With christmas just around the corner it wont be long before it’s time to put up the christmas tree and decorate it with ornaments.  If you are a Rhodesian Ridgeback lover then your tree must have a RR ornament!  The following are some of the Rhodesian Ridgeback christmas ornaments that are available from Amazon and they are just simply adorable.

Blown Glass Rhodesian Ridgeback Christmas Ornament

This gorgeous little fella is the perfect gift for an Ridgeback owner.

These little ornaments are made from glass and is blown to form the perfect Ridgeback and then is handpainted to give it the amazing colors and markings it has.

This truly is a work of art and it measures approximately 3 inches high.

Can you just imagine this gorgeous Ridgeback ornament hanging on your tree?

Click here to find this ornament at Amazon

Rhodesian Ridgeback Christmas Ornament Cup of Tea

Oh my gosh how cute is this little guy in a tea cup!

Size: Appx. 2 1/2″ W x 2″ Deep x 3 1/4″ H Weight: Appx. 4 oz.”

Rhodesian Ridgeback Christmas Ornament Cup of Tea with a Green Ribbon.  These are a custom order item but they are just beautiful and a great gift for anyone that loves Ridgebacks.  Or why not grab one for your own Christmas tree this year.

Click here to find the Ridgeback in a tea cup at Amazon

Rhodesian Ridgeback Gingerbread House Christmas Ornament

I think this might be my favourite – the Rhodesian Ridgeback in a gingerbread house.  This is just gorgeous!

This ornament measures 3.25″ high.  This is made from resin and the sculpted display shows this amazing breed of dog next to the doghouse of his dreams.  The hanging ribbon can be removed if you would prefer to use as a standing ornament instead of a hanging ornament.

This is just the most delightful Rhodesian Ridgeback christmas ornament that would look fantastic as part of your christmas decorations this year.

Click here to find this gorgeous RR in a gingerbread house at Amazon

Rhodesian Ridgeback in a Sleigh Christmas Ornament

Another gorgeous RR ornament for your christmas tree!

This cute little fella bundles up in his cozy scarf ready for a sleigh ride at xmas time.  Isn’t he just a typical Ridgeback taking the best spot, if it’s not on the sofa it’s in Santa’s sleigh!

This ornament is made from resin and measures 3.25″.

The beautiful breed sitting in a gorgeous sleigh fit for Santa.

The perfect ornament for any tree.

Click here to find this beautiful RR at Amazon

Rhodesian Ridgeback Christmas Ornament

This guy is just a little cutey.  Wrapped up snuggly in his scarf hanging from your tree – he would look amazing!

This ornament is made from a cold cast stone resin and is hand painted.  He stands approximately 2 inches tall and includes a loop for hanging.

This little Ridgeback is wrapped in his jaunty red and green scarf and is waiting to join your tree to help you celebrate the holidays.

Click here to find this little guy at Amazon

Rhodesian Ridgeback Handpainted Ornament

This is a hand painted resin figure that is cast from an original hand carved piece.  This includes a gold eye for hanging and stands at approx. 2.5 inches high.

Such a cute little guy that will look great on your christmas tree.

Click here to find this ornament at Amazon

I love this Rhodesian Ridgeback cutting board – who would have thought you’d be able to get a cutting board with such gorgeous Ridgebacks on it.

Absolutely stunning – if I can’t get the cutting board, maybe I can get one of the dogs on it

Here is the product features:

I use to look at these statements and be quite impressed but now….. well now I think these are just words.  It doesn’t mean that the breeders actually do that.  When you think about it, of course they are going to make statements like that, they aren’t going to come out and say that they breed to make money or anything like that are they?

If a breeder knows that one of their dogs has or possibly has a genetic problem, should they disclose this problem to both potential puppy buyers, or to other breeders that might use their dog as a stud dog for breeding.

This is the story behind why I am so intense with this topic at the moment.

We are looking at buying a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy.  We found a nice litter with nice parents, and in particular a very nice sire.  We would love to have one of his puppies.  So we contacted the breeder to see if there were any puppies available and we were told that there is not likely to be any available unless another buyer pulls out, which could happen depending if the puppies are rated as show or pet quality.

So we waited and about three weeks later the breeder rang us to say that a buyer had pulled out and so there was one puppy available.  This puppy was pet quality because it had excess white markings.

So that’s fine, all is good, we go ahead and pay the deposit.  The puppy is in another state so we arrange and pay for it’s flight to come over to where we are.

Then, one week before we are due to get the puppy I get a phone call from the breeder telling me that the puppy has an overbite.  She says we would not be able to breed from him because this is a genetic problem (we weren’t going to breed since he was pet quality anyway).

So, I didn’t know much about overbites at all and if they could cause any potential problems in the future for the puppy – problems that could cause a lot of money to fix.  So I asked the breeder questions and I asked if they could send photos of his teeth.

I searched the internet to see what I could find out about overbites and because I have a lot of Ridgeback friends on Facebook I asked the question on Facebook.  Here is the exact quote that I wrote:

Ridgeback friends I need advice – we are buying a puppy and get him next week. He is pet quality not show quality. Breeder rang today to tell us he has an overbite. He is interstate so we can’t actually see him so now I’m stressing. Can anyone tell me much about overbites and is it something we should be concerned about?

So there was no mention of the breeders name, nothing said about the breeder at all, just a simple question asking if anyone could give me advice on overbite.

The next morning the breeder rang me and told me that they would not send the puppy to us and were refunding our deposit.  They accused me of defaming them as a breeder and claimed that I made defamatory remarks about them on Facebook.

Huh???

How did I defame them when I didn’t mention their name and I didn’t even say anything bad about them, I simply asked a question.

As for the photos I asked if they could send, they sent me two front shots and one side shot of the puppy – but none where the teeth or the extent of the overbite were able to be seen.

I’m left in shock and quite upset and very angry at the breeders reaction to me asking a question about the overbite.  As a buyer don’t I have the right to ask questions about the puppy and any potential medical problems it might have?

This is a genetic problem, I’m not an expert I am just stating this because this is what the breeder said.  So with their reaction, I am left wondering if it is because they are scared that the RR community will find out that their dog has this genetic issue.  If it became known then people would not want to use him as a stud dog and that could affect their business as a breeder badly.  I say business because if this is the attitude they have then they treat it like a business and not like a breeder that breeds for the benefit of the breed.

In a way I can understand their fear of this news becoming public, however, ethically this is wrong!  And a good, reputable breeder would not breed from a dog that they know has this genetic problem.  After all, they told me that I couldn’t breed with the puppy because of it so why is it ok for them to continue breeding with the parent that has the bad gene???

With breeders like this around, the breed will never be able to be improved.  Keep hiding the genetic problems and selling the ‘reject’ puppies as pets, and how is that going to help the breed standard.  Don’t they even think for a minute that although the puppy with the overbite is being sold as a pet and not being bred from, one of the other puppies that doesn’t have an overbite so is sold as show quality could still carry the gene and produce puppies of it’s own with an overbite!  As can future puppies that are bred from these parents!

Is it really at the stage where we should start demanding DNA tests before using a particular sire to breed with or DNA tests on puppies so we know if they are genetically correct.  Just because a puppy looks ok and has all the right markings etc, it could still carry the bad genes if dogs that are known to have the gene keep being bred from.

Anyway, that’s my rant.  I do feel quite strongly about this because of how nasty these breeders got when they thought that it could become known that they might have a genetic fault in their blood lines!  If they do have a genetic fault then they shouldn’t be breeding this dog – simple as that!  Don’t treat your buyers like crap because  you’re scared they are going to let the cat out of the bag!

This is a new challenging 1000 piece puzzle which features your favorite best friend. The puzzle measures approximately 14.5 X 38.5 and comes in a sealed shrink wrapped box.

I love doing jigsaw puzzles and it’s been a while since I did one, but I must say I have never actually seen a Rhodesian Ridgeback Jigsaw puzzle before, it is just beautiful.

They are just the most beautiful dogs.  As a past Ridgeback owner and hopefully will soon be an owner again of a lovely Ridgeback puppy, I don’t think I can let this jigsaw go.  I am going to grab one!

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Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are a fantastic new addition to any home, however if you are considering bringing one of these puppies into your family then you will want to learn as much about them as you can first.

They are a large breed and therefore will require training as a puppy so that they will be manageable and social when they are an adult dog.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks generally have a great temperament and are great with children, however due to their large size they can easily knock a child over when they are excited – hence the need for training this breed.

Let’s take a closer look at some points that you will need to consider when looking at buying a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Adult Size

This is a large breed and the male adult will reach a height between 25 to 27 inches and will weigh around 80 to 90 pounds.  The female Ridgeback will reach a height between 23 to 25 inches and will weigh around 65 to 75 pounds.

Ridgebacks are deep chested and very muscular dogs and their size can be quite frightening to people who don’t know the dog.  If a person knows nothing about this breed then they can assume that they are an aggressive dog simply from their size, they are however quite a placid breed although they can be very protective of their family.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Temperament

The temperament of the Ridgeback is just beautiful.  They are such a sweet, loving dog and very loyal to their family.  They are a very intelligent breed and so can be easily trained.  Ridgebacks love to spend time with their human family and are just real big sooks.  They will miss their family even if they have only been gone for five minutes they will be so excited upon their return.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks can be quite active at times, but are also happy to lie around on the sofa all day long.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Health Considerations

As with most dog breeds Ridgebacks too can be prone to certain health conditions.  One of the biggest health issues with the Ridgeback is a condition called Dermoid Sinus.  This condition can be fixed in rare cases, but generally not.  It can be quite painful for the dog.  When buying a puppy you should have him/her checked for dermiod sinus.

Hip Dysplasia can also be a problem with Rhodesian Ridgebacks and this should also be checked before purchasing a puppy.  You should also ask about the puppy’s parents whether they had any hip problems.

Being a deep chested dog, Ridgebacks can also suffer from bloat.  It is important not to let your dog guts down a huge drink immediately after walks and also immediately after eating.  By doing this you can reduce the chance of your dog suffering from bloat.  Bloat is a very serious condition and if your dog shows any symptoms you should take him to the vet immediately.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Exercise Requirements

Ridgebacks can be quite active when they are out and running around, but they are also quite lazy at times and are happy to lie around and sleep all day.

A Ridgeback will need to be taken on daily walks to keep him healthy and fit.  He will be more than happy with a walk a day and some fun play time with the family.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Grooming

As the breed has a short hair coat they are quite easy to groom.  A weekly brush is all you need to keep their coat healthy and shiny.  They can be difficult to bath being a large dog, so it is a good idea to get them used to baths from an early age so that when they are bigger they don’t make the job worse by fighting you.

Feed your dog bones at least once a week to help clean his teeth and keep his gums healthy.  Regular clipping of his toenails will also be required.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Life Span

Larger breeds generally don’t have as long life spans as smaller breeds but you should have your Ridgeback with you for around 10 to 12 years.  Good living conditions and a healthy diet will help your dog to live a long and healthy life.

Conclusion

Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are beautiful but remember that they do grow into a large dog.  Train your puppy and he will grow into a lovely, dog that will be a pleasure to have as part of your family.  They are very loyal and a great guard dog and at the same time very placid and loving.

I have owned a few different dog breeds and my Rhodesian Ridgeback would have to be the best breed that I have owned.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback was originally bred to hunt lions and although that may give the impression that they would be an aggressive dog they are in actual fact very gentle, yet protective of their family.  They are a large breed and so are quite strong and powerful and do require daily exercise.  The fact that this breed is such a large dog they really do need to have training so that they are socialized and also so they are easy to handle and easy to walk.

Dogs are pack animals and there is always a leader of the pack.  A Ridgeback at some point may try to take that leadership role and it is important that you let him know his place in the pack is not at the top.  Once your Ridgeback knows that you are the leader of the pack and that his place is lower down in the order, then he will accept his position.  If you have children, you need to let him know that they are ahead of him in the pack.

Ridgeback dogs are not aggressive but because of their large size they can cause injury by accidentally knocking down a child during play time.  They just don’t realize how big they are and when they are excited they can jump around and easily knock someone over.  Therefore it is important to supervise children when they are around your dog and also to teach your dog not to jump up on people.

The Ridgeback Rhodesian or Rhodesian Ridgeback dog is a large breed that is quite agile and muscular.   This breed will usually weigh between 65 and 90 pounds depending on the sex and the dog will measure between 25 and 27 inches and the bitch between 23 and 25 inches.

The Ridgeback can come in a lighter ‘wheaten’ color or a darker ‘red wheaten’ color.  The breed has a distinctive ridge running down it’s back where the hair along that ridge grows in the opposite direction than the rest of his hair.  The lifespan of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is around 10 to 12 years.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is also known as the African Lion Hound, the Lion Dog, the Ridgeback or the Afrcian Ridgeback.

Ridgeback Rhodesian – Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog Temperament

The Rhodesian Ridgeback dog is a very loyal dog and loves it’s human family and will protect them to all extents.  Although the size of the dog can often give the wrong impression that it might be an aggressive dog, but the opposite is true, they are a very placid, loving dog with a fantastic temperament.  The Ridgeback Rhodesian loves to play and can be quite energetic during play time but is also more than happy to spend the rest of the day asleep on the sofa.

Ridgeback dogs would never intentionally hurt a child, but due to their size they can accidentally knock a child over when they are excited, so they really do need to be supervised around young children.  Due to their large size it is recommended to do some dog training classes with your Ridgeback so he is well controlled when walking and around other people and other dogs.  Ridgebacks are very intelligent dogs and are quite easy to train as they will learn quickly.

Ridgeback Rhodesian – Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog Health Issues

A condition known as Dermoid Sinus is the most serious health problem associated with Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  Basically Dermoid Sinus is when a sinus or tube insinuates itself around the spine, it can then have an abscess form and cause a lot of pain to the dog.  This condition can be corrected surgically in some cases but unfortunately in many cases it cannot.

Ridgebacks can also suffer from hip dysplasia and it is recommended to have their hips checked before purchasing a puppy.  Bloat is also a serious condition that can affect deep chested dogs like the Rhodesian Ridgeback.  It is very important that if you suspect bloat that you take your dog to the vet immediately.

Ridgeback Rhodesian – Rhodesian Ridgeback Dog Grooming

The Rhodesdian Ridgeback dog is quite an easy breed to groom as they have a short coat and a nice brush once a week or so is all it needs.  Just like any other breed the Ridgeback my occasionally get ear infections so it is important to keep their ears clean.

If you love Ridgebacks then you’ll love Rhodesian Ridgeback merchandise.  Click here for more information