Lion Dogs

November 10, 2006
7:44 AM CST

Rhodesian ridgebacks are, to my mind, the ultimate hunting dog. (Okay, try hunting lions and leopards with any other of the so-called “hunters”, and see the results.)

As puppies, they are the usual cutie-pies (although the size of the feet gives away what it will become):

And when fully grown, they are serious good-lookers:

Now, here’s the scoop on these excellent dogs.

1.) They are open-field hunters—that is to say, they need lots and lots of room to roam. If they don’t get a lot of exercise, they get bored, with the predictably-destructive results on your shoes, furniture, and anything else they can chew on. If you live in an apartment, don’t get one.

2.) They are not good with very small children: they don’t like to be messed with, although stroking and petting are of course always welcome. For a young boy or girl (age 8 and up), they are fine companions; apart from being about the best guarantee against abduction, the ridgeback is probably one of the few breeds with more energy than a kid. But really, these are work dogs for adult owners, not kids’ toys (despite my characterization, below).

3.) They don’t cotton to strangers. It takes a long time for a ridgie to warm up to your friends.

4.) Your farm or smallholding will be critter-free, of all descriptions. They like nothing better than to chase stuff, especially if you have more than one (recommended on a farm).

Now for some inside tips. If you’re not buying one to show or breed, then look for ones born without a ridge (it will come spayed, by the way, since most breeders hate that), or ones which are brindled or any color other than the light tan-brown (called “wheaten” by the Dog Dorks). All these non-standard ones will cost you far less than a typical ridgeback.

Here’s what the ridge looks like:

If ever I get to the point where I retire to a farm/smallholding with its obligatory shooting range off the back porch, I’ll have two ridgebacks roaming the acreage. Okay, they’ll reduce the varmint shooting some, but then again, who needs raccoons in your trash every night?

Comments

Bottom of Comments | Original Post

I’d have a hard time finding a dog of any kind I dislike. Even the yappy little anklebiters have their charm. And some of them are fierce- mom’s dachs is the cuddliest little fat sausage you ever saw, but let it catch scent of a raccoon.

The ridgeback is an excellent working dog. I knew a guy who used one with sheep, with excellent results. A handsome breed, an intelligent breed, and a dog worth his weight in dinner.

Author ID: 112 | 11/10/2006 08:32 AM CST | #73711


My family had a ridgeback when I was a kid in RSA. She was my best companion when I was in high school, accompanying me on the numerous hikes and reconnaisance trips thru the Northcliff hills. No one messed with us. She was indeed fearless, tough as nails, protective, unstoppable, loyal and smart ... and I miss her.

Author ID: 1558 | 11/10/2006 08:37 AM CST | #73713


Those Ridge puppies are cuties, no doubt about it. I haven’t the heart to show my wife these pics though, since we have a 3-month Lab puppy, and my wife is already saying “Look at her paws!” - which compared to the Ridgeback’s make the Lab’s look TINY, yet I have no doubt the Lab will be around 100lbs full grown. And our house will show the effects....

I agree with og, I know very few dogs I can’t stand, and that group is made up of dogs with lazy irresponsible owners.

Felix, I know what you mean about missing “best companions”...Been there, watched and held while the vet sent them on to a better place, missing them too..

Author ID: 8910 | 11/10/2006 09:00 AM CST | #73718


Looks like a great dane.

Author ID: 8174 | 11/10/2006 09:20 AM CST | #73724


As dogs go, they’re a good size but not huge (of course, my spouse likes Irish Wolfhounds, which skews our perceptions of size a bit .  The other problem, of course, is that Rhodesia is now Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe Zipperbacks, anyone?

Author ID: 214 | 11/10/2006 09:26 AM CST | #73725


I think they’re pretty good with kids, if they’re with small children from a puppy—I grew up with them, both American strain and African strain—my brother and I used to lead them around by their tongues, tug on their tails, etc—they always seemed calm about it—they’re hard headed (training takes persuassion as much as discipline) and I wouldn’t have them on in a suburb/city—both because they need room, and you can’t have casual visitors.

Author ID: 8518 | 11/10/2006 10:27 AM CST | #73733


Felix’s comments aroused a childhood memory of chasing though the autumn bush with a clutch of ridgebacks in tow (not mine- came from the smallholding next door) and my own Alsation running ahead on the scent of some dassie or field rat, and we’re all covered in blackjacks (except the ridgies- blackjacks don’t stick on ‘em...) and the smell of old veldfire mixed with fresh khakiweed and dog-slobber, and the thin Highveld sun on our backs…

Half an hour to groom the blackjacks from the Alsation, while the ridgies sit grinning at me…

Author ID: 8614 | 11/10/2006 10:33 AM CST | #73735


The place north-east of Botswana, north of RSA, west of Mozambique and south of Zambia will always be Rhodesia to me. It’s what it was called when I visited it, when it was a nice place to live, raise a family and make a living. Zimbabwe is some other place, a place I don’t recognize, a hellhole.

Author ID: 1558 | 11/10/2006 10:42 AM CST | #73737


Felix’s comments aroused a childhood memory of chasing though the autumn bush with a clutch of ridgebacks in tow (not mine- came from the smallholding next door) and my own Alsation running ahead on the scent of some dassie or field rat, and we’re all covered in blackjacks (except the ridgies- blackjacks don’t stick on ‘em...) and the smell of old veldfire mixed with fresh khakiweed and dog-slobber, and the thin Highveld sun on our backs…

Dude ...... and the smell of the earth and fynbos after a thunder storm, and the feel of the highveld sand and black clay between your bare toes ......

Author ID: 1558 | 11/10/2006 10:50 AM CST | #73738


Okay, I’ll bite. What’s a blackjack?

I’m presuming it’s something like a foxtail (barbed grass seed pod that’ll burrow into your dog’s skin if you let it) here in the American West?

Author ID: 7586 | 11/10/2006 02:14 PM CST | #73775


A blackjack is an African weed’s thin, small seed pod with a tiny hook at one end. It grows on the weed like a dandelion’s feathers—a roundish circle—and it catches on pretty much anything that brushes past it.

Coming back from our “field excursions” along the Jukskei River at the foot of Linksfield Ridge, we’d spend about twenty minutes getting the damn things out of our socks and clothes. We never took our dogs with us, because we were armed to the teeth with pellet guns (which we carried across the handlebars of our bikes).

Where we used to ramble, shoot old cans, have klei lat* fights and dam the river is now the N4 expressway. Bugger.

*klei lat: a short piece of willow branch (lat) with a ball of river mud (klei) molded onto the end. When the lat was whipped forward by the thrower, the piece of clay would fly off towards its target, with surprising accuracy. Two rules: no aiming for the head, and no stones in the klei.

Aaaahhh… boyhood.

0 Author ID: 1 | 11/10/2006 03:04 PM CST | #73778


The ridgebacks are tons of fun, but you know what? I’m too lazy for one. I like an Akita or a Chow...something that guards the house but doesn’t want to run and run and run and run.

Both those breeds are perfectly content to chill on the couch until somebody tries to come in through the window and needs their face pulled off. Ridgies are TOO MUCH. But adorable.

Josie

Author ID: 469 | 11/10/2006 04:33 PM CST | #73781