Any Ridgeback owners?
Discussion
I've been considering getting a 2nd dog for a while now, and have always loved the Ridgeback but don't know anyone personnally who has experience of the breed. I've met several X's but not come across a pure Ridgeback so I can quiz the owner! Whilst on holiday the owner of a guest house has a Boerboel (Mastiff) Ridgeback cross it was huge but very laid back and friendly.
From what I've read online they seem to be made out to be only recommended to experienced owners (surely you have to have had at least one to get experience?) and that they're pretty head strong/stuborn. Have previously had a wide asortment of dogs, Dobermans, GS, Collies, and currently have a Lab (dog). We've considered resuces due to the fact we both work, although the Mrs comes home for 45mins-1hr for lunch every day a puppy would otherwise be on it's own. I walk ours in the morning for 45mins in the morning and an hour in the evening come hail rain or shine, I work 7-3 and the Mrs 9-5. Our Lab is well adjusted to his routine and although he has the run of an enclised garden all day you can guarantee he'll be in bed whenever you come in.
Lookinf for advice with those experienced with the breed. We don't have any kids (yet) but will hope to in the next year or two.
From what I've read online they seem to be made out to be only recommended to experienced owners (surely you have to have had at least one to get experience?) and that they're pretty head strong/stuborn. Have previously had a wide asortment of dogs, Dobermans, GS, Collies, and currently have a Lab (dog). We've considered resuces due to the fact we both work, although the Mrs comes home for 45mins-1hr for lunch every day a puppy would otherwise be on it's own. I walk ours in the morning for 45mins in the morning and an hour in the evening come hail rain or shine, I work 7-3 and the Mrs 9-5. Our Lab is well adjusted to his routine and although he has the run of an enclised garden all day you can guarantee he'll be in bed whenever you come in.
Lookinf for advice with those experienced with the breed. We don't have any kids (yet) but will hope to in the next year or two.
Got a ridgeback , mines is nearly 4 now ,
He is generally good with other dogs , doesn't like black labs though .
Not sure how he would be with other dogs in the household but I think it would be fine .
No issue with small kids apart from his size and genarlly ridgebackness
Great dogs but very willful and dont take being told what to do well sometimes
Atleast two other ridge back owners on here so they might spring up with some other advice
He is generally good with other dogs , doesn't like black labs though .
Not sure how he would be with other dogs in the household but I think it would be fine .
No issue with small kids apart from his size and genarlly ridgebackness
Great dogs but very willful and dont take being told what to do well sometimes
Atleast two other ridge back owners on here so they might spring up with some other advice
Not an owner but I've twice had to acquire one running loose... Both times the dog was compliant to my commands etc and then just behaved like a perfectly good dog, following roughly to heel and taking food off me gently. However, both times I've had to capure the dog it has escaped from it's owners garden - so I'd say good high fencing needed.....
Had a b
h for about 7 years. Never really subscribed to the 'you have to be an experienced dog owner', or whatever. Yes, they're strong, and wilful, and pretty bloody beligerent at times, but they're no different to any other breed in terms of socialisation, needing a firm hand and so on. They are, of course, built for long-distance running, and appreciate significant exercise and plenty of mental stimulation and can get a touch destructive if bored but...
Mine was fine with kids, but usual rules apply about not leaving them on their own together. Ensure you go to a good, recommended breeder. Ensure your dog has a good hip score, as do the parents (and further up the line if you can).
If you have any specific questions, happy to try and help. There are a couple of other current owners on here (eg Bruce V8).
They're brilliant, brilliant dogs.
ETA Awwwwww!
h for about 7 years. Never really subscribed to the 'you have to be an experienced dog owner', or whatever. Yes, they're strong, and wilful, and pretty bloody beligerent at times, but they're no different to any other breed in terms of socialisation, needing a firm hand and so on. They are, of course, built for long-distance running, and appreciate significant exercise and plenty of mental stimulation and can get a touch destructive if bored but... Mine was fine with kids, but usual rules apply about not leaving them on their own together. Ensure you go to a good, recommended breeder. Ensure your dog has a good hip score, as do the parents (and further up the line if you can).
If you have any specific questions, happy to try and help. There are a couple of other current owners on here (eg Bruce V8).
They're brilliant, brilliant dogs.
ETA Awwwwww!
Edited by bigandclever on Tuesday 3rd July 20:09
Had 4 in the family at one time or another.
Pretty laid back dogs, very even tempered and happy to laze about, but an outsider would think they were a savage guard dog from the size and bark.
No real bad traits that I can remember, other than a love for food (theirs, or others)
Oh, and they can jump damn high! Watch out for that fence..
Pretty laid back dogs, very even tempered and happy to laze about, but an outsider would think they were a savage guard dog from the size and bark.
No real bad traits that I can remember, other than a love for food (theirs, or others)
Oh, and they can jump damn high! Watch out for that fence..
Thanks for the replies, yours looks gorgeous bigandclever. We currently have a dog so not sure if we’d go for a bh or a dog. I guess this is down to how well trained the individual dog is but how are they recall wise? Would need to make sure he/she was was well trained on the lead as the Mrs is only slight but can’t imagine she’d ever walk both dogs together which is fine.
Have a 7’ fence running around the rear garden so hopefully they can’t jump that high!!
h or a dog. I guess this is down to how well trained the individual dog is but how are they recall wise? Would need to make sure he/she was was well trained on the lead as the Mrs is only slight but can’t imagine she’d ever walk both dogs together which is fine.Have a 7’ fence running around the rear garden so hopefully they can’t jump that high!!
a311 said:
Have a 7’ fence running around the rear garden so hopefully they can’t jump that high!!
Do you want a laugh? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZnAGANHwzI Yes, yes, chainlink not wood panel fence, but still 
I've had three and strangely none of them have liked black Labradors but as previously pointed out, they are wilful and belligerent when they want to be.
I think the 'experienced owners' element comes on to play because they're not robot dogs like collies or Labs so need a lot of training. For instance, they'll rarely retrieve on the basis that of you keep throwing something away, then clearly you don't want it so why should they pick it up?
Not keen on water either as a rule which can be a good thing.
I think the 'experienced owners' element comes on to play because they're not robot dogs like collies or Labs so need a lot of training. For instance, they'll rarely retrieve on the basis that of you keep throwing something away, then clearly you don't want it so why should they pick it up?
Not keen on water either as a rule which can be a good thing.
I can recommend the breed and add to some of the advice above. They can be very stubborn and headstrong but don't really respond to a heavy hand and hard discipline. Of course you need to dish out some ground rules otherwise they're the type of dog who could run rings round you and make life hard!
Our Ridgeback is coming up 3 next month and is a fantastic pet ... can't recommend them highly enough. He's my first dog ... we have a border collie of a similar age but they are very different ... a few friends have had them so I knew a little about their characteristics. They are a large breed (mines around 56 kg's) so can be a handful when walking ... in fact my g/f really struggles so its my job. Just something to think about ... bhes are slightly smaller so will be easier to handle. Generally likes other dogs but doesn't like black labs and will basically become agitated every time he sees another male lab ... especially when on the lead.
Very sociable with people ... anyone who comes in the house (invited!) he makes a beeline for and 'leans' against them! Doesn't like anyone he doesn't recognise in our garden ... barks very loudly ... apart from that he's a quiet dog, apart from the growling for attention he often does if we ignore him.
They are pure eating machines and go through some serious food. Can often have dietary problem ... ours has a wheat intollerance so has to have food which doesnt contain cereal.
My advice would be to see a breeder and talk about their puppies ... but remember, they don't stay puppies for ever!!
Here's our George when he was about 18 months old.
Our Ridgeback is coming up 3 next month and is a fantastic pet ... can't recommend them highly enough. He's my first dog ... we have a border collie of a similar age but they are very different ... a few friends have had them so I knew a little about their characteristics. They are a large breed (mines around 56 kg's) so can be a handful when walking ... in fact my g/f really struggles so its my job. Just something to think about ... b
hes are slightly smaller so will be easier to handle. Generally likes other dogs but doesn't like black labs and will basically become agitated every time he sees another male lab ... especially when on the lead. Very sociable with people ... anyone who comes in the house (invited!) he makes a beeline for and 'leans' against them! Doesn't like anyone he doesn't recognise in our garden ... barks very loudly ... apart from that he's a quiet dog, apart from the growling for attention he often does if we ignore him.
They are pure eating machines and go through some serious food. Can often have dietary problem ... ours has a wheat intollerance so has to have food which doesnt contain cereal.
My advice would be to see a breeder and talk about their puppies ... but remember, they don't stay puppies for ever!!
Here's our George when he was about 18 months old.
oola said:
Useful info
Thanks for the info and pics. Strange as most owners who have added to the thread have said they don't like black labs, my brother has 2 Dobermans that are a pair of soft lumps but also can't stnad him while my mothers little terrier tares into them and they just take it! I think when dogs are introduced to older dogs as pups they seem to be tolerated while my lab was pretty much a year old when I got him.The size/strength thing is a bit of an issue but hopefully though training could be improved. My O/H is only about 5'1" and 7.5 stone so wouldn't have much of a chance. When the Lab was younger and had a mind of his own on the lead at times even at 17st he could give me a good yank.
Ran into a chap in the park last night with a Ridgeback b
h so had a good chat with him.essayer said:
I'd completely forgotten that they do that, it makes you realise how heavy they are!I guess it's some sort of herding instinct kicking in.
essayer said:
I'd completely forgotten that they do that, it makes you realise how heavy they are!I guess it's some sort of herding instinct kicking in.
Also, whilst they will tolerate cats if they're brought up with them bear in mind they were bred for hunting lions, so not ideal if your neighbours have any they particularly like.
a311 said:
The size/strength thing is a bit of an issue but hopefully though training could be improved. My O/H is only about 5'1" and 7.5 stone so wouldn't have much of a chance. When the Lab was younger and had a mind of his own on the lead at times even at 17st he could give me a good yank.
Ran into a chap in the park last night with a Ridgeback bh so had a good chat with him.
You're welcome. Yes the size can be an issue ... the problem that we have is where I used to live next to York racecourse so within 100m he could be off the lead so used to being able to run free. Now he's on the lead more as I live in another town, he pulls like mad. However, it can be trained out of them and we should with ours ... my Mrs is about 8.5st but can't hold him back. Ran into a chap in the park last night with a Ridgeback b
h so had a good chat with him.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff