Questions about Rhodesian Ridgebacks Questions

Discussion in 'Rhodesian Ridgeback' started by Red Apple, Oct 31, 2017.

  1. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    Questions about Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    Hey,

    Could any Rhodesian Ridgeback owners kindly answer me some questions?

    How many times a day do you walk your dog? Also, when you take your dog for exercise, do you allow your dog off the lead? Similarly, are Rhodesian Ridgebacks trustworthy enough to allow them off the lead in an open field where it's not completely closed?

    How is your dog with other dogs? Did you find socialising your dog difficult?

    How many times a day do you feed your dog?

    Do you have any other dogs or pets living with you? Would it be okay to have two male Rhodesian Ridgebacks living together?

    Thank you.
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  3. Witm8

    Witm8 New Member

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    Hi,

    I'm a previous ridgeback owner - and actually picking up a new puppy on the weekend of 11/12 November so almost back in the game.

    Walking - I would take mine out for 45 mins in the morning before I went to work as I knew she was going to be alone until mid-day until the wife returned. The wife used to take her everywhere throughout the afternoon (shops, cafes, friends) and used to walk to all these places. Then in the evening I would try and get in a much longer (say 1.5 hour) more interesting walk. I'm lucky in that I have the spaces around here to do just that.

    At the weekend we would make special time for a 6 or 7 miler for her to really get some exercise.

    Off lead - As soon as we were off the road she would be off lead instantly. Most of the time she would stop on her own to allow me to take the lead off - she'd then burst away for a while, then come back and trot around me. She never once ran off. This was in open fields, woodland forests, dog parks. If there was a chance she would encounter other people then I would get her close, then clip her up as the people passed.

    My dog was petrified of other dogs - she would go out of her way to avoid them. Even the smallest pocket dogs would get her scared. I have no idea why this was. I don't know if she saw them as just an irritant. She never fought any of them. A bark and growl usually did the trick.

    Socialising - she was almost like a cuddly toy when it came to people. She couldn't get enough. From the day we took her home she was socialised with people. She never snapped, growled. In fact, I don't think that she even cared about other people being around. My wife's grandmother was (and still is) in an old peoples home and we took her with us to visit her multiple times a week. She used to wander around the hallways (on lead) and when we were asked go into the old people rooms for a stroke she would trot in and stand next to the chair/bed. She loved the attention. I will also start this with the pup right away.

    I would feed her twice a day - but that was with Kibble, but with our new dog we're taking on a RAW diet so the feeding may be different. I'm quite wierdly looking forward to this RAW food. Me and the Wife are also going to eat better so this new pup will be a lifestyle change for us as well.

    No we didn't have any other pets with us.

    When we get our new pup we have 4x 1-2-1 puppy training booked in for the first month to instil the basics, then we're booked into puppy clubs and all sorts of things like that for the foreseeable future. I will massively socialise her from arrival - I have loads of places to go and just sit with her for a few hours - main train station, shopping centre, I will also try and get out for a walk around school finishing time so she can get used to noisy kids, and plenty of strokes. When socialising I always have a nice big bag of treats to give to the 'stroker' so they can reward her afterwards for being good.

    As for two RR's - I personally wouldn't, but that's only in my situation. I wouldn't be able to handle the pair of them, plus they would cost a fortune to 'run'. One is more than enough IMO. I'm sure that someone can answer in a more technical way.

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  4. TruckeeCA

    TruckeeCA New Member

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    >> How many times a day do you walk your dog?

    Usually once a day, weather and schedule permitting. The dailies range from 2-5 miles. We typically do a longer hike on weekends ranging from 5 - 15 miles. Since I have two dogs and a 1.5 acre yard they also get a lot of free-play exercise with each other, chasing squirrels, etc.

    >> Also, when you take your dog for exercise, do you allow your dog off the lead?

    If it is safe to do so, they are off lead. We live in the forest at high altitude so they are off as much as they are on. They tend to wander and follow their noses then find their way back to us, so if we walk 5 miles they probably do closer to 8.

    >> Similarly, are Rhodesian Ridgebacks trustworthy enough to allow them off the lead in an open field where it's not completely closed?

    Depends on how well trained they are and how safe the open field is. Only you can judge that.

    >> How is your dog with other dogs? Did you find socialising your dog difficult?

    No issues.

    >> How many times a day do you feed your dog?

    Twice - morning and evening. More frequently as a puppy.

    >> Do you have any other dogs or pets living with you? Would it be okay to have two male Rhodesian Ridgebacks living together?

    I have two RR's. A 5 YO female and a 3 YO male. They get along great together - best friends in every sense of the word.
  5. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    It's great to hear from someone who has experience with the breed.

    Excellent. In the summer when it's not too warm but just a day when it's nice with a little bit of sunshine, if I were to take a bottle of water with me and stop off somewhere for a treat like an ice-cream, would a Rhodesian Ridgeback be fine with a long walk of 2-3 hours?

    There is a place about 15 minutes from where I live and it's just full of empty fields, literally acres upon acres, I think it would be great to take him there and let him burn off some energy.

    I was thinking along the same lines, keep him on the leash around traffic and build up areas but any big enough area where it is safe to do so then let him off the lead. I also would put him on the lead if I don't know the other dog because although my dog is fine you don't know what the other dog is like, I have always done that with my previous dogs.

    I've read that they are pretty aloof when it comes to strangers and other dogs but not aggressive, I quite like this because I'm a quiet person and I'm not interested in going around the park with lots of dogs but I want him to be fine with other dogs if he sees them.

    What a beautiful thing to read! I also intend on socialising him with other people but I don't want any stranger to be petting him, understandably.

    I also don't have any other pets but I was just asking out of curiosity.

    When we get our new pup we have 4x 1-2-1 puppy training booked in for the first month to instil the basics, then we're booked into puppy clubs and all sorts of things like that for the foreseeable future. I will massively socialise her from arrival - I have loads of places to go and just sit with her for a few hours - main train station, shopping centre, I will also try and get out for a walk around school finishing time so she can get used to noisy kids, and plenty of strokes. When socialising I always have a nice big bag of treats to give to the 'stroker' so they can reward her afterwards for being good.

    I actually really miss having two dogs, I always had two dogs when I was growing up and I also like the fact that they can keep each other company when everyone is out of the house.

    You had a beautiful dog and the puppy is absolutely gorgeous!

    Thank you for taking your time to respond to my questions.
  6. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    I live in a town but a couple of miles away there are ample of opportunities to let a dog burn energy off. There are many open fields where a Rhodesian Ridgeback would have a field day.

    I'd always keep him on the lead in the town and build up areas but I'd like to think when he's off the lead and I say his name that he'll respond with no problems.

    How did you succeed in socialising your dogs with other dogs?

    Would you trust your male with another male Rhodesian Ridgeback?
  7. TruckeeCA

    TruckeeCA New Member

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    >>I'd like to think when he's off the lead and I say his name that he'll respond with no problems.

    If you'd "like to think" that, then you are in for problems. Dependable recall requires many, many hours of training. No freebies on that one.

    >> How did you succeed in socialising your dogs with other dogs?

    Go to a lot of places with dogs. Most importantly, find a good trainer and attend multiple group training classes. It will teach both of you a lot about each other and force you both to interact in an environment with many other dogs. Important : find a great trainer. There are a lot of shitty ones out there.

    >> Would you trust your male with another male Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    My male (Kerberos) has been around friends male RR's (all neutered) with no problems. Or I guess I should say, with only the expected problems. No blood. They just need to settle the pecking order.
  8. TruckeeCA

    TruckeeCA New Member

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    CaroleC likes this.
    Oh, and here are a couple pics of the two of them at play...

    Attached Files:

  9. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    @TruckeeCA

    I think we all would like to think that our dog would come back to us after a recall. I know the Rhodesian Ridgeback can sometimes be stubborn in this department of training but hopefully after training I won't have any problems.

    When it comes to socialising, is it the case of asking every other owner if their dog is friendly? I don't want my puppy to be attacked by any other dogs but I know that's essential to socialise a puppy with other puppies and older dogs. I'm not interested in walking around a park with lots of other dogs and I've read that sort of behaviour is not encouraged because it can cause problems, especially if there are any toys or anything similar present. But I do want my dog to be socialised with other dogs and know that he will be friendly with them.

    I don't intend on getting my dogs neutered (unless one is a girl and then I will after her first heat), do you think two males both intact will cause any problems?

    You have lovely looking Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
  10. TruckeeCA

    TruckeeCA New Member

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    Re: Socialization - Again, I think the best starting point is a group puppy training class with an excellent trainer. They can be around a lot of other dogs in a very controlled environment and it will set a foundation. Also, I live in a very dog-friendly area so I am able to wander downtown, go to outdoor restaurants, etc. and see a lot of other dogs with their owners.

    Re: Neutering - Why not? Although I do not have direct experience, I would think that having two intact males is asking for trouble. I have one neutered male and he is a handful compared to my females. These are extremely strong, fast, and head-strong guys.
  11. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    In the past when I've owned dogs I've always lived around people who also had dogs and they were all very friendly so I never had any problems socialising my dogs. However, my situation now is different because I live in a totally different area and I don't know anyone. Is it really just going to be the case of asking different owners if their dog is friendly? When it comes to classes, I haven't ever felt the need to take any of my dogs in the past to any sort of training, do you think when it comes to the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed that training is a necessity? Over the years I've had Rottweilers and German Shepherds and they were all very friendly and none went to any classes.

    I also live in an area where there are a lot of outdoor areas and I see dogs being walked by their owners on a regular basis.

    I personally don't agree with it. I've had male dogs in the past and never got them neutered. I don't see any reason. After reading about whether or not you can keep two dogs of the same sex together it seems to be that it depends a lot on the breed (or breeds if you are keeping two different breeds) and what your first dog's overall personality is like.

    Do you know anyone who has had or has two male Rhodesian Ridgebacks?
  12. Red Apple

    Red Apple New Member

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    After reading a lot more about the scenario of keeping two males of any breed and especially both still intact, it is generally not encouraged. I don't actually have any problems having a male and female and I'll have the latter neutered.
  13. CaroleC

    CaroleC Member

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    GsdSlave and Malka like this.
    It will always depend on the individuals, and you will hear from people who have had no problems with two of the same sex, but opposite sexes is usually the safest way to go.
  14. GsdSlave

    GsdSlave Member

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    I have always had two entire Gsd’s at one time I had two entire Akita’s and entire Gsd live happily together even though Akitas are known to be same sex aggressive.
    it’s down to the individual dogs concerned rather than breed as a whole.

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