COMPOUND
Rhodesian Ridgebacks
Breed Links
The parent breed club is a central area to learn about the breed, breed health, as well as events. Reputable breeders are required to follow the Code of Ethics. The parent club is not the end-all-to-be-all and reputable breeders DO exist that are not members. Ask them for health testing and show results.
Sometimes individuals may recognize they may not be in the best place to raise a puppy or something happens in their life and they are unable to care for their purebred Ridgeback. Oftentimes rescue has adult dogs who are seeking homes.
The OFA is a central location where breeders post public records of health testing results. If a breeder says they have available health testing for their breeding dogs I highly encourage you to ask them for a link to the dog's OFA record or provide the dog's registration number so you can do a search.
The AKC is only a registry and nothing more. Just because a dog is registered through the AKC does not mean it is of any quality. The AKC does not guarantee the health or temperament of its registered dogs. Please use great caution if using AKC Marketplace to acquire a puppy or contact a breeder as MANY of these listings are not what should be considered reputable breeders.
I have another page of Helpful and Educational Links click: Informational Links to go to that page. It is more or less a page of information that I found interesting or that I might want to come back to later.
I am not going to repeat the great mass of information available about the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. If you have arrived here at my site, chances are that you have already done your research and you know enough about the breed that you feel the breed may suit your lifestyle (or you already have a Ridgeback living with you). What I can say is, Ridgebacks are not a working breed that have the undying need to please you that a working dog does. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are an athletic hunting dog. As a hound, they were bred to think for themselves and bred to work independently from their human companions. A Ridgeback is an incredibly intelligent dog who can and will outsmart you, manipulate you, and create an environment in which they control if they are allowed. A Ridgeback needs discipline and boundaries from the start. Ridgebacks MUST be afforded the opportunity to attend formal training classes early, and often. They must be exposed to the world outside your home. They will not work for free, and will not respond well (if at all) to yelling or heavy handling. They are handsome guardians of your home, who will nap a good part of the day, keep your yard free of pests and rodents, go on a hike or a run at a moment's notice, and sound the alarm in case of an anomaly.
I will strongly urge you to seek out a breeder who is health and genetic testing as well as "proving" their dogs in either conformation or performance. They care deeply about ensuring the future of the breed is predictable and that in a hundred years, it still looks and acts like a Ridgeback. A breeder who is breeding solely for pets is only out to make money and is not a true preservation or reputable breeder. The only thing this type of breeder cares about is money. Buying from an irresponsible breeder is basically paying Ferrari prices for a Honda Accord. You will pay the exact same price, and yet not get the same thing. If you are unsure how to find such a breeder, please contact me using the contact us page and I will help you find a reputable preservation breeder.