Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Husky - 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.

The Labrador Husky is a purebred, spitz-type dog which looks much like a Wolf. People think because it has the name Labrador Husky it is a cross between a Husky and Labrador. What it essentially means is that it is a Husky dog which comes from the region of Labrador, Canada.

It is a fairly unknown breed, but it is strongly believed that the dog was developed in Labrador, a region of northern Canada. In fact this is where the dog got its name from.

The attractive dog was used for sledding and it is also thought that the people of Labrador introduced Alaskan Malamute and German Shepherd in to add in some additional skills from these two dog breeds. The dogs were later domesticated so as to become companion animals.

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 wolf-like muscular Labrador Husky is a large dog standing at 51 to 71 cm in height and weighing 27 to 45 kg.

Labrador is a place known for its icy winters and the dog’s double coat protects it from the freezing temperatures.

The color of the coat can be white, grey and white, solid black, solid grey as well as red and white. In fact there can be several different coat colors in one litter.

He has a long muzzle like the wolf and blue or brown slanted eyes. Sometimes you’ll get one blue eye and one brown eye. He has pointed ears, a nose which can be black or a pinkish color, bushy tail and paws which are webbed.

Temperament:

Labrador Huskies make wonderful pets and they are good with children, particularly when they’ve been properly trained and socialized.

Because they are dogs which have worked in a pack, they also get on well with other dogs in the home. You’ll notice that your Labrador Husky won’t often bark but he will howl like a wolf.

He is a friendly dog and not aggressive. He is intelligent too and you can teach him some basic commands such as sit, stay and lie-down.

The Labrador Husky is a dog used to having a job so if you bring him into your home, you’ll need to ensure that you set aside time to exercise him as he will become frustrated and bored if he isn’t involved in your family life.

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.

A Labrador Husky is a loyal, affectionate dog who is capable of forming a strong bond with his human family.

As a working dog, he loves being busy with fun and games and is playful and energetic and has good looks on his side too.

He is also an intelligent dog, strong-willed and confident and will require a firm, consistent owner who understands his need for regular exercise.

Social, lively and robust, the right environment will bring out all this beautiful dog’s best characteristics.

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.

Labrador Huskies can live to be between 10 and 13 years of age, and within a loving home he is generally looked upon as a healthy breed.

There are always typical dog problems that might be found in your dog, and a couple of the more prominent ones are listed -

Hip Dysplasia:

It can be a sad day for your Labrador Husky if he is diagnosed with hip dysplasia because if he is still used as a pack dog for pulling sleds it could well put him out of a job that he thrives on. It is a problem in the hips, and your once active dog may be in pain and may even battle to stand up after lying down.

He could even develop arthritis which can cripple him. He’ll need to get to the vet so that treatment can make life comfortable for him and to assist with pain.

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus - Bloat:

Deep chested dogs are more prone to bloat, and your Labrador Husky is a deep chested dog. The stomach of the dog expands with gas, blocking gas escaping and putting pressure on the abdominal organs of the dog.

In some cases the stomach can twist and then immediate surgery will be required. This is a life threatening illness. Try and avoid feeding your dog one large meal and feed him smaller meals instead. These days you also get feeding bowls that encourage slower eating.

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:

You’ll want to introduce a proper grooming routine for your pet as he has a thick double coat and he sheds throughout the year. Brush the thick coat 2 or 3 times a week, and set aside time to check for fleas and ticks and any appearance of lumps.

Exercise:

These are dogs which require a lot of vigorous exercise. Left chained or ignored he can become frustrated, run-down, bored and sick. He is a living, social animal that should only be brought into a household that acts responsibly towards him.

Diet:

Choose high quality food which is for high energy dogs. If you give him dry kibble, mix in some home-made food occasionally to add variety, and also try to include some raw meat from time to time. Always ensure fresh, cool water is available.