How to Groom a Rhodesian Ridgeback

As the name implies, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has a uniqe marking on its coat that separates it from almost any other dog. Along the center of its back is a symmetrical line of hair which grows in the opposite direction than the rest of the coat. The color of this special coat is usually dark wheaten with some white spots on the chest and feet. The coat needs a full grooming every 12 weeks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Natural bristle brush
• Rubber brush
• Mink oil
• Aloe skin cream

1. Trim the whiskers with scissors if you desire. This is an optional cosmetic choice.

2. Brush with a natural bristle brush to maintain a healthy shine to the coat. The hair on the coat is very short and has a smooth, silky texture that is fairly easy to keep in good condition. Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed an average amount of hair.

3. Bathe and shampoo only when necessary. During the bath, brush the coat out with a rubber brush to remove excess shed hair. After drying, you can mist the dog's coat with a coat conditioner or apply some mink oil to give it an extra shine.

4. Put some skin cream on the elbows to remove calluses or to prevent against them. Dogs of this size and build often get calluses on the elbows.

Tips & Warnings

• Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years.
• This breed is the result of cross-breeding between the dogs of native South African tribes and various other breeds including the Khoikhoi dog, Mastiff and Deerhound.
• This breed is prone to hip dysplasia, dermoid sinus and cysts. Other than that, they are extremely healthy dogs that are able to handle diverse climates and other natural elements very well.