but they are beautiful dogs!
Yes, i get why you'd say that. I dog walk a Rhodesian Ridgeback for a couple years now and i have a big husky or possibly northern inuit dog and they're best friends. But to be honest i think my husky is soo much smarter and easier to train and has better stamina and is friendlier compared to the Rhodesian.
I had a rhody mix ! She was not friendly with other dogs . a Total tennis ball dog . She ran for balls and could do that endlessly . Use to take her out to a football field and used a tennis racket . Hiking yes . She was a complete athlete . and very protective of us . Not good
I think they are more like horses , they are so sensitive to the owners emotions
Oh wow, I uh... I don't even have 3 hours a day for myself, most days...
so, I guess that's out of the question then.
Are they good for guarding purpose
They naturally have a guarding instinct. They were meant to go out hunting during the day and guard the family home at night. HOWEVER, they are not a dog to be chained in the front yard all day to guard or to be trained as a guard dog ( it intensifys their natural instinct usually leading to someone getting hurt).
With that being said if we had an intruder I know Nala would protect me with her life and I trust her with my life.
Hope that helps!
Nice video lots of useful facts but what on earth was it you don't want to divulge, its going round and round in my head trying to figure it out "something we were celebrating that I don't want to divulge" highly curious. 🤔🤔😟
Haha Its our friends private business sorry
3 hours a day? Other owners confirm? I mean unless you are working from home, I don't see how a normal 9-5 person can give a dog 3 hours a day.
Unless we are including a yard play 🤷♀️
Stubborn is a codeword for needs to be trained correctly.
We picked up our female Rhodesian last June.....she was 8 weeks. Now close to 8 months she is almost 80 LBS HOLY smokes. Light Wheaten and beautiful like your girl. We live in the Sierra Nevada's close right on BLM land so ummm yeah Rio is always staring out the window saying LET'S GO!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA also we picked up an XL Big Barker bed for her and she loves it. We highly recommend Big Barker beds. The cool thing is in our neighborhood there are a total of 5 Ridgebacks so yeah they have taken over!
I’ve found that treats are mandatory for motivation.
Yes! Agreed!😂
It sounds like your more suited to a hungarian vizla. Looks the same but a miniature version so it won't pull your arm out of your socket everytime you take it for a walk.
Not at all they are too small . I dont like their personalities .... I like a strong dog . I can control them 99% of the time its the 1% I'm not paying attention or half asleep at night
@@rockymountainruckus1041 👍 one question-- their coats are they hard to take care off-- they look pretty smooth and not the type to shed alot, my current dog is a real shedder and also a drooler, do they drool much?
@@doodles9358 they still shed but their coat is very short so I've actually never brushed her just wiped her down. When I give a bath I just really message her coat and it gets rid of most of excess hair
@@doodles9358mine only drools when its breakfast/dinner time ... most of the time no drool
@@doodles9358 i was planning on doing a video on maintenance within the next couple of days
All dogs require some form of exercise but you shouldn't decide against getting a Ridgeback because you don't take them out running everyday. A couple of hours at the dog park and mine sleeps the rest of the day. I guess I got a lazy one lol.
I'm not saying running everyday but to be active. These are active dogs generally. I dont want someone that is willing to go on 1 walk a day with these dogs because RR's deserve better than that. All dogs deserve better than that. I hate when people want to get a dog and they don't put in any effort exercising them. And it sounds like yours is a lazier one than mine bc Nala would never be satisfied with that.
Our Ridgeback is only 14 weeks old but she is pretty wild. I fully expect her to stay that way until around 2 years old. That is when our Doodle (now 8 years old) started to mellow out. I plan to go to the dog park with our Ridgeback for an hour every day if I can once her vaccines are finished in a couple more weeks. Otherwise it'll be multiple walks on days that I can't take her or its bad weather. When our Doodle was a pup we had to walk her 3x per day or take her to the dog park where she could really cut loose. If we didn't get the exercise in, she would be wild at home and a major pain. End of the day some breeds need more exercise than others, but pretty much any dog until they hit 2 years old is gonna need a lot. That is just how it goes!
@@jasonschwanke916 exactly! I do suggest not that long at a dog park though.. especially for bigger breed puppies their joints arnt fully together and that can cause damage... I would also suggest maybe a low impact exercise like walking for about 40 min because that teaches them to be calm next to you as well!
@@rockymountainruckus1041 Good point, I will have to see how she behaves the first couple times she goes to the dog park and then figure out what a good time limit is depending how hard she plays. With our Doodle, she could handle an hour at the dog park because shed be pretty calm after the first 20 minutes or so. Non-park days she would get 3 walks a day, each about 20 minutes, for a total of 60 minutes walking time per day. She'd of course play with toys and whatnot at home too, but the shorter walks broken into multiple sessions seemed to be ideal and make sure that even while playing at home she would never get too wild. I am anxious to get our Ridgeback out walking and to parks as soon as her vaccines are done. So close!
Good summary. There is a compatible dog for most humans. RR's aren't for everyone. That's for sure.
Also, they hate water!!! In all forms. Aren't really social with other dogs, protective, leary of strangers.
All of that is not necessarily true. I know personally some Rhodesians who love water. And mine swims and plays in water. Rhodesians are actually really social with other dogs because they had to work in packs when baying lions. They are protective yes and they have a good intuition for that. Yes they should be leary of strangers however mine is not. Shes super out going and loves attention. Each dog is slightly different.
Our 3 year old Ridgeback LOVES water, other dogs and people. He has never met a dog or person that he doesn’t like. Dogs/puppies should be socialized as much as possible. We are fortunate that our dog, Zebedee is so friendly. Could be the genes too. Every dog is different.
at first i will say u have nice bare feet :) my dog its betweent doberman and rhodesian ridgeback, and its nice and crazy having it
just he had white out of no ware but its so beauty, i had maybe all day whit him running and he still want it, for the food u just start cooking for him, they love that! for me its really so crazy and so nice having my god in this 2
Disobedient equals charm? Well no, but disobedience does equal 🎉some independence and not complete submissiveness. They are smart, but that’s a two edged sword. They are smart and use it to manipulate you. Extremely food motivated is correct, they eat anything and you need to watch this in the field. They are strong and will go where they will and you too, if you hang on to the leash. In short, they are suited for masochistic people who enjoy a dog playing them for a fool. Yes, I’ve owned them for 25 years.
My ridge will not eat my food off the table .... he knows better ,,, just sayin ,,,
Hi friend i am from india (mumbai) i love this breed but in india so I nee d u r help tell me how to import
They prey drive decreases as the age ..like 10 and beyond
Oh really? Interesting... I don't mind it . Shes a great bird dog. I let her go chase birds then whistle for her and she comes right back ... im thinking she would be great for a golf course
What the hell are they chewing? A bone?
Haha its a horn !
The postman :D
@@rockymountainruckus1041 it's an amazing treat. They love it!
Okay, I'm not getting one. ✌🏼
Stubborn, bottomless pits and overprotective of owner
Mine just fits all the breed stereotypes