Rhodesian ridgeback

[Yeahsurewhatever]

Does anyone have any experience?
Would be interested to hear about your dogs. I'm really keen to get one but would love to know a bit more about the realities of its care.

A friend had one, I don’t know if she was just unlucky but it was vicious. Bit the postman, then a visitor badly, had to be put down. Sorry that’s not a very positive review !

As someone who works with dogs I would say don’t touch one with a barge pole unless your very experienced with dogs.

Highly energetic, strong willed, absolutely beautiful dogs in the hands of an owner experienced with that type of breed, nightmare if owner doesn’t know how to train them.

Ditto the level of experience needed, i.e. a lot and of the relevant type.

Big, powerful, dominant, really-not-to-be-messed-with dogs.

I've only met two.

I have two Rotties and a GSD. I wouldn't touch a RR with a bargepole (either theoretically or literally).

Our old next door neighbour has one - he was beautiful, soooooo energetic though and a proper handful - it was unbelievable how fast he grew too.

Saw him the other day actually and he still looked as mad as ever, I do remember them trying a lot of different leads and harnesses with him. They also have a beagle (I have 2) and all got on well with the ridgeback.

I’ve met loads in southern Africa, but dog ownership is quite different (in my experience) there so hard to extrapolate. very big!!

Ok...
So I would be stupid to ignore that unanimous opinion there.
As v v v disappointed as I am to hear it and I don't want to believe it.

I love a medium to large dog, thats a bit independant and good with kids and (an important) bonus for DH is that it doesn't shed much. I love that it looks like a 'proper dog' and it's one of the few breeds we both agree on.

Is there anything else you'd recommend instead?!

I had one and he was amazing. We trained him from a puppy and took him to agility to burn energy.

At home he was a big lazy lump but went for at least 2 walks a day.

He was a great big softie, lovely when I was pregnant and amazing with the kids.

Really miss him as he was beautiful, I would have another in a heartbeat

Ex GF’s family had one. Pure muscle, head as emails and loved to play but would get carried away all the time. Ate a sheep on separate occasions when it escaped. Amazing dogs, not one if you’ve got kids though.

I'd always recommend a GSD (we have a straight backed fluffy version) but I remember meeting a beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback owned by a lovely lady on one of my mum's WI walks. Beautiful dog.

I know 2. Both male.

One I see on our offlead walks- still a puppy but big & a handful. You wouldn’t stand a chance if wanted to take you out. Very energetic. I don’t think his owner can handle him really as he jumps up at people. Fine now as he’s not fully grown but will be a nightmare when he’s reached full growth.

Another a friend has. He’s a teddy bear. But she has him so so well trained.

But any dog can turn - so do you think you could handle him if he/her did?

Have you met any?

Medium to large, good with kids and doesn’t shed much = greyhound.

A colleague of mine has one: he is beautifully trained, not aggressive at all, and a dream with their DC. I think it's all down to how much experience you have as a dog owner and how much time you can put into training. Colleague is v. outdoorsy so the dog gets a LOT of exercise.

No experience of RR but in answer to possible suitable dog, a labradoodle ticks all your boxes. Large breed, no shedding, great with kids. My friend has 3 and they are all wonderful, very well behaved and joy to be around.

Ha. Tell the doodle I met today he’s supposed to be non shedding. Apparently he never stops!
What are you looking for OP? How much grooming and walking and training etc are you prepared for? How much space do you have for a dog?

How about an HPR? Pointer, GSP, Vizla?

I have 2 gsps. Fabulous dogs, great with all
Members of the family. Their reputation is they need hours of running a day which is total rubbish. My guys get min 45 mins and then will sofa surf rest of the day! They are fit though and both compete in agility.

what’s an HPR, prayingandhoping?

The lady who looks after my dogs has one, and she's the most loving, chilled out, laid back dog I've ever met. Tbh I had a really bad opinion of them before I met hers. Now I think they are lovely dogs

A labradoodle isn't a breed though - there is absolutely no guarantee of coat, size, or well...anything.

A colleague had one who's fully grown and barely weighs 10kg - I've met others who weigh over 35kg. Some shed, some don't. Some shed madly (worse than my beagle), others need grooming sessions once a month, some just need brushing once a week.

I have nothing against cross breeds but I wish people wouldn't post as if they're a breed in themselves.

Don't know what you mean by "proper dog" exactly, but if you want 'good with children' then:
-- smooth coated collie
-- greyhound
-- basset hound
-- irishdoodle

@SophyStantonLacy Hunt Point Retrieve. Sub section of the gundog group

My friends mum had two boys and there both gorgeous. So good with her toddlers and really well behaved laid back typed. She exercised them once a day on a good hour long walk/jog, but other than that they just slept.

I would go with a : Vizsla, Weimaraner, Golden retriever, Lab, or German short-haired pointer. All 'proper' gun dogs. Beautiful!

Honestly, OP. Rhodesian ridgebacks are beautiful, but every single one I've encountered has been aggressive. They were my favourite breed until I got to be around them. And I am around them quite a bit on dog walks. Gorgeous dogs. But pretty 'strong' in character. Quite full on.

I have a lab-vizsla cross. Best dog in the world. Absolutely brilliant family dog!

a pointer cross Labrador, I puppy minded a wire haired pointer cross Labrador and she’s a fantastic dog very laidback doesn’t shed much. She’s a big dog, looks like a proper dog and good with children.

Ok these are a few more positive reviews to give me hope!

@grimsisters I would LOVE a gsd - DH is not into the shedding though

@wolfiefan we can exercise at least an hour a day. More on some days. Happy to groom as much as needed but DH really prefers short haired / doesn't shed lots

@prayingandhoping that's good to know about your gsps. I would also love a vizsla but dog would be alone for about 6 hours (broken up by dog walker) 2 days a week and I'm told they hate being alone?

To everyone who has met lovely RRs were the owners super super experienced?
We've had experience with dogs growing up. We'd do tons of classes and I am researching training and caring obsessively and we're happy to do whatever to make it work, but having always rented our homes previously we could never have a dog just of our own before.