There are very few dog breeds that have ridges of hair that run in the opposite direction of the rest of the dog’s hair. That is a distinct feature of the rhodesian ridgeback mix. These dogs were originally bred in Africa for the purposes of hunting lions. They were ideal for this endeavor because they were big enough to fend off crocodiles and snakes, they were tough enough to handle the rough terrain, and they were fast and strong enough to hunt down a lion. When these dogs were brought over to the United States, they were also used for hunting. The dogs themselves do not actually catch prey, but herd or corner it in order for the hunter to get a clean shot.

This breed of dog typically weighs between seventy and eighty five pounds. All of the pure bred dogs have a reddish brown color. Their appearance is very stunning because of that ridge of hair that runs opposite to the rest of the hair. This pattern of hair gives the dog the appearance of having a pair of ridges that run along their backs. A rhodesian ridgeback mix will also have the distinctive hair pattern and similar colors when compared to the pure bred version.

These dogs are extremely loyal and intelligent creatures. They can be trained quickly to follow basic commands, and they are also capable of learning very complex hunting commands. The rhodesian ridgeback mix will also exhibit the ability to learn commands quickly. This breed of dog does tend to act a little differently around strangers. They are not typically aggressive, but more indifferent when other people are around. Because of their loyalty, they can be extremely protective of their owners. These dogs need to be trained well, so they are not the best choice of an inexperienced dog owner.

Many dogs are athletic and energetic, and this breed definitely falls into that category. If they are not trained and exercised properly, they can be very mischievous. Getting enough exercise will tire them out and take away some of their possibly unwanted behaviors. While many dogs may respond well to more harsh training methods, the rhodesian ridgeback mix needs a more sensitive training approach. They will only respond to corrections that are fair and that some from the people they trust the most. Using a rewards based training method can also really help these dogs progress.