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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://www.pedibase.com/llms.txt)
+12
Dogs
# The Rhodesian Ridgeback: temperament, price, health, and breeders
South Africa
Large athletic and loyal dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback combines calm, power and protective instinct.
Size LargeLife expectancy 10–12 yearsBudget ≈ €130/monthPuppy €1,000 – €1,500
[Find a breeder 37](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback) [ Compare with other breeds](https://www.pedibase.com/en/compare-dog-breeds?races=rhodesian-ridgeback)
The right choice?
## Is this breed right for you?
[Find your ideal breed with our online quiz!](https://www.pedibase.com/en/choose-your-dog)
Families and children Very good
Daily exercise needs High
Apartment living Fair
First-time owners Fair
Other pets Good
Tolerance of being alone Fair
Guarding instinct Very good
Strengths and weaknesses
- Loyalty: He is very attached to his family and often develops a strong bond with those close to him.
- Calm at home: When he has had enough exercise, he knows how to be calm and pleasant on a daily basis.
- Deterrent presence: His size, his vigilance and his protective instinct make him a natural guardian without unnecessary aggression.
- Need for consistent training: Its intelligence and assertive temperament require a clear and constant framework.
- Not well suited to beginners: It requires an owner capable of managing socialization, recall and self-control regularly.
- Sensitivity to cold: Its short coat protects it less well during cold and damp periods.
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- Active family: It is suitable for households able to offer long outings, a real presence and consistent training.
- Experienced owner: Its balanced temperament is expressed better with an owner accustomed to large dogs with character.
- House with outdoor space: An environment with a fenced garden makes its daily exercise easier, without replacing walks.
Not recommended for
- Beginner with little availability: He does not cope well with an unclear framework, a lack of time and an approximate education.
- Very sedentary lifestyle: This large athletic dog needs regular activity to stay balanced.
- Living outdoors all year round: His short coat and his attachment to the family do not correspond to an isolated life outdoors.
Meet the breed
## What does it look like?
1,75 mHuman
65 cmRhodesian Ridgeback
- Height at the withers
- 61–69 cm
- Weight
- 29–40 kg
- Coat
- Short, dense and smooth
- FCI group
- 6
- Origin
- South Africa
- Grooming
- Easy to care for
## Photos and videos
See the Rhodesian Ridgeback in photos and videos: coat colors, size, and distinctive expressions.
Origins
## Where does it come from?
The Rhodesian Ridgeback originates from southern Africa. It descends from dogs of the Cape Colony crossed with ridge-backed hunting dogs bred by the Khoikhoi populations. Formerly used for guarding and to accompany hunters during lion hunting, it established itself as an enduring, courageous and balanced dog. Its first standard was established in 1922 in Rhodesia, then the breed was definitively recognized by the FCI in 1955.
Appearance
## What does it look like?
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, powerful dog, harmonious and athletic, without heaviness. Its silhouette expresses speed, endurance and sturdiness. Its coat is short, dense, smooth and shiny, generally light wheaten to red fawn in color. Its emblematic distinctive feature is the dorsal ridge, formed by a strip of hair growing against the grain along the back. The head is rather long, the ears are medium-sized and drooping, the chest is deep and the tail is strong at the base then tapers toward the tip.
Temperament
## Temperament and personality
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog very attached to its family, loyal and affectionate without being constantly intrusive. It is generally calm at home, observant and reserved with strangers, without gratuitous aggression. Protective, self-assured and endowed with a real presence, it retains a certain independence that requires a consistent and steady owner.
Affectionate Playful Intelligent Sociable Protective
Living together
## Living with children and other pets
On a daily basis, the Rhodesian Ridgeback appreciates a stable family life, with long and regular outings. He needs exercise, mental stimulation and quality interactions to remain balanced. Well socialized, he can live with children and tolerate other animals, but his hunting instinct and assertive temperament require particular vigilance during encounters and when off-leash outdoors.
Training
## Training and socialization
The education of the Rhodesian Ridgeback must start early, with firmness, gentleness and consistency. It is an intelligent dog, but also capable of testing limits if the framework lacks clarity. Positive reinforcement methods work well, provided you remain fair and consistent. Thorough socialization from the youngest age is essential, as is work on recall, leash walking and self-control.
Budget
## Price and budget for the Rhodesian Ridgeback
The purchase price of a Rhodesian Ridgeback depends mainly on the quality of the breeding, the lineage, the screenings carried out and the puppy’s conformity to the standard. Beyond the initial cost, you must plan for the budget of a large active dog, notably for food, veterinary prevention and training.
[See cost breakdown](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/rhodesian-ridgeback/price)
Health
## Health at a glance
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is overall a robust dog, capable of withstanding exertion well when it is properly cared for. Like many purebred dogs, it nevertheless has a few hereditary predispositions that justify careful veterinary monitoring and rigorous breeding selection.
[Prevention and things to watch for](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/rhodesian-ridgeback/health)
Nutrition
## Feeding your pet well
The Rhodesian Ridgeback needs a complete, digestible and well-balanced diet, adapted to its size, age and activity level. Nutritional quality matters more than volume, especially during growth and in active dogs.
[Our feeding advice](https://www.pedibase.com/en/dog-breed/rhodesian-ridgeback/food)
Did you know?
## Fun facts and popularity
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is sometimes nicknamed the Ridgeback Dog of Rhodesia or African Lion Hound. Its famous ridge is a rare distinctive trait in the canine world and is one of the essential markers of the breed. Despite its impressive past as a hunting dog, it is often appreciated today for its calmness at home, its loyalty and its noble appearance.
FAQ
## Frequently asked questions about the Rhodesian Ridgeback
Answers to common questions from future owners before their new companion arrives.
### Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback suited to family life?
Yes, provided that it is given serious training, good socialization and enough exercise. It is generally loyal, affectionate with its family and calm at home when it is well-balanced.
### Can the Rhodesian Ridgeback live in an apartment?
It is possible for some individuals, but only if outings are long, daily and genuinely stimulating. A house with a fenced garden is often more comfortable for meeting its needs.
## Find a Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder
The areas where Pedibase lists the most Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders, along with their litters and typical prices.
[Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/provence-alpes-cote-dazur) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Brittany5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/brittany) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Nouvelle-Aquitaine5](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/nouvelle-aquitaine) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté4](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/bourgogne-franche-comte) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes4](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/auvergne-rhone-alpes) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Grand Est3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/grand-est) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Occitanie3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/occitanie) [Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders in Hauts-de-France3](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/hauts-de-france)
### Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders by country
[303 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Germany](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/germany) [37 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback) [25 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Italy](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/italy) [25 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in the Netherlands](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/netherlands) [19 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Denmark](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/denmark) [10 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Austria](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/austria) [5 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Spain](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/spain) [4 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Belgium](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/belgium) [3 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Switzerland](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/switzerland) [2 breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in Sweden](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback/sweden)
[All breeders of Rhodesian Ridgeback in France](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback)
## Ready to welcome a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
Find a registered, verified breeder near you and meet your future companion with confidence.
[View breeders](https://www.pedibase.com/en/breeders-of-rhodesian-ridgeback)
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