Tell me more about Rhodesian Ridgebacks

[Pcostx]

[QUOTE=tradewind;6197388]
I hope you realize what an incredibly tough and demanding dog a Boerbel is and how intimidating they can be to their owners much less strangers. Unless you are a very experienced dog owner you might want to rethink it. Boerbels make the average breed in the US look like sissies. I know of a woman experienced in them…If you PM me I can give you her phone number and you guys can chat before you agree to take on this puppy. There is nothing wrong with any breed, but there is alot wrong with certain breeds in circumsances not right for them.[/QUOTE]
:yes::yes::yes:

Great post Tradewind!

[WarDance]

I just looked up the Boerbel since I’ve never seen one. That is one intimidating dog! I think I would run if I saw one!

[Libby416]

Just giving my experiences with Ridgebacks. I had a friend growing up who had one, a very pretty girl, who was also very independent and at times aggressive. Not I’m gonna charge at you, but more so don’t sit near me, don’t pet me, don’t look at me. Which was fine with me lol. I have a friend who has one now, a GORGEOUS boy, who is a character in the house, but afraid of his own shadow outside. This was of no fault to his owners, who DID socialize him at a young age. I remember being with them at the dog park with him when he was just a pup, and taking him to the pet shops. Hes just a little nutty. And the last one I know is the SWEETEST, ridgeless, ridgeback I’ve ever met. Can’t stop licking you, wants to meet everyone, and is always up for a game of fetch in the yard. LOVE HER! So I think it really depends, like was said before, on the bloodlines of what ever dog you choose. But then again your getting a mixed breed, so knowing the norm for ridgebacks wont really help you…

[mademoiselle]

I have owned 2 ridgebacks and raising the puppies was a part time job. I’m not jocking.

I got my 1st one from a very good breeder and the reason why she placed him with me was because she knew he was going to be challenging. Oh boy!:eek::eek::eek: What did I get myself into.
But after the first year and a half, he became a wonderful dog. But like others said, he was a couch potato and very independant. Not exactly shadow type of dog.
He never really accepted my husband, just tolerated him. And he just ignored the kids all together.
But overall, he was a really cool dog.
We lost him from a virus.

Then we got the 2nd one. He was so bad to start with that I really thought that my marriage was going to end. He was just a handful.
But after hours and consistent training he became a good citizen. Then one day, he spotted some wild life and managed to find a hole in the fencing and got hit by car:cry:.

After, that we decided that we needed to take a break from RRs. I’m currently raisng 2 young kids and so I don’t have the right ‘set up’ to really be able to raise one.

We rescued a dog from the SPCA and while, she doesn’t compare to the RR, she is what my household needed.

When my kids are in college, I will get an other RR. I still love the breed. But I’m aware of how much work they involve.

[Simkie]

The OP has already had a Boerboel, so I assume she knows what she’s getting herself into there

[leilatigress]

RR’s rank up there as one of my all time FAVORITE breeds. Smart, independent, protective, short coat, pretty clean and utterly unfit for my household right now. I love my DH but he is not consistent with dogs. He’d allow a growl, wouldn’t question the dog shoving past him and would back down from a challenge. All of the above would not be forgiven by a RR and all the above over time would get me a very dangerous dog. I was lucky enough to pet sit a pair of ridgies when we first started dating. Two males that were retired champions who moonlighted as gun dogs for their masters during dove season. (No they did not fetch, that was the lesser lab’s job.) I had been around these boys since they were pups. They were fine with the DH but they literally walked all over him, ignored him and one went into a barking fit that ended with hubby cowering outside. When I tried to get him to be consistent it was a disaster, they got crossed off the possible breeds list. I would likely consider it again if I could actually work with him with a pup or an adult and a trainer at the same time.

Ridgies are a WHOLE family dog not a one person dog. They may only acknowledge the one person but it will take the WHOLE family to make a solid citizen of that dog.

[paulaedwina]

No they did not fetch, that was the lesser lab’s job.

That is one of THE funniest things I’ve read about ridgebacks in a long time. Thanks!

Paula

[ladybugred]

Tradewind-had you read the orig post, you would see that CC, has had a Boerboel. She recently lost him to cancer.

LBR

[Nootka]

I love my Ridgie x Greatest dog in the world. He was a pain in the ass puppy and challenged me a few times. He is very independent and sneeky. He is nervous in new situations but listens to me now that he is older (10ish). I love him!

http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view&current=AmaniDec18.jpg

http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view&current=AmaniDec18-1.jpg

http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view&current=DSCN0078_edited.jpg

yellow eyes
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view&current=DSCN0085.jpg

fav puppy pic
http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a94/nadanejsi/?action=view&current=amaniJamiefeb.jpg

I want one of these puppies!!!

[crosscreeksh]

To clarify…I am not the person who is doing the breeding! The woman who is, owns both an older RR that she adores and brought to the USA when she moved here from SA. He is a wonderful, adoring, protective and trustworthy pet. She also owns a full sister to my beloved Boerboel, Ambush. The female was a gift from the breeder’s sister because with long periods of being home alone she was destroying the woman’s house and belongings. New owner has a 30 acre horse farm and now the female BB is also a wonderful, well behaved, non-destructive member of her family. I would guess that she is quite familiar with both breeds and the combo since she grew up with them in SA. She chose to breed them to carry on the pleasures the pair of dogs give her. Last I checked, this is still legal. She is keeping one puppy, her adult daughter is keeping one and she offered me/us one as a courtesy for me arranging for her to get the BB (a 15 hour/one way drive.) All other puppies have a waiting list of homes.
Another clarification…non-Boerboel owners (and RR owners, too) are not speaking of “first hand” horrors of owning one of these dogs. EVERY breed has it’s bad eggs, but I can say that Ambush was one of the nicest dogs we’ve ever owned. Smart, non aggressive and devotedly loving. Seeing him playing gently with our 5 yr. old DGD, mauling around the living room with our house cats, licking the nose of an inquisitive horse or handing me a piece of meat when asked would provide testimony to his balanced personality. And then there was the morning that SIL drove up to the house in a “beater” farm truck…Ambush sat on the back steps, never barked or growled, but DARED him, with just a look, to get out of the truck. SIL didn’t!! When he spoke Ambush’s name, the dog ran to the truck wiggling like a fool. …or the day the UPS man delivered some packages and Ambush climbed in the truck - wiggling his tail - inspected the inside of the truck and got back out without a noise. …or the last day of his life when he hobbled into the vet’s office - where he had had several painful procedures done - and wagged his tail and greeted each of the vet tech’s and the vet herself.
A dog - of any breed - is only as good as the people who raised and trained him. If a person doesn’t consider himself a strong leader, he should not buy a strong willed dog. The smarter one will prevail.
Thanks to all of you who answered my original question about Ridgebacks.

[yellowbritches]

I had a Ridgey/lab mix. She was the COOLEST dog, but she was a HORRIBLE puppy. I swear…that girl ate everything she could sink her teeth into, took ages to housebreak, and was just rotten, although sweet as can be. AND, on top of that, I was a teenager basically raising my first puppy when I got her. It’s kinda no wonder I’m not keen on raising puppies anymore! :lol:

Anyway, she did grow up, and she grew up into a stellar dog. She WAS very stubborn and really only listened to me and a few other choice people. She was extremely protective of me. I went through several vets with her who insisted on muzzling her. Then one figured out that her issue wasn’t keeping them away from her, but keeping them away from me. He took her away from me, and would treat her in the back, usually within eye sight, but no where near me, and she was far more accommodating. NO ONE was allowed near my car unless they got in the car with her…even people she knew. She was embarrassing to travel with, because she would carry on like a maniac at anyone who passed the car if I stopped, until I got back in. On the other hand, I felt VERY safe when I was traveling alone with her (she was fine to walk in public, etc).

Some people considered her “aloof” because she wasn’t a big sloppy, happy, OMG! My new best friend! kind of dog, but she was terribly sweet, and a total snuggle bug. She had a goofy streak, though, and could be very playful (loved her frisbee…I would buy them by the dozen). She just had to warm up a bit to brand new people.

I could have done better by her, but even with me being pretty dumb and clueless about the breed (I had never heard of them until the day I met her. She was intimidating even as an 8 week old puppy as she had QUITE the ridge!), I think I raised her fairly well. She was a fantastic dog and I still miss her, 7 years later. I often think I would do a Ridgeback again, if I could find the right one via a rescue group or some other outlet.

The Boerbel is a fierce looking dog! I have never heard of them…that will certainly be a very imposing dog, with a little Ridgey thrown in.

[ladybugred]

CC- that’s why I said to just go with your friend! You saw the crap I got asking about BBs! Did you expect less? Ambush was a lovely sweet lovebug! I vote you go for the pup, naysayers be damnd!
Your gal knows more abut the cross than most here.

Ps- I WANT PICS!!!

LBR

[Pcostx]

[QUOTE=ladybugred;6200066]
CC- that’s why I said to just go with your friend! You saw the crap I got asking about BBs! Did you expect less? Ambush was a lovely sweet lovebug! I vote you go for the pup, naysayers be damnd!
Your gal knows more abut the cross than most here.

Ps- I WANT PICS!!!

LBR[/QUOTE]

Let’s see, canine cancer is genetic. The bitch of this litter has a FULL SIBLING that just died of cancer at a VERY young age.

WHY would ANYONE want a pup from this litter?

WHY would ANYONE breed this litter?

Bang head on desk :mad:

[ladybugred]

Yellow- your dog sounds lovely, and a lot like my hunting bred jrtca jrt! BBs just LOOK intimidating, they’re really just big lovies, once they know you! Kinda like my first dog, a rescue rottie, I lived in Baltimore city (a rough bit) and was told my lover pup gave all the guys the “give me a rason to eat you” look! They were scared sh!tlss! And had been around pits and such! To me he was a rug with legs!

LBR

[ladybugred]

Pcostx- yes, you’re right, I also mentioned that to her privately. Sometimes the chances have to be weighed. The breeding will happen whether or not CC takes a pup.

I rescued, from death quite literally, a boxer. Loved her, doted on her, and she was struck down RAPIDLY by thorasic neoplasia. Sometimes life SUX!
I WOULD NOT CHANGE A SECOND WITH GINGER!

If you read for comprehension, the breeding will take place either way. The breeder has a laundry list of takers. Life is a crap shoot (granted a SPECTACULAR one) the pup may or may not come up with cancer, think positive!

LBR

[fourmares]

Every ridgeback I’ve known has been a wanderer. Great dogs, but they like to go on walkabout now and then.

[paulaedwina]

Sighthounds need to be behind a fence. They have a prey drive to beat the band.

Paula

[crosscreeksh]

Thanks to everyone who offered “real” information on the Ridgeback’s…my original post asked a question about them, not seeking judgement on whether I should or was capable of owning such a dog. My thoughts on the cancer are this…crossing outside the breed should mix up the genes a bit (hybrid vigor) and reduce the chances of passing the cancer risk along. But as LRB stated…this breeding has already taken place…pups due in late April…ALL I wanted was info on what RR OWNERS considered “horrible” puppy behavior. I think I can pass the “dog training” test with years of Boxers (3 at one time - 2 males) GERMAN bred GSD’s (2 at a time, One Personal Protection trained) a Boerboel and other assorted dogs. I don’t take dog raising or training lightly. A big, ill trained dog is a like a malfunctioning gun with a hair trigger. An accident waiting to happen. A well trained dog is a beloved pet, companion, guardian and potential weapon…and a lot nicer to pet than a gun!!! Just a couple of days ago a local, 86 year old woman was raped and beaten to death and her 90+ year old husband beaten and shot in the face for a few dollars and the couple’s car. They were not found for hours. We live in very rural Oklahoma, miles from neighbors and don’t lock our doors. I WANT a bad a$$ dog guarding my door. Thanks for all the info.

[Nootka]

Cross…I am major jealous!!

So you better post pics when you get it

[paulaedwina]

I love my ridgebacks. I’ll get more ridgebacks.

Paula