Rhodesian Ridgeback Bushing

[Jerry71 269]

I work a whippet and a bedy whippet x Patterdale, both are used on beating line, ferreting, bushing, rat and the bedyx will drop to ground. It's not the breed it's what we put into them. Go to any rehoming kennels and you will find plenty of terriers, lurchers that ain't made the grade by 12 months old, if only they had been given the chance and entered propley. My dad all ways said it's not the dog it's the trainer at fault. With time good entering any breed will hunt. Atb j

[Boristheblade 1,367]

I work a whippet and a bedy whippet x Patterdale, both are used on beating line, ferreting, bushing, rat and the bedyx will drop to ground. It's not the breed it's what we put into them. Go to any rehoming kennels and you will find plenty of terriers, lurchers that ain't made the grade by 12 months old, if only they had been given the chance and entered propley. My dad all ways said it's not the dog it's the trainer at fault. With time good entering any breed will hunt. Atb j

But there is certain things you can't put into it. Most will hunt a little but some just aren't interested in the slightest no matter how you train them or bring them up.

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

Maybe ,personally some dogs just don't have it in them.

[matt1979 766]

I have a schnauzer her that has hunted with working dogs his whole life he loves it. Is he any good? Not really when you compare him with a decent purpose bred dog but still take him along for the exercise as he is here to stay. Won't be getting another mind as enjoy the ones purpose bred a hell of a lot more tbh I love a tryer but love a successful tryer more

Edited October 21, 2017 by matt1979

[Jerry71 269]

Iv had a Stafford bull that would hold Coney in nets, Mark 100%,rat as good as any, great busher. my grandfather kept staffs between the two wars and my father said they was always Coney, hare, pheasant hanging after a night out, most poachers back then wouldn't have a lurcher as keepers would be on guard and local Bobby, so it wouldn't be long b4some lead shot found its mark, with a dog that didn't look the poachers cur my grandfather kept food on the table for family of 9.like I say all breeds and x will and do hunt yes some better than others but once hunting there all a joy to have by your side. J

[Boristheblade 1,367]

Iv had a Stafford bull that would hold Coney in nets, Mark 100%,rat as good as any, great busher. my grandfather kept staffs between the two wars and my father said they was always Coney, hare, pheasant hanging after a night out, most poachers back then wouldn't have a lurcher as keepers would be on guard and local Bobby, so it wouldn't be long b4some lead shot found its mark, with a dog that didn't look the poachers cur my grandfather kept food on the table for family of 9.like I say all breeds and x will and do hunt yes some better than others but once hunting there all a joy to have by your side. J

Are you sayin you can take any dog and getnit hunting?

[Jerry71 269]

Alls I can say is every dog iv had as hunted, maybe my staff wasn't as good as my lurchers or my lurchers wasn't as good at picking up as my old spanial, most pups will learn if taken out, I don't really go for a breed just what suits me,

[FKOF 371]

Nothing like a good old jackanory, thanks Jerry your replys are very amusing and comical?

[Busher100 703]

If every dog can hunt why are their so many jackers? Because not all dogs are good workers there is somethings you can train a dog to do like retrieve birds but their is somethings you cant train a dog to do they either want it or they dont. Teeth for example.

[Alsone 789]

No reason why you can't use a Ridgeback for cover. They're bred for hunting, and specifically finding and tracing prey. Their original purpose was to corner hunt down and corner lions, bear and wild boar for the guns to move in and then shoot. In that context, African brush can be pretty thick and thorny..

 

They were also used for flushing birds from cover and bringing down deer, so there is history of breeding them for flushing and them being used as general gun dogs due to their limitless energy within the breeding. Very little prey can outrun a Ridgeback, Ridgebacks are the marathon runners of the dog world - they have unlimited stamina and are know to be able to run for hours at a time without slowing or fatiguing. There are records of them running for hours continuously without stopping and they can run at speeds of up to 35mph without problem. For a lot of prey, the only chance is to outsprint it to permanent cover eg a rabbit hole.

Also never seen a Ridgeback that wasn't a hardy dog (earlier comment) - they're known for being totally fearless, determined and single and independently minded in the hunt, you have to be to chase lions down!

 

However, the above said, there may be better breed choices as they are not without issues.

 

The biggest problem with Ridgebacks is keeping control as they are so determined they will often ignore owners commands if they lock onto something, which can cause serious control problems not least of which because once they decided something is prey, it can be difficult to prevent them pursuing it. There are many accounts of owners losing control and having difficulty calling them back. There are known issues with noisy children for this prey identification reason as noise can stimulate their prey instinct. They're often not recommended for families with small noisy children. That said, the only ridgeback I knew was owned by a shop owner and used to lie on the shop floor. Never had an issue with anyone including children, was a very chilled dog. That said, I doubt it came across very noisy children.

 

I think people sometimes become too fixated on breed rather than training. eg. one of the most used breeds is the springer, but my experience of springers is they're stupid dogs that injure themselves at every possible opportunity.

 

The one my mate had finished up at the vets after every trip - charging through brambles, thorny bushes and frequently barbed wire without a second thought. If the dog didn't come back covered in blood, it had spent the day in the kennel!! His insurance was horrendous, and the vet his best friend!!! For that reason I personally wouldn't use a springer for tight cover, but that flies in face of known wisdom.

 

 

Edited October 22, 2017 by Alsone

[walshie 2,804]

The biggest problem with Ridgebacks is keeping control as they are so determined they will often ignore owners commands if they lock onto something, which can cause serious control problems not least of which because once they decided something is prey, it can be difficult to prevent them pursuing it. There are many accounts of owners losing control and having difficulty calling them back. There are known issues with noisy children for this prey identification reason as noise can stimulate their prey instinct. They're often not recommended for families with small noisy children. That said, the only ridgeback I knew was owned by a shop owner and used to lie on the shop floor. Never had an issue with anyone including children, was a very chilled dog. That said, I doubt it came across very noisy children.

 

 

I agree with the rest of your post, but definitely not this paragraph. I've had ridgebacks most of my adult life and they are far more biddable and controllable than other breeds I've had dealings with.

 

I agree their prey drive is high, but I can guarantee they can be called off when required. At least mine can. Their urge to please their owner outweighs their prey drive in my opinion.

 

As for the "known issues" with noisy kids either. I have heard these stories, but normally from people who haven't owned a ridgeback. All mine have been terrific with kids - noisy or otherwise.

 

Perhaps I've been lucky in my 25+ years of owning this breed, but I suspect there is a difference between the dog being uncontrollable and owners who can't control their dog.

[Jerry71 269]

Nothing like a good old jackanory, thanks Jerry your replys are very amusing and comical?

when I was a kid me and my pals would walk the woods, Brooks, fields with a mixed pack of bitzas and they gave us loads of fun and put game in the bag, alls Im saying is, most dogs will take to hunting. I'd like to see how many folk on here hunt with breeds that ain't classed as hunters. Edited October 22, 2017 by Jerry71

[Jerry71 269]

If every dog can hunt why are their so many jackers? Because not all dogs are good workers there is somethings you can train a dog to do like retrieve birds but their is somethings you cant train a dog to do they either want it or they dont. Teeth for example.

I get what your saying, I got a staff bitch over 30 years ago from a lad who used her to draw fox at end of digs, she wouldn't do what he wanted and got booted in the ribs a few times every time she jibed, I took the bitch and with care, time, she turned out a demon on rats, good with ferrets and she would work an old dump killing rats all day, her face would double in size but she would still be wanting to crunch well after jack Russell, border, we're tiring, and she took Charlie. A lot is in the entering. J

[Jerry71 269]

If every dog can hunt why are their so many jackers? Because not all dogs are good workers there is somethings you can train a dog to do like retrieve birds but their is somethings you cant train a dog to do they either want it or they dont. Teeth for example.

I get what your saying, I got a staff bitch over 30 years ago from a lad who used her to draw fox at end of digs, she wouldn't do what he wanted and got booted in the ribs a few times every time she jibed, I took the bitch and with care, time, she turned out a demon on rats, good with ferrets and she would work an old dump killing rats all day, her face would double in size but she would still be wanting to crunch well after jack Russell, border, we're tiring, and she took Charlie. A lot is in the entering. J

[Alsone 789]

 

The biggest problem with Ridgebacks is keeping control as they are so determined they will often ignore owners commands if they lock onto something, which can cause serious control problems not least of which because once they decided something is prey, it can be difficult to prevent them pursuing it. There are many accounts of owners losing control and having difficulty calling them back. There are known issues with noisy children for this prey identification reason as noise can stimulate their prey instinct. They're often not recommended for families with small noisy children. That said, the only ridgeback I knew was owned by a shop owner and used to lie on the shop floor. Never had an issue with anyone including children, was a very chilled dog. That said, I doubt it came across very noisy children.

 

 

I agree with the rest of your post, but definitely not this paragraph. I've had ridgebacks most of my adult life and they are far more biddable and controllable than other breeds I've had dealings with.

 

I agree their prey drive is high, but I can guarantee they can be called off when required. At least mine can. Their urge to please their owner outweighs their prey drive in my opinion.

 

As for the "known issues" with noisy kids either. I have heard these stories, but normally from people who haven't owned a ridgeback. All mine have been terrific with kids - noisy or otherwise.

 

Perhaps I've been lucky in my 25+ years of owning this breed, but I suspect there is a difference between the dog being uncontrollable and owners who can't control their dog.

 

 

 

There seems to be differing opinion on this. Some specialist breeder sites caution against Ridgebacks saying they're so independently thinking that they tend to make their own mind up and over ride their owners if locked into pursuit mode, as they become prey focused to the exclusion of all else. Many caution against ridgebacks and kids. Others don't mention control issues and say they're great with kids! I think with kids, it depends on the kids. Ridgebacks hunting instinct is said to be activated by noise and movement. As for control, couldn't comment beyond what has been posted. The one I knew was very placid. The one opinion on control that is universal, is they need an experienced dog owner who's capable of asserting their authority from the start as they will appoint themselves as leader if the owner is weak. Another often stated drawback is they're not known for being great with strangers. They are very protective of their owners and can get aggressive if approached by people they don't know. The again, as I said above, this flies in the face of the ridgeback I knew that lived in the shop where everyone was essentially a stranger. I wouldn't have liked to have had a go at the owner though!

 

I wouldn't hesitate to have one as a working dog though, nor a pet, if I didn't have a family with small kids and had the time to give the dog a lot of exercise to ensure frustration didn't set in.

Edited October 22, 2017 by Alsone