Rhodesian Ridgeback

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Ridgeback as dignified, intelligent and reserved with strangers, but without aggression or timidity. At home it can be calm, even lazy, happily takes over the couch and is very affectionate with its people. Outdoors the hunter wakes up: it can take off after game in a flash, and its strength and speed are impressive. It is independent and able to make its own decisions, so training calls for consistency, patience and good motivation; force-based methods don't work. It is usually gentle with its family's children, though a young dog can be clumsy. Its instinct to guard the home is strong, but it rarely barks without reason. It matures slowly, sometimes not until three years old.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Rhodesian Ridgeback for?

The Ridgeback suits an active, experienced owner who has time for training, enjoys long walks and values calm at home. It does well in a family with children and in a house with a yard. It isn't a good choice for a first-time owner, for homes with rabbits or unfamiliar cats, or for someone who wants a perfectly obedient dog.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Ridgeback needs one to two hours of exercise a day: long walks, running, and activities such as tracking, lure coursing or agility. Outside safe areas, keep it on a leash or long line, because its chase instinct is strong. The short, close coat only needs weekly brushing and an occasional bath. Trim the nails regularly; many Ridgebacks dislike clippers and tolerate a nail grinder better. Training should start early and be reward-based, with plenty of socialization with people and dogs. Feed a large-breed puppy a food matched to its growth rate, and don't push it with long runs until its joints have matured. Ridgebacks handle heat well, but with a short coat and no dense undercoat, they benefit from a jacket in frost and a warm bed indoors in winter.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Ridgeback is a fairly healthy dog; a 2024 UK study found a median of 12 years, and the AKC gives 10–12 years. A characteristic congenital defect is dermoid sinus, a tube in the skin of the back that an experienced breeder can feel in puppies. The American breed club recommends screening the parents' hips, elbows, thyroid and eyes. The British Kennel Club lists hip and elbow X-rays and a DNA test for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) as good practice, and a test for degenerative myelopathy as best practice. Ridgebacks born without a ridge are disqualified under the standard, but they aren't unhealthy in themselves and can make excellent pets.

• dermoid sinusA congenital tube in the skin along the back that can be felt in puppies; it needs assessment by a vet.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaThe Kennel Club counts X-rays as good breeding practice.
• juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME)Inherited myoclonic seizures that appear in young dogs; a DNA test is available.
• degenerative myelopathy (DM)Progressive hind-leg weakness in older dogs; there is a DNA test.
• hypothyroidismUS breeders test the parents' thyroid function.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the Ridgeback's ancestors lived in the Cape Colony, where European settlers' dogs mixed with the semi-wild hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi people, which carried the distinctive ridge on their backs. Hunting in groups of two or three, the dogs tracked game, especially lions, and nimbly held it at bay until the hunter arrived. The Kennel Club adds that it was in Rhodesia, today's Zimbabwe, that the breed became famous for hunting lions. The first standard was drawn up by F.R. Barnes in Bulawayo in 1922, based on the Dalmatian standard, and the South African Kennel Union approved it in 1926.

Fun facts

• The ridge must start just behind the shoulders and have exactly two symmetrical crowns, or whorls of hair; it averages about 5 cm wide.
• The first breed standard was written in 1922 in Bulawayo, modeled on the Dalmatian standard.
• It is the only registered breed that originates in southern Africa.
• When hunting lions, Ridgebacks worked in groups of two or three dogs.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Best dogs for kids
• Guard dog breeds
• Hunting dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 146 Rhodesian Ridgebackfci.be
2. 2AKC – Rhodesian Ridgebackakc.org
3. 3The Kennel Club – Rhodesian Ridgebackthekennelclub.org.uk
4. 4McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.