Ideal Family Dog.

PurpleCouch

Hi, I have been considering getting a dog for a while and the breed that stands out to me is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I live in a medium sized home with a small back garden and will be at work for 7hrs every day. I would be willing to walk it daily and I am wondering if this breed is suitable for my lifestyle.

Knine

PurpleCouch wrote: »

Hi, I have been considering getting a dog for a while and the breed that stands out to me is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I live in a medium sized home with a small back garden and will be at work for 7hrs every day. I would be willing to walk it daily and I am wondering if this breed is suitable for my lifestyle.

How much experience have you with owning a dog. This breed is best suited with experienced homes & is a large active dog who can be fairly aloof with strangers. They have a high prey drive too & need lots of exercise & stimulation. They would not do so well left along for 7 hours even with a daily walk.

Bunnyslippers

I've had 4 ridgebacks, one elderly one is still with me!:). They are great family dogs if you are experienced in owning dogs particularly large high energy bouncy breeds, not always the best with small children! They are stubborn and very food motivated so will tear your kitchen to bits looking for something to eat when you're not looking, they are good at jumping so don't be surprised if you find them up on the kitchen counters opening top cupboards or in the bin!!:rolleyes:

They do need a good bit of exercise and a good walk of an hour or two off lead everyday will keep them fit and happy, a small back garden is not ideal really but is doable if you walk a lot, they can jump 5ft and are pretty good diggers so you need to keep them entertained or you won't have a garden left! As said above they can have a high prey drive so good recall training is a must, also as they are very large bouncy dogs having something that size bounding upto people is not acceptable so training classes are a very good idea and they need to be socialised well with other dogs and children.
They don't make the best guard dogs, 2 of mine have been good, the other two would lick an intruder to death! They are a hound breed so are very vocal, howling and a very large bark which they like to use a lot come as standard, so you need either no neighbors or deaf ones!!;)

7 hrs a day left alone is too long for any breed of dog unless you use doggy day care or have a dog walker twice a day, I work from home so never been an issue but they can be quite clingy so highly likely you'd return to a bomb site if you tried leaving them alone for that long, plus they need to pee during the day - I don't know many people who would go 7hrs during the day without a pee break let alone expecting a pet to do it!
They are lovely dogs but do require a lot of care, time, attention, exercise etc so not a breed for everyone, plus remeber as they are pretty big dogs any vet bills you get will be big as they need more medication due to size. I'd seriously think carefully before getting one, loads end up in rescues because folk buy them for their looks and just can't cope with a large bouncy hunting dog in their home!

Also finding a good breeder who does all the necessary health checks is a must, the ridge of hair down their back is a form of spinabifida so they are prone to dermoid sinuses so must be checked by a vet at birth and several times before they go to a new home as sinuses are usually fatal, hip and elbow scores are also a must, any breeder who fobs you off with not doing them should be avoided like the plague, for good breeders expect to pay a good amount for a pup and possibly be on a waiting list. But seriously 7hrs alone you maybe better off getting a cat!

PurpleCouch

Knine wrote: »

PurpleCouch wrote: »

Hi, I have been considering getting a dog for a while and the breed that stands out to me is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. I live in a medium sized home with a small back garden and will be at work for 7hrs every day. I would be willing to walk it daily and I am wondering if this breed is suitable for my lifestyle.

How much experience have you with owning a dog. This breed is best suited with experienced homes & is a large active dog who can be fairly aloof with strangers. They have a high prey drive too & need lots of exercise & stimulation. They would not do so well left along for 7 hours even with a daily walk.

I have a reasonable experience with dogs but have not owned one for 10+ years. We also have two kids aged 14 and 12.

PurpleCouch

Bunnyslippers wrote: »

I've had 4 ridgebacks, one elderly one is still with me!:). They are great family dogs if you are experienced in owning dogs particularly large high energy bouncy breeds, not always the best with small children! They are stubborn and very food motivated so will tear your kitchen to bits looking for something to eat when


you're not looking, they are good at jumping so don't be surprised if you find them up on the kitchen counters opening top cupboards or in the bin!!:rolleyes:

They do need a good bit of exercise and a good walk of an hour or two off lead everyday will keep them fit and happy, a small back garden is not ideal really but is doable if you walk a lot, they can jump 5ft and are pretty good diggers so you need to keep them entertained or you won't have a garden left! As said above they can have a high prey drive so good recall training is a must, also as they are very large bouncy dogs having something that size bounding upto people is not acceptable so training classes are a very good idea and they need to be socialised well with other dogs and children.
They don't make the best guard dogs, 2 of mine have been good, the other two would lick an intruder to death! They are a hound breed so are very vocal, howling and a very large bark which they like to use a lot come as standard, so you need either no neighbors or deaf ones!!;)

7 hrs a day left alone is too long for any breed of dog unless you use doggy day care or have a dog walker twice a day, I work from home so never been an issue but they can be quite clingy so highly likely you'd return to a bomb site if you tried leaving them alone for that long, plus they need to pee during the day - I don't know many people who would go 7hrs during the day without a pee break let alone expecting a pet to do it!
They are lovely dogs but do require a lot of care, time, attention, exercise etc so not a breed for everyone, plus remeber as they are pretty big dogs any vet bills you get will be big as they need more medication due to size. I'd seriously think carefully before getting one, loads end up in rescues because folk buy them for their looks and just can't cope with a large bouncy hunting dog in their home!

Also finding a good breeder who does all the necessary health checks is a must, the ridge of hair down their back is a form of spinabifida so they are prone to dermoid sinuses so must be checked by a vet at birth and several times before they go to a new home as sinuses are usually fatal, hip and elbow scores are also a must, any breeder who fobs you off with not doing them should be avoided like the plague, for good breeders expect to pay a good amount for a pup and possibly be on a waiting list. But seriously 7hrs alone you maybe better off getting a cat!

I would be able to send it to doggy day care. I could also ask neighbors and relatives to check up on it and would be able to work at home once a week.

daithi7

Labradors are very hard to beat as dogs and tend to be (relatively) happy in their own company for long periods e g 7hours a day as you posted.

Otherwise, the smaller King Charles are a nice need for a post too.

If I were you I'd leave the Rhodesian Ridgeback for other type of owners tbh.

njs030

Contact a breeder who will talk to you and help decide if the breed is suitable. TBH left alone 7 hours a day isn't good for any dog let alone a high energy one...maybe think about getting a dog walker to pop in?

deadlybuzzman

The comedian sharon hogan had one. It was too big strong and energetic for her and the final straw was when it jumped back into their garden over the garden fence and accidentally landed on her breaking her leg.
Our dog would be similar to a Ridgeback in that it needs alot of good exercise and doesn't do well being alone for long so she's in doggy day care 4 days a week and that works out brilliant for both her and us.
it depends on how much effort and money you want to put into it really.

daithi7

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

The comedian sharon hogan had one. It was too big strong and energetic for her and the final straw was when it jumped back into their garden over the garden fence and accidentally landed on her breaking her leg.
Our dog would be similar to a Ridgeback in that it needs alot of good exercise and doesn't do well being alone for long so she's in doggy day care 4 days a week and that works out brilliant for both her and us.
it depends on how much effort and money you want to put into it really.

As a matter of interest, how much does doggy day care cost 4 days a week??

daithi7

daithi7 wrote: »

As a matter of interest, how much does doggy day care cost 4 days a week??

We put our German Shepard in doggy daycare now and again. It's €15 for the day. She loves it and it's definitely good value.

Anne_cordelia

7 hours isn't that long. Normal people with normal lives and jobs manage with dogs. If you can commit to walking in the morning before work and after work, I think 7 hours is perfectly reasonable for most dogs to leave them. Our high energy cocker is fine with c.8 hours once she gets a run or cycle in the mornings. Then we leave a feeding bowl puzzle and a Kong and she's fine until we get home. She's used to the routine.

Ms Doubtfire1

The RR is on the restricted breed list - something to be aware of.Great family dog but keep in mind this is a WORKING breed.Highly intelligent with a prey drive comparable to a husky and the same @wanderlust'.It is NOT a dog imho to be brought in if you work full time. They are highly attached to their owners and don't do well with strangers and i'm not even sure a DDC would accept a restricted breed. Stupid as it is. Many won't.They need LOTS of exercise.

Breeds I would recommend based on your situation:Yorkshire Terrier,Maltese, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, English Bulldog,
American Staffordshire Terrier or a Greyhound/Lurcher

Springer spaniel bitch is a great dog imo.

Ms Doubtfire1

glasso wrote: »

Springer spaniel bitch is a great dog imo.

working dog needing lots of exercise.Great prey drive. Prown to roll in anything stinky lol:D

Knine

PurpleCouch wrote: »

I would be able to send it to doggy day care. I could also ask neighbors and relatives to check up on it and would be able to work at home once a week.

Not all doggy day day care place may be happy to have a RB to be honest & lots of RBs don't particularly love other dogs. Good friends of mine breed & show them. I see lots of them at classes. Some of them are pretty good watch dogs too. For a hound breed they can be fairly protective.

deadlybuzzman

Ms Doubtfire1 wrote: »

American Staffordshire Terrier or a Greyhound/Lurcher

What are Am Staffs like? Its one dog I've always been curious about? Are they more chilled out than APBTs?

zoe 3619

+1 for greyhound.

2012paddy2012

Dogs are unsuitable in restricted areas like small back gardens ..its,cruel. Cats are ideal.

zoe 3619

+1 for greyhound.

zoe 3619

zoe 3619 wrote: »

+1 for greyhound.

Sorry..didn't mean to do that 3 times.phone playing up.

One_Of_Shanks

We have a Maltichon and while I love her to bits (and we have two 1 year old girls) they're too prone to barking their heads off at everything to make them a "family dog" that I'd recommend.

My folks used to have a cocker spaniel when we were younger and she was a beauty around us as kids, ideal family dog imo.
Relatively low maintenance and very placid.

I'd highly recommend a cocker. They're fab.

But from your original post you mentioned a quite big dog and I'm aware that some people prefer bigger dogs for whatever reason so if that's the case then I'd echo the poster above me (who echo'd it 3 times lol) about a greyhound.

They're actually really docile and if you check it up online you'll find that people rave about them as apartment pets (I know, it sounds mad)

Either way, I'd ideally try not to leave a dog alone for too long during the day whatever the breed but it sounds lie you've thought that out already so whatever you do, best of luck with the new addition to the family, enjoy!

Gael23

Rodhesian Ridgebacks are absolutely not suitable for a small garden. They need a large outdoor area and most of all an owner that has experience with the breed.
I cant recommend the cocker spaniel enough. They are very energetic and need as much exercise as you can provide but you get so much in return. We lost ours a while back but will be getting another in time.

FrostyJack

Gael23 wrote: »

Rodhesian Ridgebacks are absolutely not suitable for a small garden. They need a large outdoor area and most of all an owner that has experience with the breed.
I cant recommend the cocker spaniel enough. They are very energetic and need as much exercise as you can provide but you get so much in return. We lost ours a while back but will be getting another in time.

Madness. I have what is possibly a Ridgeback cross (a former show judge who owned several said he is definitely one yesterday) though our DNA analysis says different and we live in an apartment with no garden and he is perfectly fine. He gets more exercise than any dog in the area. I also have a spaniel cross who is much harder work by a scale of 100. She can never be exercised enough. Her previous owner had their garden destroyed by her. And from most of the cockers I meet, their owners have similar stories, there are some exceptions though. The environment is a small factor to consider, the individual dog and owner are the biggest factors. In Europe most people live in apartments and have dogs, you just have to work harder than if you have 100 acres.
I would also recommend a greyhound/lurcher/whippet if you are not planning on committing to giving it lots of exercise everyday (not once a week). 7 hours is a long time to be left on their own, a lot of people think this is fine as most working people do it, majority doesn't make it right. Even having the day broken up once with a walker would be great for the dogs sanity.

cocker5

Just would like to point out there isn't an ideal family dog IMO.

All dogs have the potential to be amazing family pets given the right environment, attention , exercise, balance and training.

I have a cocker and like the above poster says he can never get enough exercise.. Even at 11.5 he stills gets around 30k per week of exercise.. He's a black cocker most gentle , patient, plassid dog I've ever had the pleasure of knowing (not the cleverest in all honesty but and amazing personality) has never growled etc in all the time I have him (since 8 weeks old) my sister has a golden cocker and again fabulous dog but not much patience when it comes to the kids etc.. Dogs look the same but temperament chalk and cheese...

My point is all dogs can be amazing pets it's all about routine and consistency..

Personally I think all kids should be over min 5/6 before a dog is brought into a home.. Young kids / babies and dogs / puppies don't mix well..

FrostyJack

2012paddy2012 wrote: »

Dogs are unsuitable in restricted areas like small back gardens ..its,cruel. Cats are ideal.

Nonsense. Cruel is leaving a dog out the back all day and not interacting with it.

deadlybuzzman

Breed and behaviour are not the same e.g. not every collie will herd cattle, not every hunting dog is any good for hunting etc.
With this in mind it's the exact same as a previous discussion about a suitable dog for an old person.
What's needed is a low energy dog. Asking is a certain breed suitable is the same as presuming any collie will be a good sheepdog, absolutely it's far more likely to be one but that's all.
In the same way it'd be possible to have a lazy low energy Ridgeback but you would certainly have your work cut out finding one

JamboMac

Family dog wise basset hound is hard to beat, can be good watch dogs as in tell you when somebody there and can be protective of people in its family. Very good at going with the flow likes to go for walks but doesn't need loads.

Although some people say not to be allowed off lead, I'd let mine off in the park and she would follow behind.