Rhodesian Ridgeback - The lion hunter tamed...

Powerful and brave, the Ridgeback makes an excellent family dog, and is much loved by all who see this distinctive breed. With a long history, the Ridgeback was originally bred in South Africa to track, corner and hold big game prey, such as lions, bears and boar.  They are still used for hunting in some corners of the world and some members of the breed have even adapted to pointing and retrieving.  However, they are most commonly seen as a family pet nowadays.  This versatile dog has a strong desire to please, and also is very committed to the pack law.  And as dogs in captivity regard their humans as their pack, they can be a delightful addition to any family.  They are smart and confident, but can be quite determined and stubborn, meaning that training a Ridgeback can be a challenge as they have a tendency to exhibit dominance. It's recommended that the Ridgeback is socialized and introduced to some basic training from a very young age. They need an experienced owner who can exert his dominance as 'pack leader.'. The most territorial member of the hound family, Ridgebacks make extra effort to protect the most 'soft target' of the pack, i.e. children, but they are very wary of strangers.