Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
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Are you looking for a dog that does great with the family, loves to be active, and wants nothing more than to be your best friend? If so, then look no further than the amazing Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix, also called the Golden Ridgeback. Let’s take a look at this beautiful and fun dog breed so you can decide if it’s the right one for you and your family.
| Height: | 24–27 inches |
| Weight: | 36–88 pounds |
| Lifespan: | 10–13 years |
| Colors: | Mix of wheaten, light wheaten, or red wheaten and other golden variations |
| Suitable for: | Active families or singles with lots of room |
| Temperament: | Loyal & loving, intelligent, gentle, friendly, gets along with other pets |
The Golden Ridgeback (Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix) is a designer dog that brings together the best of both worlds. While they were bred for hunting, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has a laid-back personality that is loving and loyal. As one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, Golden Retrievers are renowned for their gentleness, eagerness to please, and love of family. The mix of these two dog breeds leads to a dog that is great with kids, gets along well with other pets, is easy to train, and is very loving. For people with lots of space for this large dog breed, the Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix can easily be the perfect dog to add to the family.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix Characteristics
Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Puppies
If you decide to bring a Golden Ridgeback into your family, expect to deal with a breeder. As a mixed breed of two very popular dog breeds, this will be your best bet in guaranteeing not only the health of the puppy you will bring home but also the lineage and breeding standards. Always ensure you work with a reputable breeder. The best way to do this is by meeting the breeder, touring the area where the dogs live, and asking for documentation about the puppy’s history and health.
These puppies will be energetic and eager to learn. You should make sure you have everything you need before bringing your puppy home. This includes puppy food, bowls, toys, a collar, a leash, and a comfortable bed for your puppy to sleep in. As with any puppy, this mixed breed will need early socialization and training to become a well-mannered member of your family. You’ll also want to schedule a trip to the veterinarian as soon as your puppy comes home. The veterinarian will make sure your Golden Ridgeback has all the proper vaccinations and checkups they need to stay healthy. They will also guide you on proper care such as how much to feed your dog at a time and how often to ensure good health throughout their lives.
Temperament & Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever 🧠
A Golden Ridgeback has a great temperament and is highly intelligent. This makes them a great part of any family with room for a large animal. Let’s learn more about what you can expect when bringing one of these amazing dogs home.
Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪
Yes, the Golden Ridgeback is great for families. These dogs are known for doing well with children as they love affection and playing. However, you should take the time to teach children how to properly interact with a dog. Pulling tails, hitting, or other rough play shouldn’t be allowed. You should also closely supervise any child when they are with a dog. This is especially true with larger breeds like the Golden Ridgeback as they can easily bump small children and knock them down.
Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?
Yes, the Golden Ridgeback is known to get along well with other pets. The key to being successful in this area is socializing early. You’ll also want to get your pets spayed or neutered. Like many dog breeds, the male Golden Ridgeback is known to be more territorial or aggressive when around other male dogs if they haven’t been neutered.
Things to Know When Owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever:
Food & Diet Requirements 🦴
As a large dog breed, you want to provide your Golden Ridgeback with high-quality dog food that has all the balanced nutrition a dog needs. Dogs need lots of protein but they also need carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. You can reach out to your veterinarian for suggestions if you aren’t sure which dog food is best for your new family member. Follow your veterinarian’s suggestions on serving sizes and frequency to keep your pet at a healthy, active weight.
Dogs also need access to fresh water. As an active, large dog breed, the Golden Ridgeback will drink quite a bit. Make sure the water stays clean. Many dogs will avoid drinking from their water bowl if the water sits too long or gets things in it.
Exercise 🐕
Just like a child, a Golden Ridgeback may act out if they get bored. To avoid this issue, make sure your dog gets enough exercise throughout the day. It is recommended that this breed gets 1 to 2 hours of exercise throughout a 24-hour period. This can include long walks, playtime in the backyard, or even going for a swim as these dogs love the water. You’ll also want to offer mental stimulation as well. Interactive and puzzle toys are great for allowing your Golden Ridgeback to keep its cognitive skills sharp.
Training 🎾
As with any dog, training should start early and be consistent. You’ll find that this mixed breed is fairly easy to train as they simply want to please their owners. They are also highly intelligent. You should keep training sessions fun and always praise or reward your Golden Ridgebacks when they’ve done a good job. Training sessions are also a great way to add extra exercise for your dog to keep them happy and healthy.
Grooming ✂️
You may expect a Golden Ridgeback to be hard to care for in the grooming department thanks to its Golden Retriever parentage. Luckily, that isn’t the case. Yes, these dogs shed, but it’s not a huge amount. By brushing your dog often, and vacuuming your floors regularly, hair shouldn’t be that big of an issue. Your pooch will only need a bath every month or so unless, of course, they get into something and get dirty. Remember to always keep their nails trimmed, their ears clean, and brush their teeth regularly for good dental hygiene.
Health and Conditions ❤️
Overall, the Golden Ridgeback is a healthy dog breed. Of course, every dog breed is prone to certain conditions and can get sick from time to time. This is why working with a reputable breeder and staying on top of routine veterinarian visits are so important to the health and welfare of your dog.
- Allergies
- Eye problems
- Hip & elbow dysplasia
- Lymphoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
Male vs Female
When it comes to males vs females within this breed there isn’t a lot of difference. Both are loving and eager to please their families. However, you will find that unneutered males can become territorial when around other male dogs or when a female dog is around. To avoid this, it’s always best to have your pets spayed or neutered early in life.
3 Little-Known Facts About The Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever
1. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Once Hunted Lions
Lions are known as the kings of the jungle, however, the Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed to help hunt and protect against these large cats. Developed in the 1800s in what is now known as Zimbabwe, the Rhodesian Ridgeback was first used to hunt large prey like lions and bears. As time went on, this breed found itself being used to protect farmlands from the same predators before people brought them into their homes as cuddle buddies and best friends.
2. The Golden Retriever Loves to Work
Golden Retrievers were developed in Scotland to be water retrievers. The breed excelled at the job and could easily swim fowl weighing up to 75 pounds back to their owners. However, as years went on, it was clear this dog breed loved to work. Not only are they considered one of the most popular pet breeds in the world, but they also are used as guide dogs and service dogs continuing their love of working with people.
3. The Golden Ridgeback Makes a Great Watchdog
We’ve mentioned how loyal and loving the Golden Ridgeback is, perhaps that’s why they are also protective of their families. These dogs make great watchdogs to have around your home. While they love their families and are playful with those around them, they are wary of strangers. This means they will let you know when something is up around the house. Considering they aren’t big on barking if your Golden Ridgeback alerts, you should check out what’s happening outside.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the Rhodesian Ridgeback Golden Retriever Mix, also called a Golden Ridgeback, is an amazing dog breed. If you have time and space for these large, active dogs they make an ideal pet. Not only do they love children, but they also get along with other pets and want nothing more than to make you happy. As always, with any designer dog breed, make sure you work with a reputable breeder when bringing a Golden Ridgeback into your home. This will help ensure your new pal lives a long, healthy life with you and the family.
See Also:
- Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier Mix: Info, Pictures, Characteristics & Facts
- Rhodesian Border Collie Mix: Care, Pictures, Info & More
Featured Image Credit: Left – Shayna Douglas, Unsplash | Right – imch, Pixabay
