Looking For a Rhodesian ridgeback, can anybody help me?

Fox Hound

Hi All, 
My partner is looking for a Rhodesian ridgeback, we have recently just moved into a new home and are looking for a dog that is friendly but at the same time will be great for security, My Partner has been doing a lot of research, and it looks like we will have to travel to the UK if we are to get one. Just checking in on here if anybody has any info that can save us the trip to the UK. 

Thanks,
Fox

VonVix

Just from a little search I see there are two breeders in Northern Ireland who have health tested RRs.
https://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeder/21802
https://www.champdogs.co.uk/breeder/4934

There may be other boardsies who can point you in the right direction when it comes to finding someone closer to home. But definitely keep in mind that you may have to go further afield for a well bred dog, be mindful and try not to be quick to go to the first breeder who happens to have puppies. You'll definitely want a well bred dog with a sound temperament.

Keep in mind they are a restricted breed in the Republic of Ireland and will be bound to laws such as being required to wear a muzzle in public as well as being kept on leash: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/442/made/en/print

andreac

I personally know the breeder in the 2nd link and i can highly recommend her. Jane Anthony is lovely and definitely won't go wrong with them.

Fox Hound

Thanks very Much People, all great help, I know very little about these dogs, But my partner is the one that really knows her stuff. Her sister has one of these dogs and cant recommend them enough, Great Family dogs and very Loyal. I will definitely look into the breeders above. Thanks,

Bunnyslippers

I've had 5 of them and bred one litter many years ago, i still have one old fart left! If you're looking for a guard dog specifically them I'd look elsewhere - they are a hound not a guarding breed - only one of mine was a good guard dog, they're completely ditsy - would rather lick an intruder to death than attack one!!:D They're bark is a pretty good deterrent but they often like the sound of their own voice so can be noisy - a thing to consider if you have close neighbours! They are high energy until they get old then you need a crow bar to get them off the sofa, also if it's raining or even drizzling that's a no for walkies!;)
Don't leave any food items or items that can be possibly edible under 6ft - they are kitchen counter surfers and as they are very tall they can reach everything, they are real scavengers, so bins need to be like fort Knox!!:p Some have a prey drive too so need to be well socialised with all sorts of animals.

You really need to train them well - being a hound, and of course above everybody else :rolleyes:, they will only respond when they want so be prepared to have them bugger off!! My oldie who is 12yrs old now still has her selective deaf moments, or rather days, and will happily skip off to eat something gross 6 fields away and return at her leisure an hour or so later - especially if you're in a hurry to go out!!:D

They are a lovely breed but really do your research regarding health issues, dermoid sinus being the main one, never let a breeder fob you off with the fact their dogs are free from it - the ridge is a type of sinabifida and affects even the ridgeless dogs. You do get ridgebacks with no ridge, they're just not seen often as most breeders drown the ridgeless pups which is awful, but there is nothing wrong with them. If you're looking for a pet, rather than show or breeding, then do say to a breeder if you're going on their waiting list you'd be happy for one - may save one at least!! Pups need to be checked by a vet or a very experienced breeder at birth and several times before going to a new home. Hip and elbow scores are also a good idea on both parents. They are great fun but not for everyone and not a beginners dog!:D

seagull

We had one. As above, they have a well earned reputation as bin dogs. They will scavenge anything that can be reached. Out dog learned how to open the fridge. She also learned how to take the top off the milk bottle and use her tongue as a straw to take the top 2 inches out the bottle.

With regards being a guard dog - our house was broken into once while we were away. The guy coming round to feed the dog disturbed the intruders and they legged it. He found the dog shut into the bathroom.

deadlybuzzman

Since getting our dog I've talked online to a few different people about what makes a good security dog. The one thing they kept saying is that it's totally dog to the specific dog and it's temperament /personality.
Ridgebacks mightve been used to hunt lions but their job was only to bark "hey guys, he's over here!" they weren't grabbing and fighting them like catch dogs.
We were blessed with our dog (not a Ridgeback) that she's really protective of the house and especially my wife, but that was just dumb luck.
If security is a big consideration in your situation I'd be inclined to talk to some trainers that do that kind of work and see what they say

Ms Doubtfire1

If you want security go for a Malinois

Fox Hound

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

If you want security go for a Malinois

Can you get them in Ireland?

Ms Doubtfire1

There's a Breeder in derry who has a decent reputation.Trains them as well.They are NOT for the fainthearted though
https://www.real-malinois.com/contact-us/

Bunnyslippers

Agree with deadlybuzzman - it's totally dog specific as to wether any dog is a good guard dog irrespective of breed. I have had ridgebacks, mastiffs, rottie mixes, gsd mixes, bullterriers, I have an ovcharka at the moment etc and the best guard dog I've had is a reject springer spaniel that I found in a tesco car park, he's so loyal and would eat anyone coming in our house unannounced!!:D The jack russells have also been pretty good too and bullterriers are very loyal although have a lot of health issues now.
Mallinois can be great guard dogs but are not for the beginner and are often highly strung and need tons of exercise, a german shepherd would be a better start and are lovely dogs, just avoid the deformed show kind. Really do your homework on guarding breeds because they can be stubborn and need a lot of training so you don't end up with a liability rather than a guard dog! First and foremost your dog is a pet and part of your family, if they are good guard dogs then that's a bonus!;)

Knine

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

If you want security go for a Malinois

No way. Far too much of a handful unless you have an awful lot of experience. They also need a job to do to keep them busy. The RR breed is not for the faint hearted either.

deadlybuzzman

Knine wrote: »

No way. Far too much of a handful unless you have an awful lot of experience. They also need a job to do to keep them busy. The RR breed is not for the faint hearted either.

Yeah I was thinking the same. Class dogs but you would want to be doing an awful lot with them every day. I'd get anxiety just from having something that's this 'on' all the time
https://youtu.be/8HLcFZNje_w

sillysmiles

What a good video - if you can't work him, don't get him.

CircleofLife

What about a Bernese Mountain Dog or a good old German shepherd? Or Dobermans too.

dudeeile

Breeder in Kilkenny, www.hoozridgebacks.com

I've known one of their females and see was stunning with a fantastic personality, don't know for sure but I would imagine she would have also stood her ground if the situation demanded it.

kylith

Can't beat a Jack Russell for making a lot of noise and having a go at intruders.

Bells21

I will second that, no noise goes unannounced and you might get into the yard easily enough but believe me,once you turn to leave your trousers will have some lovely holes added to the end if the dog is allowed to get that close to a stranger.

Knine

I actually had a situation where a scumbag tried to steal my phone and got bitten fairly badly and no phone for him. It was the friendliest Border Terrier I have. Also when my house got broken into they alerted me. Thankfully they were in crates or they would have tried to defend their home and I have no doubt the scumbags would have injured or killed one of them.

Now when I park my car in the driveway they also like to 'sing' so all members in the house know I have arrived home.

kylith

I'd never expect a dog to actually try defend the house, it would probably wind up getting injured if it did. But if it becomes known that there are dogs in the house that will wake the neighbourhood then that's a very effective deterrent.

Flibble

kylith wrote: »

I'd never expect a dog to actually try defend the house, it would probably wind up getting injured if it did. But if it becomes known that there are dogs in the house that will wake the neighbourhood then that's a very effective deterrent.

And if it did try to defend the house & attacked the intruder, you could have a legal battle on your hands unfortunately.

Definitely better to get a loud confident watch dog who will raise hell vocally but keep their distance.

tk123

kylith wrote: »

I'd never expect a dog to actually try defend the house, it would probably wind up getting injured if it did. But if it becomes known that there are dogs in the house that will wake the neighbourhood then that's a very effective deterrent.

+1 ... the Deliveroo guy won’t come into our garden as he’s afraid of dogs and my two bark the place down! ‘YIPEEE!! THE PIZZA IS HERE!!!’
Bailey barks at anyone coming in the gate or knocking on the door and Lucy just joins in... Lucy has never barked at anyone outside but Bailey will also bark at anyone he wants to pet him.. or that he’s unsure of/thinks is dodgy ... including non other than our own DBB every time he’s met her - i’m not sure what category he’s placed her in lol lol :pac:

Knine

tk123 wrote: »

Bailey will also bark at anyone he wants to pet him.. or that he’s unsure of/thinks is dodgy ... including non other than our own DBB every time he’s met her - i’m not sure what category he’s placed her in lol lol :pac:

Dodgy I reckon

DBB

Bailey Boy seems to be an excellent judge of character... I'd bark at myself if I could

deadlybuzzman

CircleofLife wrote: »

What about a Bernese Mountain Dog or a good old German shepherd? Or Dobermans too.

The best way to win a fight is to never have the fight and big and/or scary looking dogs go a long way to achieving this.
Id be slow to generalise about any breed but we've found with our dog (American Pitbull Terrier) that she's a great balance between being a great pet and and also a guardian.
For example, late one night last week a car stopped outside our house (it's a tiny little lane that's very close to the house) so our dog who was on the bed sleeping across my wifes feet sprang off the bed and came charging down the stairs with the kind of deep bellowing growling bark that nobody would want coming in their direction.
Then when she was happy there was no threat she trotted back upstairs and assumed her usual position on the bed pointing towards the door.
It's seems alot of personal security dog trainers are now open to using particularly female APBTs (if the individual dogs suits the role, same as all dogs) as they can be very protective and I'd say that's at least part of the reason you see so many famous people having them as pets now