MyDogBreeds
Rhodesian Ridgeback is originated from Zimbabwe but English Foxhound is originated from United Kingdom. Both Rhodesian Ridgeback and English Foxhound are having almost same height. Rhodesian Ridgeback may weigh 9 kg / 20 pounds more than English Foxhound. Both Rhodesian Ridgeback and English Foxhound has almost same life span. Rhodesian Ridgeback may have more litter size than English Foxhound. Both Rhodesian Ridgeback and English Foxhound requires Low maintenance.
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.
The English Foxhound was found in Great Britain as far back as the late 1700’s. They were bred to be scent hounds and hunt the fox by following his smell. It was a crossing of several different types of hounds that produced the English Foxhound. This included the Greyhound, the Bulldog and the Fox Terrier. It was perceived that there were not a lot of deer left in the United Kingdom to be hunted for both sport and food. So, a new dog would be needed instead for the Staghound and Deerhound.
The Foxhound was developed as a pack animal bred to chase the fox followed by hunters on horses. The Foxhound was bred with incredible stamina, a great ability to follow scents, track prey, and act as a watchdog as well. This breed are pack animals. They hunt in packs and prefer to live in packs. A solitary English Foxhound is probably not a happy Foxhound. The English Foxhound is stockier and slower than his cousin the American Foxhound. The English Foxhound is recognized by the AKC and UKC. In 2012 the International Foxhound Association was developed to promote the English Foxhound.
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.
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 English Foxhound is a superb athlete who can run for hours without a break. He has muscular, sturdy and straight legs with round paws. His chest is deep, and his back is level. Their head is wide, and the muzzle is long with 16 inches in the front of the ears. The nose is long, and those ears are set low. They can be many colors as long as it is a “hound” color of tan, tricolor, black and white, or red.
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 English Foxhound gets along with other dogs and like people. He was bred to be a pack animal, not a loner. He will get along with most any other animal and children as well. However, they are not often kept as pets because their prey drive and pursuit drive are so strong that nothing else matters. The chase is what life is all about for this breed. They are hardwired for it. They are not easy to train because they are constantly distracted by smells and movements that could send them off on the chase.
Keep them on a lease when walking them so they don’t go wandering or running of. They love to run, and they love to talk – bay actually. They might slow down somewhere around 8-10 years old. They need a strong owner and a lot of exercise to be happy.
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.
This is a hereditary disease which can become worse because of environmental factors such as rapid growth. The thighbone doesn’t fit properly into the hip joint.
It is sad when you see such a strong dog succumbing to hip dysplasia as it can cause a lot of pain and also make your dog lame. Arthritis can also occur.
For such a life threatening illness with a dog, it is wise to familiarize yourself with an emergency vet in your area. A dog with bloat needs to be rushed to the vet as soon as possible.
That is why it is better to feed your pet smaller meals daily rather than one big meal. Bloat is an ailment where there is rapid accumulation of gas in the stomach.
Dogs with deep chests are at a greater risk of bloat. Typical symptoms of bloat include restlessness, a swollen, hard stomach and trying to vomit.
Canine bloat or gastric dilatation and volvulus is a killer with dogs, with the gas accumulation causing the stomach to twist.
Overall a healthy and hearty breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia and renal disease.
Degenerative and debilitating at worse. In mild forms cause lameness and arthritis.
Kidney disease – for some reason the kidneys cannot clear out toxins like urea and creatine
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.
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.
The English Foxhound is a high energy dog that needs a high quality dog food. He should be fed about 2.5 -3 cups a day in two meals of dry food. Because he is a deep chested dog, beware of bloat and don’t feed large meals, particularly before or after strenuous exercise.
Seizures are caused by epilepsy, but they can be treated, and the dog can have a quality life.
When the stomach becomes distended or twisted. Can result in death if not treated immediately.
The English Foxhound’s long, floppy ears are prone to infection and allergies. Inspect and clean them regularly.
The English Foxhound is an easygoing canine, but he has an incredible energy level and needs a lot of exercise every day. In fact, if you are not going to hunt then don’t get a Foxhound. It is not fair to the dog. Of course, if you have acres of land and are into agility, tracking, coursing and rally then this might be the dog for you. But if the English Foxhound does not get enough daily exercise, he will not be a good house pet. This dog was bred to run for miles. You cant keep him cooped up in your house.