pup search

tinselunicorn said:
I don't think you realise just how stubborn a Ridgey can be!! They are a thin coated breed so just would not cope with living out in this country:o
Click to expand...

I have to disagree! Our beloved old ridgeback was happy out 8 hours a day every day for 12 years! When she was a baby she lived out overnight too.

She would still have to be booted out in the rain though:rolleyes:

OP - I have some experiences of Ridgeys. My parents have a youngster now and family friends have a few. Unfortunately I have had some very bad experiences with them so I tend to warn others off them.

They can be very guardy... very. Our old girl was very very protective of the family, to the point of it being dangerous. I could not have walked her off lead at all for fear of her hurting someone. She never once looked the wrong way at any of us and tolerated my younger brother wrestling her on the floor daily.
In 12 years we managed to train her to 'sit'. That's it. She was not easy to train at all.
My mums youngster is effing useless. She doesn't bark.... at all. Someone could come down the drive and let themselves into the house and she wouldnt make a noise. She isn't guardy at all. All she cares about is where the bunny has gone and food, she also has the attention span of a fly.

A close family friend had a very tragic accident with one of their ridgeys. The ridgey was encouraged to guard and protect the family. One day the child of the house was playing with her cousin and she screamed. The dog attacked the young cousin, the dog was destroyed and child hospitalised. I think there is a fine line between guarding and posessivness with ridgeys.

I know I sound very doom and gloom about the breed, believe it or not I adore them and hope to get one of my own someday. :o
 
littlemisslauren said:
I have to disagree! Our beloved old ridgeback was happy out 8 hours a day every day for 12 years! When she was a baby she lived out overnight too.

She would still have to be booted out in the rain though:rolleyes:

OP - I have some experiences of Ridgeys. My parents have a youngster now and family friends have a few. Unfortunately I have had some very bad experiences with them so I tend to warn others off them.

They can be very guardy... very. Our old girl was very very protective of the family, to the point of it being dangerous. I could not have walked her off lead at all for fear of her hurting someone. She never once looked the wrong way at any of us and tolerated my younger brother wrestling her on the floor daily.
In 12 years we managed to train her to 'sit'. That's it. She was not easy to train at all.
My mums youngster is effing useless. She doesn't bark.... at all. Someone could come down the drive and let themselves into the house and she wouldnt make a noise. She isn't guardy at all. All she cares about is where the bunny has gone and food, she also has the attention span of a fly.

A close family friend had a very tragic accident with one of their ridgeys. The ridgey was encouraged to guard and protect the family. One day the child of the house was playing with her cousin and she screamed. The dog attacked the young cousin, the dog was destroyed and child hospitalised. I think there is a fine line between guarding and posessivness with ridgeys.

I know I sound very doom and gloom about the breed, believe it or not I adore them and hope to get one of my own someday. :o
Click to expand...

thanks for the help. to be honest we think a rottweiler ridgeback mis would be good
 
I am sorry, but I don't think a ridgeback is the dog for you. As previously posted, they are not very tolerant to all kinds of weather and they do prefer to be close to their owner(s) and very much be part of the family at all times. Why on earth would you want a cross between a ridgeback and a rottweiler anyhow? And what do you mean by "improving" with this cross? I think you need to go further in-depth with your research about the different characteristics of various breeds - and what crosses between them may actually result in. Otherwise you may up with a nasty surprise - on several levels...

When it comes to guarding a pure ridgeback will have more than enough of that - in fact so much so that one is strongly discouraged from nurturing this particular characteristic - they can certainly be sharp enough if they really feel it is necessary - i.e. when the life of their highly beloved owner is threatened! You say you don't want to support back yard breeders - if that is the case you should stay well away from anyone offering such a cross - no matter what the price is. A ridgie x rottie in the wrong/inexperienced hands could be a lethal nightmare!

(And a ridgie x lab would be an absolute food-stealing nightmare...;))

Another matter is whether you would be able to obtain a purebred ridgeback from a serious breeder if you approach them with the requirements you have listed in this thread - you certainly would not in this country.

Please look further for a more suitable dog - there have been some better suggestions posted.
 
Synne said:
I am sorry, but I don't think a ridgeback is the dog for you. As previously posted, they are not very tolerant to all kinds of weather and they do prefer to be close to their owner(s) and very much be part of the family at all times. Why on earth would you want a cross between a ridgeback and a rottweiler anyhow? And what do you mean by "improving" with this cross? I think you need to go further in-depth with your research about the different characteristics of various breeds - and what crosses between them may actually result in. Otherwise you may up with a nasty surprise - on several levels...

When it comes to guarding a pure ridgeback will have more than enough of that - in fact so much so that one is strongly discouraged from nurturing this particular characteristic - they can certainly be sharp enough if they really feel it is necessary - i.e. when the life of their highly beloved owner is threatened! You say you don't want to support back yard breeders - if that is the case you should stay well away from anyone offering such a cross - no matter what the price is. A ridgie x rottie in the wrong/inexperienced hands could be a lethal nightmare!

(And a ridgie x lab would be an absolute food-stealing nightmare...;))

Another matter is whether you would be able to obtain a purebred ridgeback from a serious breeder if you approach them with the requirements you have listed in this thread - you certainly would not in this country.

Please look further for a more suitable dog - there have been some better suggestions posted.
Click to expand...

oh for gods sake im never going to work this out
 
it doesnt have to be obsseively guardy. im probably just going to contradict myself now.

i just wanted to get the right puppy. i definatly think buying a horse is easier
 
Just to add - my mother and I have 4 ridgebacks between us - aging from 15 months to 13,5 years - so I love and know the breed well.

None of these and none of the well-bred and well-raised ones I know have been possessive or threatening to anyone - within or outside family. Nevertheless - the guarding instinct is there and should not be encouraged.

On the other hand - I too have met some that are not so nice...

My experience is that they are easily trained - helped by the fact that they are so food-driven. However -frequent variation and keeping up the motivation is key! Our ridgebacks do low-level obedience, tracking, search, agility. All low-level purely due to do owner-lazyness rather than lack of ability of the dogs!:D
 
CaveCanem said:
Chill, you've got time and we're all trying to help ;)
Click to expand...

i know thanks my brain just fizzled out.

we wouldnt encourage the gaurding behaviour. we are a pritty basic family that know how to deal with animals generally and will keep trying.

also a bit of news altho we sort of ruled out vizslas i have found a friend who has some grown up ones im going to go visit to get a better feel of what they are like xx
 
Russian Black Terrier? Warks Police had one called Mig as a take-out dog a few years back.....absolutely amazing! However, they're not exactly two a penny!
 
Gunner, I know one, have met about four, I would say they are not really people dogs, I've never met any dog quite so aloof, and 'huffy', if that makes any sense.
They are very much bred for work and only come from one or two sources as you say, so quite expensive.
 
Sounds like a rotty would work out just fine for you. Easily live out at night, guard effectively, fab family dog, the works!
You dont HAVE to have a big one, bitches are smaller and if youre buying a pup you can select a line that doesnt throw oversized dogs. Most rotties you see are also immensely overweight, a dog of the correct weight is not huge.

I would seriously forget the vizzy, weims tend to guard more and are larger, but they can be somewhat deranged :D

Buying any "mix" pup could end disastrously for you, there is zero guarantee you will get what you expected. Many crosses take after one side more strongly than the other and you wont know which "brain" it inherited until long after the breeder has taken your cash.
 
Dutch shepherd dog
Curly coated retriever
Norwegian elkhound
Akita
Bernese mountain dog
Old english sheepdog
I know you said no skinny dogs but an Irish wolfhound might also fit the bill. knowing 2 that lived outside all year to guard an estate where I worked.
 
Pendlehog said:
Sounds like a rotty would work out just fine for you. Easily live out at night, guard effectively, fab family dog, the works!
You dont HAVE to have a big one, bitches are smaller and if youre buying a pup you can select a line that doesnt throw oversized dogs. Most rotties you see are also immensely overweight, a dog of the correct weight is not huge.
Click to expand...

^^^^^ Wot she said :)

My boy is 25 inches at the shoulder and under 40kgs (not that you'd know it when he sits on your lap)

The other thing is that I would avoid a pup (of any breed) as it's unlikely that they would be able to do what you want until 18- 24 months - there are rescues that will rehome to 'unconventional' homes but hey can be a bit hard to find admittedly.

Tell me to MYOB :p if you like but what is your budget?
 
Not gone through all the posts but has anybody metioned a doberman, we had 2 when i was younger, looked guardy and barked like a guardy but were actually really good family pets. Are's were very trainable. And altough never lived out at night were happy out on the stables in all weathers. Ours were not into chasing at all and would actually clean and lick our pet rabbit when it was on our lap!!!:D There were also fine on the none fenced areas too. And adored children. They are also not as big as you would think, defo not as big as rotties.

I cannot wait till i finally get my own stables a dobe is the first thing i will be going out to get!!!!:D
 
CaveCanem said:
You'd also pay through the nose for a Dutch and like the Black Russians, they are not good pets x
Click to expand...

I know a dutch, she was a failed working dog and was going to be PTS so a nice lady took her in to rehome her. She's made a great family pet. Went from kennel dog to house dog with no probs. Brilliant on and off lead and fab with other dogs.
They are quite a rare breed and no idea of costs, this girl was a freebie. :)
 
Oh I wouldn't dispute that, exceptions and rules and all that, they are usually very work-centric. I'm not saying that all Dutch herders out there cannot make pets, they are rare because most of them in the UK are in work/service homes, and there is a reason for that. I know a few and they would not suit this sort of setting IMO x
 
CaveCanem said:
Oh I wouldn't dispute that, exceptions and rules and all that, they are usually very work-centric. I'm not saying that all Dutch herders out there cannot make pets, they are rare because most of them in the UK are in work/service homes, and there is a reason for that. I know a few and they would not suit this sort of setting IMO x
Click to expand...

suppose I do only know the 1 dutch herder so I can't argue/debate :p with you there as maybe due to her being a failed working dog is the only reason she made a good pet.
She just didn't have the drive to work at all.
 
i have 2 st bernards as guard dogs on my yard brilliant guard dogs they live out all the time with stable to go in if they need to.also good with grandchildren.:)
 
littlemisslauren said:
Ridgeys are not very common dogs so I really can't see how likely you are to find such a cross?

ETA my parents paid just over £900 for their pup.
Click to expand...

we have found 3 litters of 3/4 rottweiller and 1/4 ridegeback in the last week within an hour of us for under 300

dont worry yet lol we havnt acted as we are still thinking
 
Pendlehog said:
Sounds like a rotty would work out just fine for you. Easily live out at night, guard effectively, fab family dog, the works!
You dont HAVE to have a big one, bitches are smaller and if youre buying a pup you can select a line that doesnt throw oversized dogs. Most rotties you see are also immensely overweight, a dog of the correct weight is not huge.

I would seriously forget the vizzy, weims tend to guard more and are larger, but they can be somewhat deranged :D

Buying any "mix" pup could end disastrously for you, there is zero guarantee you will get what you expected. Many crosses take after one side more strongly than the other and you wont know which "brain" it inherited until long after the breeder has taken your cash.
Click to expand...

like i said before we have a lab/rott/dobermen cross at home who is a very healthy almost skinny 5 stone and 60 cm and we wouldnt mind a 6 or 7 stone 70 cm version of him who is maybe a bit more trainable as he is a bit special some days and we got him a bit late as he had already been mistreated and someone had tried to make him into a nasty guard dog but we have made him back into the teddy bear he wants to be. we just sort of want an upgrade ( we do totally love him though and i dont mean hes not good enough). also to the comment about us no getting a puppy as they wont be ready to do anything. we dont need them to do everything yet as pepsi (our lab rott dobermen isnt ready to give up all his dutys yet and will never give up his trips in the lorry. but we need something to cuddle and play with as pepsi would rather lay in front of the fire and sleep now. then when pepsi wants to do even less then the puppy will be old enough, thats why we are over lapping them
:):):)
 
Why a pup? You would probably be better scanning scumtree, or some other freebie site for an ex chain dog. I have 3, and they are fabulous. Look awesome, never leave the place, generally grateful for any attention! I can't agree with chaining overnight, but my 3 don't need it, they wouldn't go anywhere! One's a rottie x GSD, and the other a mix of Collie/Gsd. Just an idea, that you may be better getting one that's already here looking for a home?
 
echoncarrie said:
Why a pup? You would probably be better scanning scumtree, or some other freebie site for an ex chain dog. I have 3, and they are fabulous. Look awesome, never leave the place, generally grateful for any attention! I can't agree with chaining overnight, but my 3 don't need it, they wouldn't go anywhere! One's a rottie x GSD, and the other a mix of Collie/Gsd. Just an idea, that you may be better getting one that's already here looking for a home?
Click to expand...

probs is resue home round here dont let us have a dog as we dont have a enclosed area for them
 
She means a free website like Gumtree, Preloved, Donedeal, you often see 'guard dogs' being moved on :( although I would not pay through the nose for a dog like this, apart from anything else, to discourage the seller to make it a habit.
 
well we are considering anything upto 6 months be we do feel a bit like why should someone else have the nice puppy stage and not us. both our other dogs are resues and we sort of want the full experience this time. however we dont want to pay alot because we dont think people should be doing it for the money. and we dont mind a accident puppy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top