Rhodesian Ridgeback (90 photos of the dog breed): facts about the content, history of breeding, temperament

Description of the Thai Ridgeback breed

Popularity 130th place among 263 dog breeds

Lifespan:

about 13 years old

Height:

males: 61-66 cm, females: 56-61 cm

Country of origin:

Thailand

Average price:

from 1000 euros

Weight:

23-32 kg
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Advantages and disadvantages

• Pros:
• intelligence, intelligence, ease of training and learning;
• cleanliness and intelligence;
• endurance, energy;
• friendliness and boundless devotion to the owner.

• Minuses:
• highly developed hunting instinct - the dog can break off the leash and chase birds and other animals;
• independent and willful character;
• aggression towards other people's pets;
• predisposition to colds and obesity.

Key facts

The Thai Ridgeback, or MahTai, is a striking medium-sized dog similar in appearance to the wild dingo dog. This is an ideal friend for a large active family and a kind, caring “nanny” for small children. The animal gets along well with cats and dogs, although it may perceive turtles, rodents and birds as prey.

Description of the Thai Ridgeback breed combines:

• activity;
• friendliness, sociability;
• excellent memory and intelligence;
• cleanliness;
• remarkable guard abilities.

Animals get along well with family members, including small children, but such contact should always be supervised by adults. MahTai tries to avoid conflict situations, but does not tolerate rude treatment.

The dog can be kept in a country cottage with a large fenced area or a small apartment under one condition - physical activity during walking must be serious.

Characteristics of the Thai Ridgeback breed include a lot of factors:

1. Origin: Indonesian coast of Thailand.
2. Breed Registrations - The East Asian Canine Association standardized the native breed in 1982, FCI recognized it in 1983.
3. Character traits - an intelligent, peace-loving animal avoids conflicts and unnecessary worries, and is able to quickly respond to danger threatening family members.
4. With the right diet and maintenance, the life expectancy of the Thai Ridgeback is about 13 years, and health problems in the dog are rare.
5. Care is not complicated or painstaking.

Due to their delicate, soft skin and short hair, animals do not tolerate cold well, so you should take care in advance of having clothing in cold weather. They love warmth and comfort, preferring to bask on a bed or in a chair.

Thais do not like water; they rarely swim in a lake or river, even in sunny and hot weather. The puppy will need to be accustomed to bathing procedures from childhood.

Briefly about the main thing

1. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, intelligent, independent, active dog, suitable for equally active people with a lot of free time.
2. A distinctive feature of all Ridgebacks is a comb of oppositely growing hair along the back.
3. Ridgebacks are difficult to train, they think about every command and are not averse to ordering a person around.
4. The Ridgeback is an excellent hunter and an excellent guard.
5. The breed is naturally healthy and hardy, but suffers from winter cold.

Tell us in the comments about your experience of keeping this breed. What difficulties have you encountered in the process of raising a pet?

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History of the origin of the Thai Ridgeback

The history of the aboriginal breed goes back hundreds of centuries. Archaeological research shows that the Thais appeared more than 4 thousand years ago. Their ancestors were most likely dingoes. MahTaya with erect triangular ears, a characteristic crest (ridge), and a sickle-shaped tail can still be seen today in rock art.

The first evidence of the breed is found in the chronicles of the 17th century, where Ridgebacks are described as strong, fast, intelligent and loyal dogs of various colors with a characteristic crest on the back. At that distant time, they were used to protect homes from rats, snakes and when hunting wild boars, deer, and birds.

In addition, animals accompanied carts on trips around the peninsula. The isolated lifestyle of the inhabitants of Siam (aka Thailand) contributed to the preservation of the original appearance of the breed, and natural selection allowed the survival of the strongest and bravest individuals, who are still in excellent health today.

The development of the transport system made it possible to learn about Ridgebacks and the rest of the world. After massive deforestation and the cessation of hunting on the peninsula, animals began to be used as guards, watchmen, and heavy load tractors for shepherds, where they proved themselves to be the best. Today in Thailand, MahTai are an indicator of the high status in the society of their owner.

After the first puppy was transported to Holland (1990), the breed has been gaining popularity around the world. By the beginning of 2003, only 365 individuals of the ancient breed were registered.

Today dogs are successfully conquering the whole world, bred in the USA, EU, Asia, England and other countries. But even in our time, their number is relatively small - about 3 thousand, which is why MahTai dogs are considered elite and expensive.

Hunting

Strong hunting instincts are enshrined in the genes of Ridgebacks. In their homeland, in Africa, they protected herds of livestock from wild predators, even lions. Accordingly, there they “learned” to hunt (pursue) any animal. This versatility has been passed on to modern representatives of the breed.

Not only field and forest game, raccoons and foxes, but also wild boars, moose, bears - hunting objects are quite feasible for them. They are used as hounds due to their excellent bottom sense. However, the upper sense of ridgebacks is also well developed. But they cannot freeze in a stance when they spot game; The Rhodesian Ridgeback is more likely to scare away a bird than to point it out to the hunter.

Appearance of the Thai Ridgeback

General impression

It is easy to notice from the photo that Thai Ridgebacks are unusual, incredibly beautiful animals of medium size with well-developed muscles, a short and soft coat formed along the back by a ridge - a strip of wool that grows in the opposite direction and differs from the rest of the skin in color, length and form.

Head

Due to its origin, it is similar to a wolf's head. The forehead line is sloping, skin folds appear on it when the dog is interested or wary.

The skull has a rounded shape, thickened in the ear area. The muzzle is straight, its size in the Thai Ridgeback is 60% of the length of the entire head.

The dog has powerful jaws with strong fangs. Thin lips are pressed tightly to the teeth. Ridgebacks have a spotted tongue.

On the dog's head, medium-sized ears are widely spaced and slightly tilted forward. The shells are open, the tips are pointed. Cropping of ears is prohibited.

Large almond-shaped eyes are set deep. Dry eyelids are adjacent to the eyes, their cut is oval. Breeders value the brown color of the iris; amber color is also acceptable.

Neck

The pet's neck is muscular, set proudly and quite high. There is a slight bend, no suspension. The strength and power of the muscles can be easily felt with the fingers through the skin.

Torso

Slightly elongated in length, straight and strong back smoothly transitions into the lower back, rounded croup. The long ribs form an oval sternum that reaches to the elbows. The animal's groin area and abdomen are tucked up.

Front and hind limbs

The shoulder blades are protruded back. The forearms flow smoothly into the pasterns, their slight slope is clearly visible in profile. The dog's hind and front metatarsals are oval, all the toes are crowded. The pads are quite hard. The claws are strong, with light or dark patches.

The animal's hips are well developed. The angles of the hock joints are low and pronounced.

Tail

The tail, thick near the back, tapers to a tip. The dog holds it strictly vertically. When at rest, the tail drops to the hock joint.

Movement

Thais walk confidently, maintain a clear rhythm, and do not throw their limbs to the sides, which provides them with a strong springy push. Movements are light and free; when walking, the joints are parallel to one another.

Wool

Dogs have a short, soft body coat. There is no undercoat. The wool is shiny and resembles expensive velor. It is divided into several categories:

1. Very short

   – coarse hair 0.2-0.3 centimeters long covers the entire body, the animal does not look very presentable from the outside - a little bald. Such a cover is not able to protect the dog from insect bites; the body is often “decorated” with blisters and red spots.

2. Average

   – the length of the hair is 0.6-0.7 centimeters, it is soft and pleasant to the touch, and performs an excellent protective function.

3. Short

   – hairs up to 0.9 centimeters long are considered an intermediate species between the first and second types.

4. Standard

   – hair length is 0.9-2.4 centimeters, wool is able to protect the animal from insects and from drafts in the cold season.

The key feature of the elite breed is its pronounced “comb”. Its length should be no more than ¾ of the length of the back. A deviation of a few centimeters is allowed, which is not a defect in the standardized breed.

Thai Ridgeback colors

According to the breed standard, MahTai can have four coat colors:

1. Red

   – the most common tone, which can vary from light red to rich burgundy. The tone does not have pronounced transitions; it is lighter in the abdomen and hips.

2. Black

   - happens with a brown, olive, brown tint, which is evenly distributed throughout the body. Due to the fact that black color can overpower any other colors, it is not popular among breeders.

3. Blue

   – can be gray-smoky, dark and light-tender. Puppies that have white and light spots on the chest are discarded from the litter.

4. Deer

   – cocoa, tea rose, cream, pink tone. These dogs' fur shimmers in the light. A light spot in the chest area is acceptable.

But these are not all modern Thai colors. On the peninsula you can find chocolate, tiger, and even dirty green animals. But the most popular coat color is red, as the people of Thailand associate it with wealth and good luck. Less popular is black, which is the color of death.

Thai Ridgeback size

The height of the Thai Ridgeback at the withers in adulthood reaches 55-60 centimeters in males and 52-57 centimeters in females. Thai Ridgeback weight: males - 33 kilograms, females - 25 kilograms.

Personality of the Thai Ridgeback

MahTai dogs are ideal companions for active families and single people. These are open, very sociable, friendly animals that completely trust their owner. Thai Ridgebacks happily take part in everything that happens around them. They quickly learn to distinguish people's moods and easily accept the rules and proposed daily routine.

Becoming a wonderful companion for loved ones, dogs are wary and cold towards strangers. The guest will have to try hard to earn the attention and affection of a strict, aloof pet. Innate distrust makes dogs excellent watchdogs and protectors.

Despite their strong attachment to their owner, the animals remain completely independent. They will never impose themselves or demand special attention to their person. Dogs value affection, love and care, prefer to be in the center of events, but at the same time tolerate loneliness well. Dogs rarely bark and only remind themselves of themselves with a quiet grunt when necessary.

Having a developed intelligence and lively temperament, Thais quickly and easily learn new information, achieving success in training. But fruitful results are achieved exclusively through soft, friendly and interesting cooperation.

Dogs will not tolerate rude and unfair treatment. They will simply stop accepting and listening to a person who begins to use physical force. A self-sufficient, intelligent dog is able to assess the situation and make the right decision. The owner needs to treat him with respect, trust and understanding.

The character of the Thai Ridgeback is peaceful and accommodating; over the years, pets become full-fledged members of the family, delighting household members for many years. But if inside the house the dog is “friends” with cats and other pets, there is no point in hoping that the same behavior will be outside the house.

MahTai has a well-developed hunting instinct - the dog is capable of starting a conflict on the street. In addition, dogs love to divide the surrounding animals into “us” and “strangers”. After which they sympathize with some, ignore others, and growl at others for no reason.

But the selective friendliness of the Thai cannot be compared with the boundless love for small family members. They will never offend the baby and will endure all pranks with enviable calm. Animals derive great pleasure from open and sensitive communication.

Owner reviews

Most Ridgeback owners give their dogs extremely positive characteristics. With proper upbringing, a puppy grows into a universal favorite with ideal behavior. Among the disadvantages, people cite the need for long walks.

Before getting a lion dog, every potential owner should think carefully about whether such a pet is suitable for him. If a person does not have enough time to devote to a four-legged dog, then it is worth paying attention to a less troublesome breed.

Education and training

Ideally, it is best to start raising and training a Thai Ridgeback from 1.5 months of age. But in real life this is impossible to do, since many nurseries sell puppies after 3 months of life. Kids quickly get used to new living conditions, and there should be no concessions at this time. Use only diplomacy and perseverance - rigidity and passivity should be completely excluded.

Ridgebacks have high intelligence, but, like many dog ​​breeds, intelligence is accompanied by stubbornness, willfulness, and independence. The right approach to training and the tips below will help you raise an excellent life partner:

1. In education, it is necessary to immediately establish a hierarchical relationship between the dog and the breeder, to show who is boss in the home. In all actions, the head of the family must demonstrate superiority - enter the house first, serve food first, etc., the actions of the animal must be performed only after his approval.
2. Training should be carried out consistently: the rules and basic commands must be clearly understood and immediately followed by the dog. This will require strong will and tolerance. If you are not confident in your own abilities, it is better to use the help of an experienced dog handler.
3. Remember that an improperly raised Ridgeback will try to dominate all members of the family. There are cases where the dog behaved aggressively, growled and rushed at people. Such individuals cannot be re-educated.
4. At the age of 4-5 months, a teenager needs to be taught basic commands and instilled in the principles of correct behavior in society. To do this, it is better to use food, play and social motivation.

The result of the training should be strict execution of all commands. The dog should not act at its own discretion; if necessary, punishing the pet is allowed (but not with physical force). Splashes of water, a loud shout, clapping your hands, a light blow with a wooden stick, a rolled-up newspaper or a towel on the back - something that will help point out the wrong behavior to your pet.

Important! Ridgebacks are very sensitive, rude and tactless treatment causes them to be withdrawn, aggressive and distrustful of others. The best results in training can be achieved with encouragement in the form of dog treats and affection.

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Dog kennel

There are several establishments for breeding Ridgebacks in Vietnam. The Phu Quoc nursery is managed by Mr. Le Quoc Tuan. Many years ago, after seeing local dogs, he was fascinated by their intelligence and courage. And after some time, I decided to create a place where everyone could get acquainted with the Fukuoka breed. The Belgian professor Du Thanh Hiem, who founded the movement for the preservation of rare Vietnamese animals, also dealt with this problem.

Dogs in the kennel live in separate, well-kept enclosures. Here, in the sand, unpretentious mothers raise puppies. The nursery is open to everyone. The ticket costs 0.5 dollars. Feeding the puppies comes at an additional cost.

In addition to inspecting dog life, you can visit the local hippodrome and watch the races. Bets are also accepted here on the most liked athletes. The running track is small, but has various obstacles in the form of stones, ponds, and horizontal planks. After the race, trainers demonstrate the dogs' skills. These include the simplest commands “sit”, “come to me”, “lie down” and more complex ones that require certain skills and mindset.

Health and disease of the Thai Ridgeback

Centuries-old natural selection played a major role in the development of the indigenous breed. Ridgebacks have good health and rarely get sick.

Possible diseases

Most of the MahTai's problems are related to their special body structure. The most common diseases of the Thai Ridgeback are:

1. Dermoid sinus - There is no complete separation between the spinal cord and the skin, resulting in the formation of a thread-like opening that extends all the way to the vertebra. It can form in the cervical region or along the entire midline of the back. It periodically becomes inflamed, which promotes the proliferation of bacteria on the skin. The defect is difficult to detect at an early age, but is eliminated by surgery.
2. Incorrect formation of the hip joint - the head of the femur does not fully fit into the socket, which causes severe pain in the animal, preventing it from moving normally. Regular monitoring and the addition of symptomatic slow-acting medications to the diet are required.
3. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract of a very different nature.
4. Hypothermia and, as a result, a cold.

In the above cases, dogs are excluded from further breeding. To prevent infectious diseases, vaccination is used, which is carried out according to the generally accepted scheme.

In addition, dogs have eczema and dermatitis, obesity associated with poor diet, and cardiovascular diseases. All this can be avoided with proper care and regular visits to the veterinarian for a routine examination.

Reproductive health

Ridgebacks are animals with a sense of dignity and independent character. A bitch can react aggressively even to a permanent male dog, after which mating is out of the question. Breeders advise introducing animals earlier so that they can get used to each other.

Having become pregnant, the bitch becomes affectionate, calm and loving. At this time, she requires increased attention, frequent walks in the fresh air with minimal physical activity. If this is not taken into account, there is a high risk that the animal will not accept the puppies after birth.

Childbirth usually occurs between 57 and 62 days, it is good if a veterinarian is present, as complications often arise in bitches.

If you do not plan to breed the breed, it is recommended to undergo sterilization or castration. The operation to remove the reproductive organs is performed in the clinic under anesthesia; complications after this are practically zero.

Features of feeding and diet

Thais can be given dry food or natural food, the main thing is not to mix them. It is better to choose balanced premium food, since cheap analogues provoke inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The best today are:

• "Go";
• "Origen";
• "Bosch"
• "Akana";
• "Hills".

You can see many other brands on sale, and your veterinarian will tell you which one to choose. Feeding your dog natural food requires drawing up the right menu, which includes all the components necessary for a healthy and fulfilling life.

MahTai dogs can be given:

• raw, lean beef;
• boiled poultry fillet;
• offal;
• cartilage;
• cereal porridge;
• boiled fish without bones;
• stewed, fresh vegetables;
• fruits and greens;
• low-fat fermented milk products;
• occasionally raw chicken yolks.

The main thing in Thai nutrition is developing the right menu. Dogs quickly get used to the established regime and only in rare cases rebel and refuse to eat. In this case, there is no need to panic, since the dog will eat everything anyway.

The animal should always have fresh water in the required quantity.

Care and maintenance

Ridgebacks are ideal for keeping in a city apartment. They don’t smell like “dog”, and when they shed every year, there is practically no hair. Only a few tablespoons of wool can be collected from short-haired individuals. Excessive hair loss is a reason to contact a veterinary clinic to take a scraping and identify subcutaneous mites.

Caring for an animal's coat is very simple - brushing is done several times a week with a brush with natural bristles or a rubberized glove. They will quickly remove lost hairs and improve the animal’s subcutaneous blood circulation.

Since MahTai does not have an undercoat, it is better to keep the dog in a warm room without drafts. In cold weather, your pet needs to be dressed in clothes, otherwise he may catch a cold.

In the care and maintenance of the Thai Ridgeback, it is worth noting that dogs do not like to swim, they do not tolerate humidity and dampness, so walks in the rain should be avoided. If you encounter bad weather along the way, you can be sure that the pedantic animal will bypass all the puddles and remain clean. He will only need to wipe his paws from dirt and wrap him in a warm blanket.

The dog is bathed once a month in warm water with a special shampoo; there should be no drafts in the room. The ears are cleaned of wax and dirt with a cotton pad soaked in a special hygienic lotion or weak boric acid. No less attention is paid to the eyes - the characteristic discharge in the corners is removed in the morning and evening with a cotton swab and chamomile decoction.

Stone may form on the teeth, so for the purpose of prevention, they are cleaned with a brush and a special paste several times every 7 days. Regular pastes cannot be used, as they foam, have an unpleasant taste and smell for the dog, and can cause irritation of the oral mucosa.

Elite breed dogs are active, very energetic, and usually sharpen their own claws on the asphalt when walking. But you can help them with this - keep the limbs in warm water for a while (this will soften the hard tissue) and use forceps to remove the excess length.

The dog's paw pads also require regular inspection - they can crack and be injured by sharp, hard objects. In the first case, a rich cream will help, in the second - antiseptics.

How to get to the dog kennel in Fukuoka

The dog kennel is located near Duon Dong Airport. If you take Highway 47 west to the island's capital, after the fork with Highway 46 there will be a right turn. The right place is indicated by a small sign. And although it is in Vietnamese, the drawn figure of a dog and the direction sign will not let you pass by. A visit to the nursery is usually included in a sightseeing tour of the island, but anyone can get to this place on their own by bike or by ordering a taxi.

Tips for choosing a puppy

Despite the elite nature and rarity of the breed, it is quite possible to buy it in Russia. But first you need to decide on the purpose of the purchase - whether the puppy will take part in exhibitions and breeding or become a pet. Its price and the choice of an official nursery will depend on these parameters.

Upon arrival, be sure to familiarize yourself with the parents’ achievements and documents, and carefully examine the puppy. Ideally, he should be moderately well-fed, have the correct color, shiny eyes and glossy fur with folds, show activity and interest in those present.

When choosing a Thai Ridgeback puppy, special attention is paid to the condition of the joints. The breeder must prepare documents for the dog: a veterinary passport with notes on deworming, vaccinations and metrics, which will be changed to the pedigree.

The baby is taken from the mother at the age of 3 months, when the initial rules of behavior have been formed. For the arrival of a new family member, you need to prepare toys, bowls, a soft and beautiful leash.

Breeders recommend adopting a puppy from official nurseries and under no circumstances from hand - only in this case can you count on the animal being purebred. The most famous institutions in the Russian Federation:

• Showline Melins Kennel, Moscow;
• Nellirel, Klin;
• GrAmySweet, St. Petersburg;
• Elfgrais, Kaluga;
• Mythaidog.

Each has its own advantages and characteristics; before visiting a particular nursery, it would be appropriate to familiarize yourself with the achievements, history, and customer reviews.

Color

The Fukuoka Ridgeback traditionally had one of the main colors:

• black;
• yellow;
• spotted;
• striped.

Over time, others appeared, for example, red. The rarest and most purebred are dogs with black fur, eyes, paw pads and spots of the same color on the tongue.

How much does a Thai Ridgeback cost?

The MahTai breed is elite and rare, especially in the CIS. The price of a Thai Ridgeback starts at 1,000 euros and can reach 30,000 euros. It is determined by the baby’s pedigree and the parents’ achievements.

It is not recommended to purchase an adult dog, even if he has all the documents. The Ridgeback will not have time to get used to the new owner and will resist following commands.

If you go shopping at the poultry market, you are unlikely to find a balanced and healthy animal there.

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