|
Ridgebacks are "people" dogs. They love to be where
you are, and if you allow it, they will crawl into your bed, onto your sofa or up into your favorite chair and your lap. Ridgebacks
will normally weight between 70 to 100 lbs. They also LOVE water. In a hot summer day, you will see your Ridgeback lazing
around in the baby pool. Splashing it up. They are very rarely fussy eaters. If they refuse to eat, you may want to take them
to your veterinarian. I like to call the Ridgeback, "The Bottomless Pit". I have also found that most ridgebacks have a very
sweet tooth. *Never give chocolate to an animal*! This can be fatal. However, they love to munch down on marshmellows. In
fact, I've trained a few of mine with marshmellows. It is not recommended to free feed your Ridgeback. They are always trying
to convince you that it is never enough. You don't ever want to over feed your Ridgeback either. It is not healthy for a Rhodesian
Ridgeback to get too fat. This excess weight can promote hip dysplasia. I'd also recommend not to leave your family dinner
on the table unattended while a Ridgeback is in the house. STAND WARNED!!! YUM YUM!!
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a very refined and dignified animal. Affectionate
and loving, true and loyal. They are very family oriented and must be well socialized from birth with people and other
breed types and or other animal types. They will crawl up in your lap, bed, couch and since they are a thinking breed
NEVER forgetting, firm discipline is a MUST from the start. Now, are they for everyone? That seems to be the question.
The answer is Yes, and No.
Lets talk about the Yes: If you are able to well socialize and spend the
proper quality time into your Ridgeback, the rewards that you will reap in love and affection are just priceless. They
are huggers and lovers by true nature. They are leaners and some are lickers. Some are always happy and others
are aloof with strangers. But mostly when a stranger approaches and you are present, your RR should always follow your
lead and when mom and dad say's it's OK, it's OK! RR's are geared toward pleasing their masters and are a protective
breed and should NEVER show aggression with humans. They can be dog agressive with their own kind, especially
the females when they are in season and when runing as a pack animal. Ridgebacks are family and children dogs and
love children and when raised with small children and properly disciplined and knows it's boundries in behavior, will add
a wonderful lifetime companion and bring you years of love and affection.
Now the NO! If you do not have the time to spend with a RR., PLEASE do
the dog a favor and get a different breed. Ridgebacks are like humans, they need interaction with people to live.
If you cannot provide that type of lifestyle for them, and you want a ridgeback to throw in the back yard as a guardian dog,
please get a Gardian breed, Rottweiler, Doberman, etc. Unsocialization in a RR will cause great depression and sadness.
They are like children, if you don't have the time to be a parent, don't have children. You MUST be dedicated to spending
quality time and caring time with your RR. As the old saying goes, Your dog is what you make it! The RR has a
phenominal basis to start with in having a wonderful temperament, adding to that awesome quality of breed in loving care and
interaction is the ultimate goal in owning this terrific breed. Something to think about before you decide..................
|
