Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison

Known as the African Lion Dog, the courageous Rhodesian Ridgeback hails from Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

He was bred essentially to be a hunter as well as a home guardian. These dogs were crossed with European dogs, with the original breed standard being drafted by F.R. Barnes By the 1860s, European colonisers had imported certain European dog breeds to the area such as Greyhound, Terriers, Bloodhounds as well as other breeds. These were mixed with the indigenous African dogs.

The Ridgeback Club was also founded. It was in 1955 that the American Kennel Club recognized the dog as a member of the Hound group.

Hailing from Germany in the 20th century, the Deutsch Drahthaar, also known as the German wirehaired Pointer, has always been a hunting dog. He was developed to take part in hunting in field or water.

Breeders of this dog were successful in developing a skilled and versatile hunting dog that took its traits from the best coarse haired dogs.

It was in 1902 that the German breed club for the Deutsch-Drahthaar was founded.

Perhaps the most noticeable thing with this large, handsome formidable looking dog is the ridge of hair that runs along his back and gives him his name. The rest of the coat is short and smooth and can be a reddish tan color or wheaten shade.

He is a slender, athletic dog with an alert, intelligent face. The ears of the dog are floppy and carried close to the head, being broad and then narrowing to a rounded ear. The tail is long,broad at the base and tapers. He is a large dog that stands at between 61 and 69cm and weighs between 29 and 41kg.

Temperament:

In spite of his athletic build, he isn’t an overly active dog like many other breeds but will require a walk ever day as well as ball- and rope games.

He is a quiet, gentle dog, strong and confident, while also being strong willed and independent. He is tolerant around children, but isn’t the kind of dog that relishes being around little kids who try to climb over him.

He is smart and can be easily trained. Training and socialization turn him into an awesome pet.

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a medium sized well muscled sporting dog standing at 61 to 68 cm and weighing 27-32kg.

He is very distinguishable with his wiry water-resistant coat which comes in different colors such as liver, grey or black patches with a speckled or ticked background.

He has strong, straight legs with rounded paws which are webbed for strong swimming abilities. He has dark eyes with floppy, high set ears and a long tail. Many people still want the dog to have that distinctive look and they opt to have the tail docked.

Temperament:

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a fantastic hunting companion, loving nothing more than to be working at running across fields and plunging into water to retrieve prey.

Its the kind of dog that will fit well into family life but he will require exercise. Failing to give him exercise and attention will make him bored, frustrated and destructive.

He is a friendly, gentle dog yet he becomes protective when he feels his family is threatened. Training and socialization turn him into an excellent pet as he is a strong-willed dog that will take advantage of an owner who isn’t firm with him.

Your Ridgeback is a dignified dog who is devoted to his human family, being aloof around strangers.

He is a territorial dog and takes his job as guard dog seriously. He is confident and independent, and with his good looks, his loyalty and devotion, he is guaranteed to make you a most splendid pet and companion.

The German Wirehaired Pointer is an active, energetic dog who is happiest when performing a task or getting some exercise in. He is also a social dog, who loves spending time with his human family. It is important for him to get noticed by his human family, and he is a dog that gets on well with children in the home as well as pets.

Never just put your Pointer in the back yard and expect him to entertain himself. He wants to be included in all your activities, whether you’re walking, jogging or cycling.

A happy Deutsch Drahthaar will make sure that he gives you your full quota of love, loyalty, protection and companionship.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are generally healthy, robust dogs, but like with all breeds, they can also have their share of some of the common dog illnesses there are.

If you’re buying a puppy, make sure it comes from a good breeder.

When you start doing research on these German wirehairs, you see that they are far more prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia than the short-haired breed.

Also, von Willebrand’s blood-clotting disease is something that you should know about. Your German wirehair is a healthy, robust dog and is highly unlikely to get sick, but you need to be aware of these common dog ailments so that you can help him and know what to watch for.

This Von Willebrand’s disease for instance is a blood disease brought about by a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor (vWF). A lack of this vWF impairs platelet stickiness and clumping and can lead to excessive bleeding after an injury.

You may notice bleeding from the gums, bruising of skin, prolonged bleeding after an injury as well as blood in the urine for instance. Get your pet to the vet who will perform a physical exam on your dog.

Grooming:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback only sheds a little so you can keep him looking good with a brush twice a week.The shiny coat can be maintained by wiping him down with a damp cloth. Look out for any unusual lumps you might find.

He has floppy ears so during your grooming session check inside his ears and make sure they aren’t red. You can suspect an ear infection when you see your Ridgeback shaking his head or scratching his ears.

Check inside your Ridgeback’s mouth too as dogs can’t tell you when they’ve got a rotten tooth that is causing terrible pain and also poisoning their entire system.

Trim his nails too if they don’t wear down naturally.

Diet:

Your large Rhodesian Ridgeback will need good food from you if you want to have less visits to the vet because of illness.

If you have a puppy feed him 4 bowls of food a day, but once your dog is one year of age he can have two bowls of food. Two bowls are better than one as with one bowl, your dog becomes ravenous and gobble his food down. This can lead to bloat.

It is always convenient to feed him one of the top quality commercially manufactured dog foods but he will also need some tasty home-made food too. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet – plain and simple dog food, just like dogs want.

They don’t want exotic, spicy foods that humans eat as it upsets their stomach. Chop this home-made food up ad put it into his dry kibble twice a week for a treat. Also try to give him a bit of raw meat occasionally. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Your Deutsch Drahthaar does shed, and because of his wiry coat, he won’t only require a brush twice a week, but also stripping by a professional doggy parlor.

There are several other grooming processes that are essential for your dog. The first is to check that his nails don’t get too long. This often happens when he spends all his time on soft grass. Running on a hard surface trims them down naturally.

Also, because he has floppy ears, they will need to be checked and cleaned regularly so he doesn’t get an ear infection. His teeth will also need to be brushed twice a week as tartar and plaque build-up can cause problems with the teeth but also with other areas of the body.

If in doubt about how to groom your pet the right way, speak to your vet or a dog expert.

Diet:

There is so much conflicting information on caring for dogs, even from so-called dog experts. While there are some excellent dog food manufacturers around, some experts will say that you should be feeding your dog based on what his digestive system was designed to eat and steer clear of these.

If you do feed your German wirehaired Pointer with manufactured dog food, make sure it is the very best one, because after all, nutrition plays a vital role in your pet’s health.

Try to include some cooked vegetables, brown rice and some chicken into his diet. These can be mixed into his kibble. It is expensive, but try to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet from time to time. Ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

No more Puppies!

If your Deutsch Drahthaar isn’t going to be used for breeding, make sure that your have him or her neutered or spayed as this is advisable to promote good health. Not doing it can cause health issues later on.