Male Ridgebacks should be 25–27 inches (63–69 cm) at the withers and weigh approximately 85 lb (39 kg) FCI Standard), females 24–26 inches (61–66 cm) and approximately 70 lb (32 kg). Ridgebacks are typically muscular and have a light wheaten to red wheaten coat, which should be short, dense, sleek and glossy in appearance and neither woolly nor silky.
Ridgebacks are loyal and intelligent. They are, however, aloof to strangers. This is not to be confused with aggression: A Ridgeback of proper temperament will be more inclined to ignore a stranger than to challenge them. This breed requires positive, reward-based training, good socialization and consistency, and is often not the best choice for inexperienced dog owners. Ridgebacks are strong-willed, intelligent, and many seem to have a penchant for mischief, though lovingly. They are protective over their owners and families.
If trained well, they can be an excellent guard dog.
Despite their athletic, sometimes imposing exterior, the Ridgeback has a sensitive side. Excessively harsh training methods that might be tolerated by a sporting or working dog will likely backfire on a Ridgeback. The Ridgeback accepts correction as long as it is fair and justified, and as long as it comes from someone he knows and trusts. Francis R. Barnes, who wrote the first standard in 1922, acknowledged that "rough treatment ... should never be administered to these dogs, especially when they are young. They go to pieces with handling of that kind.
Health conditions known to affect this breed are hip dysplasia and dermoid sinus. The Ridgeback ranks number six in terms of most affected breeds for thyroid problems recorded by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Average lifespan is from nine to 11 years, though they have been known on rare occasion to live to nearly 16 years.
Dermoid sinus
Dermoid sinus is a congenital neural-tube defect that is known to affect this breed. The dermoid is often likened to a thin "spaghetti noodle" beneath the skin. Puppies should always be screened at birth by the breeder and veterinarian & the examination repeated as the puppies grow before they go to their new homes. This is done by palpation of the subcutaneous dorsal midline from the base of the skull to the insertion of the tail. Surgical removal is an option for affected neonates, puppies and adult dogs. All affected dogs, even those surgically corrected, should be desexed and never be bred from. But, surgical dermoid sinus removal can be extremely cost prohibitive and because all unremoved dermoid sinuses will eventually abscess, and abscessed dermoid sinuses will cause the dog a painful death, dermoid puppies should be culled whenever surgical correction is not an option. However, it has been shown that supplementation of folic acid to the diet of the brood bitch before mating & during pregnancy reduces the incidence of dermoid sinus.
Deafness
While deafness is not a common problem in the breed, Rhodesian Ridgebacks do suffer from a breed specific form of the disease. Dr. Mark Neff and his team of researchers at the University of California at Davis have located the mutation that causes this relatively rare, but breed-specific, form of deafness.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a disease of the spinal cord causing progressive paraparesis most commonly in the German Shepherd Dog. It affects Rhodesian Ridgebacks at a rate of only 0.75%.
Hypothyroid
Hypothyroidism is a growing problem in the Rhodesian Ridgeback and this condition causes a multitude of symptoms including weight gain and hair loss. Treatment for hypothyroidism in dogs consists of an inexpensive once daily oral medication. Dr. Lorna Kennedy at the University of Manchester’s Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research in England has found the haplotype (group of genes) which when present will double the chances of a Ridgeback becoming hypothyroid due to lymphocytic thyroiditis. This is important to the breed because Lymphocytic thyroiditis is the overwhelming cause of hypothyroidism in Ridgebacks.
