7 Best Places to Find Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies for Sale

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As we older people know, the country of Rhodesia is a real but distant memory. But the Ridgeback dog still exists and if you want one, stick with us. These are the best places to find Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies for sale. Follow these steps to find a reputable Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy breeder.

Give this page a read, then scroll back up here because there is a lot more to Rhodesian Ridgebacks that you need to know if you are going to buy or adopt a Ridgeback puppy. Or an adult.

4 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies

Why (and why not) Choose a Rhodesian Ridgeback?

There are fascinating theories about how people choose any particular dog breed.

Some reasons are downright weird. Some people want a dog that looks like themselves or that scores a number one on the ugly scale. Some want a watchdog, some a substitute baby.

The reason why you want a Rhodesian Ridgeback is an important thing to understand yourself if you do not want to be disappointed.

Unrealistic expectations of what a dog breed is like, what it can put up with, the amount of care it needs, and many other factors lead to full animal shelters and the heartbreak of abandoned dogs.

These are the 9 good reasons to want a Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  1. You want a big dog but not a giant dog. Ridgebacks grow between 24 and 27 inches in height (at withers) and weigh between 64 and 85 pounds. A word of caution here – they can climb over fences so you will need a high, strong one around your yard.
  2. You want a dog that is affectionate but also protective.
  3. You want a dog that is tolerant toward children and other family pets, reserved but not instantly aggressive with strangers, and loyal and even-tempered with the family.
  4. You want a dog that is athletic but does not need hours of exercise every day.
  5. You are capable of handling a dog that can be strong-willed, independent, and inclined to dominance.
  6. You are comfortable with a spirited dog that is intelligent and trainable but not servile.
  7. You know how to train a dog with a soft but firm hand and do not use violence of any form to achieve obedience.
  8. You do not want a dog that needs lots of grooming and you do not have time to vacuum tufts of fluff every day.
  9. You do not want a dog that yaps all day long.

These are 8 bad reasons to want a Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  1. You want a guard dog. A guard dog is a dog that will actively prevent strangers from entering your property i.e. they will bite.
  2. You want a dog that is capable of killing a lion. (If this is really you, do some proper research and do not believe any old junk that auntie Google throws up at you.)
  3. You want a plaything.
  4. You want it because it’s unusual but you don’t want to be bothered to train it.
  5. You want it because everyone you know has a dog.
  6. You want it because you need something to order around and show off how obedient it is.
  7. You do not want a dog that’s in the house or that noses around you or your family.
  8. You think you can always get rid of it if it “doesn’t work out”.

Still convinced that you want a Ridgeback? The next step is to find a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy for sale.

And if you do not want to go and rescue one from the animal shelter or the ASPCA, then at least avoid the pet shops and puppy farms as well and go get a puppy at a reputable and responsible breeder.

How do I Know that a Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeder is Reputable and Responsible?

where to find Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies for sale
I’ve got my eye on you, breeders…

Anybody can call themselves a dog breeder, but…

A responsible, ethical, and reliable dog breeder is the one where you should buy your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy from. It will cost more than the neighbors’ puppies that he “needs to get rid of”, but you get a lot of benefits for the extra dollars you will have to dish out.

ALL of the points on the checklist below need to be met for a breeder to be considered a responsible, reputable breeder:

  • They will only sell you puppies after meeting you in person—their pups are never sold at a pet store or over the internet to people they haven’t met.
  • They will require you to spend time with the pup’s parents. Definitely the mother, but the father as well, if possible.
  • They will want you to bring your entire family that is going to live with the dog to meet and interact with the puppy before finalizing the sale.
  • They care about the kind of home their puppies are going to. They will ask you to explain why you want a dog. This is not being rude or nosy, it’s making sure that their puppies go to people who are committed and knowledgable about owning a dog.
  • So they will also ask who in your family will be responsible for the pup’s daily care and training, where the dog will spend most of his or her time, and what “rules” will be for the puppy—for example, whether the dog will be allowed on the furniture. Not only will this tell them whether you are ready to have a dog, but it may also reveal to you that you have not thought this dog ownership situation through properly.
  • If you live in an apartment, condominium, or if you rent, they may ask you to provide proof that you are allowed to have a dog. Do not take offense. If you do not have permission do not try to get a dog.
  • They are also able to give you peace of mind in return by providing references from other families who have previously purchased one of their puppies.
  • They will insist on showing you all the areas where puppies and breeding dogs spend their time. Those areas will be clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Definitely not crowded, dirty, or cramped. Dogs and puppies at a breeder that are continually confined to cages are a huge red flag. In fact, report them.
  • The dogs and puppies must look lively, clean, and healthy and should not shy away from visitors. A cowering mother dog is another very red flag.
  • The responsible breeders know that they must meet not only the physical needs of their dogs but also the psychological. So there will be toys, exercise sessions, and socialization that the breeder will tell you about.
  • They breed only with one or at most a few types of dogs. There is never a horde of all kinds of dogs. 
  • They don’t always have puppies, unlike puppy farms.
  • They are knowledgeable about the breeds that they have and can give you guidance about each breed’s requirements from puppyhood through to adulthood.
  • They can and do explain in detail the potential genetic and developmental problems inherent to the breed without you having to ask.
  • They will provide documentation that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have been professionally evaluated in an effort to breed those problems out of their puppies. This means that they have been tested for those genetic diseases fro which there are valid testing protocols available. Note that they will be able to show you the papers, not just tell you that it has been done.
  • They will be well known to and have a positive reputation at one or more local veterinarians and can show you individual records of veterinary visits for your puppy and its parents. They will not discourage you from paying those vets a visit to check up on their record.
  • They will not require that you use a specific veterinarian of their choice but they may ask for a veterinary reference if you have had other pets.
  • Once you have made up your mind and they are happy to sell a puppy to you, they will provide you with a written contract and health guarantee. They will allow you lots of time to read it thoroughly and explain parts you do not understand.
  • The contract must state that you will spay or neuter the dog unless you will be actively showing him or her in breed trials.
  • Do not accept a contract that does not state that you will return the dog to the breeder should you be unable to keep the dog at any point in the dog’s life.
  • A responsible, knowledgeable, experienced breeder (that’s the one you must be buying from, and nobody else) will not let you take the puppy home before the age of 8 weeks. Unless there is a severe problem, in which case they will usually deal with it themselves in any case rather than expect you to do it. The 49 day age that has become fashionable is based on an interpretation of research that never actually said that is an optimal age.

4 Websites to Help You Find Perfect Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies for Sale (PLUS: Sites to Avoid)

The first stop to decide where to buy a pure-bred puppy is actually to talk to people who already have a Ridgeback, go to dog shows and talk to breeders, and talk to vets in your area who will at least be able to steer you away from the bad guys. 

But we know the first thing you are going to do is go online. So watch this video first:

It is almost impossible to list, let alone check the actual credentials, of every website that sells puppies. Even though the Rhodesian Ridgeback is uncommon there are sufficient numbers of them around so that they make an appearance on many websites.

Ask yourself, why would a reputable breeder advertise on some website that sells everything from car parts to secondhand books? Or a community website – surely the community in which reputable breeders live knows who they are, where to get hold of them, and what their dogs are like…

Keep in mind any bonehead with a computer or even a cell-phone can generate a website selling things. Pretty pictures are even easier to make. You don’t need sophisticated software like PhotoShop, any Windows OS comes with some basic photo editor.

The only way you can determine what the conditions are under which the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies have been bred and raised is to SEE FOR YOURSELF!

That said, an online investigation can point you to reputable breeders and enable you to separate the unscrupulous from the genuine. So we have done the work for you and can offer the following websites as reliable sources to search and follow up:

  1. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a trusted institution with a reputation that it needs to protect, so no chancers allowed. Go to their Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies for sale site to get puppies from breeders that tick all the boxes. They are accountable and responsible.
  2. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States is listed on the AKC site referral page as a reputable source that you can consult. Check their breeder’s list to find puppies from ethical breeders and also rescue Ridgebacks. You can search using USA State names and a few overseas countries.
  3. PupQuest is a site run by veterinarians and other animal professionals. They do not sell puppies themselves but they help you avoid the puppy farms, the stolen dogs, the sickly pups that nevertheless make beautiful pictures on internet sites, the unscrupulous pet shops…Use them, they give information gladly.
  4. The Humane Society has strict guidelines on how to find a reputable breeder and with reason. They see the worst and they do their best to prevent it. Get advice from them.

AVOID websites that say things like:

“This puppy can be shipped (ground or air) for an estimated fee of $x.00.” 

– STAY AWAY!!!

Look again at the checklist for reputable breeders. Puppies or dogs should not be offered for shipping unless you have personally seen the pup and its breeder first!

Some situations are unavoidable and will require shipping your pups to you. BUT it is still a requirement that you personally see the pups and the breeder’s premises at least once.

If you really can not, check the breeder’s record by following these steps:

  • Phone the vets in the same town or district and check whether there have been any complaints about the breeder.
  • Check the area for dog shows and phone the organizers – do they know the breeder?
  • Check with ASPCA branches in and around the area. Has a complaint ever been filed against the breeder? Have a look here at the type of info some of the ASPCA branches collect. They should be able to find a complaint even if you give them only the online details.

Finding a Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy Outside the USA

One of the best places in any country to look for puppies is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Clubs. You can check their code of ethics, their membership or affiliation with other institutions like kennel clubs and the IFC, and get in touch with local breeders.

Australia: List of clubs.

Austria: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Österreich

Belgium: Rhodesian Ridgeback België

Canada: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Canada

Croatia: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Zagreb

Czech: Klub chovatelů rhodéských ridgebacků

Denmark: Rhodesian Ridgeback Klubben

Finland: Rhodesiankoira – Rhodesian ridgeback

France: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of France

Germany: Deutschen Züchtergemeinschaft Rhodesian Ridgeback e.V 

Italy: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club d’Italia

Netherlands: Rasvereniging Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Nederland

New Zealand: The Rhodesian Ridgeback Association Inc.

Norway: Norsk Rhodesian Ridgeback Klubb

Poland: The Rhodesian Ridgeback Hounds Club

Portugal: Clube Português de Canicultura

Russia: Russian Kynological Federation (sic)

Slovakia: Rhodesian Ridgeback Slovakia

South Africa: The Kennel Union of Southern Africa; Rhodesian Ridgeback Facebook Group

Spain: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club de España

Sweden: Specialklubben Rhodesian Ridgeback Sverige

Switzerland: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Schweiz

UK: the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme is an excellent place to start. These breeders have been certified by The Kennel Club. They are required to meet and maintain compliance with a long list of standards that ensures the health and welfare of the puppies.

Zimbabwe: The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club: The Parent Club Founded 1922

Global:

  • World Dog Finder is a website from Zagreb, Croatia. Their terms of service state that they only allow registration by dog breeders who are registered in their local country and that they do not allow petshops and puppy farms. However, they still place the onus on the buyer to ensure that these conditions are met. They do have contact details for complaints and undertake to handle them at no expense to the complainant. They also have reputable partners like Royal Canin. So while we lack personal experience of their services they could be worth investigating.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback Pedigree Database is a site that attempts to collect information from breeders worldwide. You can find registered breeders globally, check the pedigrees of their dogs, search the availability of puppies, see health checks, and so on. If you already have a dog and you suspect its papers may be a bit fictional you can even check that.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Facebook Groups

Local (and not local) Facebook groups are a goldmine for finding Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies for sale. It’s as simple as this:

Here are those steps again:

  1. Pop open Facebook.
  2. Type in “Rhodesian Ridgeback groups near me”.
  3. Some groups are open and some require you to join. Request to join as many as you like and start browsing!

If you find that your local FB group explicitly forbids posts that advertise Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies for sale (or litters or adults)…don’t worry, because buying a puppy isn’t why you want to find a Ridgeback group anyway.

If you’re serious about a Ridgeback (or any breed), this is why you want to find a local Facebook group for that breed:

https://www.facebook.com/brian.lomas.nz/videos/10156879434333456/

The meetups!

Dog breed group meetups are invaluable. Why?

  • You get first hand experience being around the dogs.
  • You get to see how they act around other dogs and other people.
  • You have one-on-one access to the most proud and passionate owners that will do whatever they can to protect their beloved breed.

And guess what…

99.9% of people at the meetup know their Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder by name and probably have their business card or contact info on hand.

As I said…goldmine.

But not only can it take time to find a group, but also:

  • Time for the group moderators to approve you.
  • Waiting for the next meetup.
  • Traveling, maybe even hundreds of miles, to the meetup.

These are good things, though:

Taking the time to find a Rhodesian Ridgeback Facebook group preaches patience…as opposed to I WANT A RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK PUPPY NOW!!!

Rather Rescue a Rhodesian Ridgeback?

There can be issues with rescue dogs. Some of them have been abused, starved,  and traumatized so badly, sometimes from birth (puppy farm…) that they can not settle with humans in a family. Some, like human orphans, go from home to home, always being returned because of problems, and always doing a little worse each time.

But not all.

Rescue dogs can be some of the most grateful, loving, loyal, and trustful dogs you will ever have. Most end up in a shelter because of people’s issues, not dog issues. There is not necessarily something wrong with their behavior or their temperament.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are psychologically sensitive animals despite their reputation (lion killer, forsooth) and their appearance. That is why you can not train them with shouting, chain jerking, and penalization techniques. But that is also why they make great adoptions – they seem to know even more so than other rescues that you are their savior.

Here are some websites to look over if you have decided to give an abandoned Ridgeback a home.

1. Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc.

Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc.

“To provide for the rescue, care and adoption of abandoned or unwanted Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs, as well as to protect and preserve the integrity and welfare of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed.”

It is the official rescue program for both the AKC- and CKC-recognized national breed clubs, USA, and Canada respectively. Have a look at their Facebook posts.

2. Ridgeback Rescue of the United States

Ridgeback Rescue of the United States

“A nonprofit organization dedicated to the identification, rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of neglected, lost, surrendered or otherwise homeless Rhodesian Ridgeback Dogs in the United States.”

They are also on Facebook.

3. Rescue Me

Rescue Me has an Animal Rehabilitation Center in Watkinsville, Georgia. The website provides a portal for other centers, shelters, and organizations globally to showcase animals for adoption.

You can search an interactive map of the USA or click on a country in a drop-down menu for international searching. You can also search for a specific breed, including the Rhodesian Ridgeback. Videos and info also on their FaceBook page.

Should you decide to consult a local animal shelter then research their credentials the same way you would those of a breeder. Some failed petshops and unscrupulous puppy farms (that’s a tautology) pose as rescue or shelter facilities.

Investigate!

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