Ridgeback vs Doberman

GennyB

GennyB

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Not sure if I am qualified for this or not. I have lots of experience with dobies and just 1 ridgeback. But I'm going to share my thoughts on my experience anyway.
The 2 breeds actually are very similar. Probably more similarities than differences. They are both powerful, intelligent dogs that are protevtive of their people.
They are very similar in size, energy levels and coats. Both breeds have the short, slick coat that is east to care for. I would say that the 3 Ridgebacks I have spent time around the Ridgeback coat is thicker, denser than a doberman but grooming is still pretty similar.
Riley is just as velcro as any dobe I have ever had, if not more. He is definitely as goofey but we'll see how that goes as he matures.
I think where they differ is in personality and thought process. Ridgebacks are VERY independent in their thinking. They are not the people pleaser that dobes are.
You have to think outside the box and be dedicated to training a ridgeback. I was stumped and thinking I made a HUGE mistake when I realized I'm going to have to get creative to train this guy!
I think one surprising thing for me was how intimidated people are around Riley. No doubt his size has something to do with that. I don't really see him as big because I've had dogs his size all my life but clearly others do. Perhaps the fact that people aren't familiar with the breed plays into that?
Where I think the Ridgeback has a edge is health. They are a healthy breed that is not in demand and I hope it stays that way. Don't need breeders and judges tweaking them so they get ruined like so many other breeds.
 
Ridgeback is my fav for dobe alternative.
Reserved with strangers, sweet with family in my one mixed rhodie rescue pup. More confident, less anxious/neurotic than some poorly bred dobes, at least from my impression of softer show lines.

Easy keepers. Good off switch as couch potatoes, as needed and far better health.

Good all around dogs, trail hiking, hunters, family guardians. Far better adapted to hot weather...

I dont see them as banned breeds on home insurance either.

I wonder if there are any designer dog breeders mixing rhodies and dobes.
 
Thanks for posting…
I often wonder what your thoughts are in comparison.

GennyB said:
I think where they differ is in personality and thought process. Ridgebacks are VERY independent in their thinking. They are not the people pleaser that dobes are.
Click to expand...
Can you give some specific examples?

I kinda think maybe it is as:
When I move, Freyja moves. Before anything happens, she looks at me whereas a RR would lookup and think oh, he is moving, he looks okay to me.
Freyja will not leave line of sight with me, a RR would feel comfortable disappearing around the house?

You have a very very good point about health…It’s a damn shame and an extremely concerning issue with Dobermans.
 
Ridgebacks are stubborn and also wont put up with being treated unfairly, not for long. Its a mutual respect thing you have to earn, and teach "whats in it for me"...
I've also found that they seem to know if you are genuinely friendly and calmly confident so it helps to be familiar with the breed, when meeting a big male first time.
 
Ddski5 said:
Can you give some specific examples?

I kinda think maybe it is as:
When I move, Freyja moves. Before anything happens, she looks at me whereas a RR would lookup and think oh, he is moving, he looks okay to me.
Freyja will not leave line of sight with me, a RR would feel comfortable disappearing around the house?
Click to expand...
I was wondering about that too, looking forward to @GennyB's examples.

When I picked up Asha as a pup, my breeder said she could be summed up in one word: Independent. She said she would leave her littermates to explore places in the house or when they got introduced to outdoors she would leave them all to go see new stuff. Didn't care if she was alone exploring new stuff. Ha, I thought, that's wonderful, she won't be clingy, whiny, or have separation issues. I was wrong about that. The independence showed up in training: as a little puppy refusing to bring back a toy, "come get it" was her answer. Put a long line on her to bring her to me with the toy in her mouth and she'd spit it out when I started reeling her in. "fine, you've got me, but I'm still not bringing you the ball". Tried throwing another ball and she'd go get it with the first one still in her mouth and stand over the second one. Trade was not an option in her brain. For her first year "Make me" was her middle name. Off-leash hikes, to this day, she always leads, has never walked behind me. Like Freyja, she keeps me in sight and if I hide when she gets too far ahead, it's merely seconds before she comes thundering back to find me. And her desire to speak her mind (barking) took years to get under control, I think Ragnar was a bit like that for you - did not want to give up what he thought was "his job" - that's independent thinking too. So yes, she still has all the Dobe traits, but the independent streak adds a different kind of challenge to training.
 
Ddski5 said:
Can you give some specific examples?
Click to expand...

Ravenbird said:
I was wondering about that too, looking forward to @GennyB's examples.
Click to expand...
It would not be unusual for Riley to completely blow me off! We were training in short 15-20 minutes sets. Everything would go perfect The first couple of sets and the next time he would look at me like NOPE! Not gonna happen! I did that already, I'm out!
I had to laugh when I sat down and read the breed clubs website, especially this page The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States - Life With A Ridgeback
It helped me in some weird way to read the website. They approach things in a light hearted way that helped tons when I was at my witts end.

Ddski5 said:
I kinda think maybe it is as:
When I move, Freyja moves. Before anything happens, she looks at me whereas a RR would lookup and think oh, he is moving, he looks okay to me.
Freyja will not leave line of sight with me, a RR would feel comfortable disappearing around the house?
Click to expand...
Sort of, I know it seems like I am being vague but it's hard to explain. I'll just say you have to work harder to get to the place you described.
Riley is now pretty much my shadow. He goes where I go, does what I do. The difference is I had to work for that.
Personally I have enjoyed the process of learning a different breed and the challenges that come with it.
 
Well, I'd like to see some more pictures of him! :sh::sh::sh: I'd like to see how he filled out, how big he is now.😁
 
I'm glad you've started this thread! I'm also glad you mentioned you also had to approach training "outside the box".

Jazz being a mix of both and me having previous training experience with high energy, intelligent herding breed dogs, the learning curve was HUGE, and I really thought I had an entrainable pup or I was a total failure with training.

I think it was the RR side that complicated things with her fearless following of her own decisions, even as a 9 wk old pup. She did become Velcro, and a cuddle bug, but not until we had reached a point of mutual respect. I had to respect the dog she was and be up to training WITH her not at her, if that makes sense. Being boss human didn't work but being pack leader did and using body language took us a long way.

Once that bond of respect is formed it is rock solid and while they still think independently they do know acceptable limits, and it is an advantage to have a dog that can see things that maybe you don't.

@GennyB This is so interesting. You have experience with both breeds now and I can see more clearly how different aspects came out in my girl. I didn't know what I was getting into but both Jazz and I survived and thrived despite my many early mistakes. I would say that both breeds are very forgiving! ❤️
 
jazzies mum said:
Jazz being a mix of both and me having previous training experience with high energy, intelligent herding breed dogs, the learning curve was HUGE, and I really thought I had an entrainable pup or I was a total failure with training.

I think it was the RR side that complicated things with her fearless following of her own decisions, even as a 9 wk old pup. She did become Velcro, and a cuddle bug, but not until we had reached a point of mutual respect. I had to respect the dog she was and be up to training WITH her not at her, if that makes sense. Being boss human didn't work but being pack leader did and using body language took us a long way.

Once that bond of respect is formed it is rock solid and while they still think independently they do know acceptable limits, and it is an advantage to have a dog that can see things that maybe you don't.
Click to expand...
Asha doesn't have any RR in her, but this describes my experience perfectly. ❤️
 
Ravenbird said:
Asha doesn't have any RR in her, but this describes my experience perfectly. ❤️
Click to expand...
That's how I felt with my first doberman pup. Trust me, a ridgeback is next level! They are the definition of both stubborn and independent. But just like a dobie, put the work in and you get back tenfold!


A RR breeder down the street from has a club that trains once a week. Riley and I have been working on some lure coursing. This dude is a natural! We probably won't compete but the practice has been fun and very good for Riley. ;)
 
jazzies mum said:
the learning curve was HUGE,
Click to expand...
Just so you know it was for me too. I can't begin to tell how many times I thought What have I done? Giving up was not an option so I had to rethink my technique about 10,000 times. We found a groove that worked and I am rewarded every single minute of every single day. We found that mutual respect and I learned how to teach him what I want. He learned how to give it to me. I know it may seem fast because it hasn't been a year since I brought him home but I'm as stubborn as him. My parents were born in Ireland after all :spit::whistle:
 
Thanks! Ya, I'm seeing a continuing prokiferation of in demand designer dog mixes.
I posted a bit on "the other doberman" forum about a very intersting book called The Dog Merchants
That explained a lot about commercial breeders including supplying "rescues" with puppies to order by whatever is cool...catahoula mixes, black nosed curs mixes, plotshound mixes, a mal collie mix I saw the other day...

There are so many "dog info" websites that have prolifereated (i guess to sell stuff) that its a separate research process to determine if its credible, or just another cut and paste from elsewhere. Now with AI making it easy to generate something that sounds reasonable, the internet is a complete mish-mash of seo boosting junk thats recursive and misleading...

I'm wary...
And why I prefer to talk with those with real world experience so thanks @GennyB
@Oh Little Oji
@Ravenbird
@JanS
And all the rest with big dog experience for sharing here.

www.dogster.com

Rhodesian Doberman Mix: Info, Pictures, Temperament & More — Dogster

Combining it's parent breeds affection, physical traits and fierce loyalty, the Rhodesian Doberman mix is a perfect family dog. Read our ...
www.dogster.com www.dogster.com
 
Last edited:
And, not to get too far Off Topic (OT) on @GennyB Original Post (OP)

I've read and listened to some interesting stuff here:
functionalbreeding.org

Home - Functional Dog Collaborative

The Functional Dog Collaborative - Supporting the ethical breeding of healthy, functional, and behaviorally sound dogs.
functionalbreeding.org functionalbreeding.org

Which is trying to platform the idea that mixed breed dogs should be bred ethically, with priority on health, longevity, temperament-

A theme I see repeated here on the DobermanChat, ie; that, whether primarily for confo or work, the dobe should be both "functional" and healthy, and well bred to that objective.

@JanS if this is ok as a topic I can post on its own thread. I really value the experienced dog owners here, and the gracious reception to out-of-the-box thinking.
 
GennyB said:
Just so you know it was for me too. I can't begin to tell how many times I thought What have I done? Giving up was not an option so I had to rethink my technique about 10,000 times. We found a groove that worked and I am rewarded every single minute of every single day. We found that mutual respect and I learned how to teach him what I want. He learned how to give it to me. I know it may seem fast because it hasn't been a year since I brought him home but I'm as stubborn as him. My parents were born in Ireland after all :spit::whistle:
Click to expand...
i keep returning to this post and am inspired each time...
One of the best bits of advice I picked up somewhere, maybe here, is to "learn from the dog in front of you"...
And
Another from an interview by Nate Schoemer with the legendary Tom Rice, was that its ok to be flexible to try what works.
 
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