• December 31, 2022

Bonding with your Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback, or African lion dog, although bred to hunt lions and known for its bravery, also has its sensitive side and needs to be handled with care. Rough handling and harsh training techniques will not work with this breed.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks, or any breed, respond well to rewards. If you take your Rhodesian Ridgeback to a pet supply store like Petco or Petsmart, which allow dogs to shop there, you can test what kinds of treats he’ll like. Hold a packet of treats to your dog’s mouth and when he wags his tail, you know he has a treat that will work.

The best time of day to train your Rhodesian Ridgeback is before his usual dinner time. Wear a small treat bag around your waist.

Gently push down on your dog’s hindquarters while saying, “Sit.” When he gets to the sitting position, give him a treat. Repeat this until your dog learns to associate the command with the action. Then give the command and wait for the action before giving the reward. If your Rhodesian Ridgeback sees the treat and jumps, he won’t give it to you. He or she must be seated at the time the prize is given. If your dog runs to the door and scares guests when the doorbell rings, the “sit” command will stop him from running to the door. It’s also good at the vet’s office or anywhere you want your Rhodesian Ridgeback to stay calm and not get involved with other pets or people.

Walking on a leash is another good skill to teach your Rhodesian Ridgeback. Wear a comfortable cloth collar. You should be able to insert two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck to ensure it is not too tight. The leash must be 6 feet long. Say “Let’s go” and walk forward, holding the end of the leash. If your dog tries to pull the wrong way or pull on the leash, stop and go the other way, so he learns that the walk will only start with appropriate behavior.

The “leave it” command is good for any dog ​​to learn, but particularly a large one. Hold a treat in front of you while saying “Leave it.” Remove the treat and substitute another treat with the other hand. After this is repeated a few times, your Rhodesian Ridgeback will learn that good things come from obeying this command.

Besides dog training, another way to bond with your Rhodesian Ridgeback is through play. Just as humans bond by having fun together, dogs like to play. Get a ball that is small enough for your dog to pick up easily, but too big to swallow. Show the ball to your dog and act enthusiastically. Toss the ball and say “Fetch” or “Ball.” This will excite your Rhodesian Ridgeback’s natural desire to chase things. He or she will want to get it back as part of a fun game. Running together is also a great way to bond. If you’re running on city streets, run at a time of day when the streets aren’t too hot for your dog’s feet. Be sure to wear a leash even in the field, so your Rhodesian ridgeback doesn’t take off after rabbits and squirrels.

Many people enjoy talking to their dogs as a way to bond, and this can also cause unconscious training to occur. Dogs can learn to understand many words if they hear them consistently in given situations. If, for example, you always say “Let’s go in” when you enter the house, the dog will learn to move closer to the door when it hears that phrase. Of course, this is not always a good thing. If your dog learns to associate the word “vet” with punctures, he may need to avoid saying it. Have fun bonding with your Rhodesian Ridgeback.

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