Just wondered if anyone out there has a Zimbabwean Ridgeback and what kind of pets they make.

Are they aggresive or not?

I used to have Rhodisian Ridgebacks in Zimbabwee when i was growing up. I lived near Bulawayo, lovely temprements, loyal and fab guard dogs for that kind of place. We had about 5 of them.

Are they still called Rhodesian Ridgebacks over there or has Mugabe changed their names in this post colonial era?

Are they still called Rhodesian Ridgebacks over there or has Mugabe changed their names in this post colonial era?

we will have to take a vote on that guess what the answer is?

we will have to take a vote on that guess what the answer is?


Depends on how fair an election it is:hihi:

I think ridgebacks are stunning dogs and have seen a few around here (S11) over the years

I have seen Jenny's pictures they are fab looking , she also said they were very gentle giants and no Mugarbee hasn't changed their names. we also used to care for 3 of them when their owners were away, very nice dogs, friendly but would put people who did't know them off when coming to you house.

Slightly OT but has anyone any experience with South African Boerboels. I've been looking into owning one for a couple of years but just didnt have the time because of work commitments but now I only work part time I'm thinking about buying a large mastiff type dog

we were going to get a boerboel a few years ago a frined of my mums was going away for a few months so we were going to look after him with a possibilty of keeping him. but decided not to as it wouldnt be fair in some ways that we would have got really attached and she had decided she did want him back. the research we did was all on the net and we met him once and from what i can remember he was massive! but as daft as a brush.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=862559&op=1&o=all&view=all&subj=2223959602&aid=-1&oid=2223959602&id=573150936

any more for any more?

Apparently Rhodesian Ridgmacks are genetically similar to Dalmatians.

arent rodesian ridgebacks born with some kind of genetic thing?and if they arent born with the ridge what causes this defect they are culled?

IIRC it's a form of spina bifida, not all breeders cull the ridgeless pups, but yes, some do.

How dare the poor little things not be born with spina biffida lol ooooooooooo the world of breeding dogs makes me laugh give me a ridgeless one anyday

Yes, the ridge is actucally a defect but for some reason breader prefer them with it.

Yes, the ridge is actucally a defect but for some reason breader prefer them with it.

http://www.smilingyak.com/large_t_shirt_pix/dog_t_shirts/rhodesian_ridgeback_rbp_t_shirt.jpg

I assume it comes from the original breed standard, which of course is what they're breeding to and they would've been bred with the ridge in order to appear more menacing (all dogs get the same ridge if they raise their hackles).

I wasn't aware of the Spina Bifida connection and I think it's a lot less common now for breeders to cull ridgeless pups.

The British Dalmatian Club has a rule that bilaterally deaf pups should be culled (hence I never joined) but I know most breeders won't actually register with them for this reason - they are KC reg etc. but not registered with the BDC. I'm pretty sure that there are also registered breeders who just break the rule.

Patched pups used to be culled years and years ago too, however - this has been stopped also. It is against the breed standard to have a patch (a patch is not the same as a mix of spots - it is different type of hair) but there were thoughts that it was actually beneficial as it could help to reduce the deafness possibility - not sure if this was ever proven.

Lotti - did you know that Rhodesian Ridgebacks were genetically similar to Dals?

I did not. In which way exactly? Aren't most dog breeds genetically similar to an extent?

I can see similarities in the purpose for their breeding and their breed standard but not entirely sure what 'genetically similar' refers to?

I did not. In which way exactly? Aren't most dog breeds genetically similar to an extent?

I can see similarities in the purpose for their breeding and their breed standard but not entirely sure what 'genetically similar' refers to?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesian_Ridgeback#History

Sorry only just seen this. It says the breed standard is based loosely on an enlarged dalmatian - I thought you meant they were somehow related.

The first signs of dalmatians were pictures of spotted dogs in Egyption carvings on walls despite the name suggesting they come from Dalmatia (a region of Croatia). So the chances are they originated in Egypt many years before they were seen in Croatia. Although the real origins of both breeds can only be speculated it would seem they're actually quite far apart.

You can tell that the breed standards are similar although I didn't know that ridgeback was based on the dalmatian.

I suppose the genetics would be similar if they were breeding for the same characteristic/aesthetic trends...