Thai Ridgeback
Temperament:
The Thai Ridgeback comes from Thailand. The dogs have a high urge to move and are very attentive. Therefore, these dogs were previously used mainly as hunting or guard dogs.
This is still reflected today in the nature of the Thai Ridgeback. He is therefore not a dog suitable for beginners. However, an experienced dog connoisseur can build a true friendship with this animal.
Characteristics
The Thai Ridgeback grows to a medium size. Bitches grow up to 56 cm tall. Males can grow to over 60 cm tall. This dog weighs approximately between 23 and 34 kilograms.
The Thai Ridgeback has a defined build. His muscles are easily seen through the supple skin and the velvety short coat.
The forehead of the Thai Ridgeback is usually wrinkled. His medium sized, triangular ears he usually directs attentively forward.
The dog grows a "ridge" on his back. This means, he forms a hair ridge on the back. This ridge is the distinguishing feature of this breed. The ridge grows against the rest of the coat. The ridge usually begins at the shoulders and extends on the back to the level of the hips.
However, this feature is pronounced individually. Hair combs that stand out sharply from the rest of the coat are considered particularly beautiful. In addition, a narrow growing hair comb is usually preferred.
The hair comb has developed due to a genetic defect. In humans, this defect is called open back. However, the Thai Ridgeback has only a weakened form of it. Nevertheless, it may still occur in some dogs problems.
The coat of the Thai Ridgeback is black, red, blue or fawn (very light). Solid colored dogs are preferred. A blue coat color is also due to a genetic defect. Partial hearing or vision problems may occur in these animals. The Thai Ridgeback carries his tail slightly curved and upright.
Predominantly, however, the Thai Ridgeback is considered very robust and hardened. He has a very lively disposition. The Thai Ridgeback is quick and agile. He is very alert and needs plenty of exercise and activity to keep him fully occupied. He is also known to have exceptional jumping ability.
He has very fine senses and is a very curious fellow. His favorite pastime is hunting. The Thai Ridgeback is known for his courage and loyalty. Even if he does not always want to listen to the word, because he has his own will.
It is therefore especially important for you to deal extensively with the animal. In this way, a level of mutual understanding and deep trust can be found. This offers opportunities for a true friendship between dog and people.
The Thai Ridgeback behaves otherwise rather reserved than aggressive. In the apartment he shows his calm side to the family. He can be quite a gentle and affectionate dog.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
In principle, the Thai Ridgeback does not make any special demands on his food. However, like most dogs, he likes food with a high proportion of meat.
Nevertheless, correct feeding is very important. Its endurance, strength, health and life expectancy are strongly related to the food. More important is how you feed the animal and keep it busy.
The Thai Ridgeback loves to earn his food. Therefore, he is not particularly inclined to overweight. However, he does like to take a nap after a meal to digest. Therefore, it depends on whether you encourage him to earn his food through exercise and activity. You should do this procedure twice a day with your four-legged friend.
If you are too exhausted in the evening after work, you can also keep him busy with a ball. He loves to fetch. Otherwise, you should not spoil him too often with treats. Then nothing will stand in the way of a healthy, strong and athletic four-legged friend.
Of course, more factors play a role in the feed dose. For example, the type of food, the age of the animal or the sexual urge.
For example, a male dog that smells a bitch in heat is less interested in food. In addition, this usually increases his eagerness to move. This increases the dog's energy requirements. However, he eats less than usual. This does not favor each other.
The question of the right amount of food is therefore not easy to answer. However, there are a few points of reference that you can use as a starting point. If you give your four-legged friend a lot of exercise, you can also feed him a little more. The more moist the food, the higher the water content. You can also feed a little more food with a high water content.
If the animal is very slim, you should give him a small portion more. If your pet has rather a few pounds too much on the back, you feed less. Another option would be to switch to diet food.
You can recognize a perfectly nourished dog by the following signs. The coat should be shiny and smooth. The dog should feel like moving and be active. The dog should not smell too strong.
Thai Ridgeback Care
The Thai Ridgeback is a smart and attentive dog. Therefore, he would be well suited for an impeccable education. If it were not for his pronounced hunting instinct. When in doubt, the Thai Ridgeback will disobey. If a rabbit scurries by, the Thai Ridgeback will dash away and take the scent.
The Thai Ridgeback wants a strong hand to guide him. However, this does not mean that you should be rough with your animal. On the contrary, this could upset your dog and rather backfire. Thai Ridgebacks are very sensitive and emotionally intelligent dogs. Therefore, you should be an experienced and patient dog person to train a Thai Ridgeback.
You should not punish your dog. Instead, you can use positive conditioning to achieve quick and long-term learning progress. It also helps your dog to recognize you as a leader. This is very important. From a purely physical point of view, this four-legged friend is usually stronger than the two-legged friend on the other end of the leash.
The best way to train a Thai Ridgeback is from an early age as a puppy. To do this, you should visit the dog school of a dog club with him at an early age. Before that, you can positively influence his socialization by letting him play with other puppies. This will help his social behavior later in life.
In this way, he learns the dog language of his fellow dogs at an early age. Thus, he will be able to better assess and understand foreign dogs later on. So there will be no misunderstandings.
Otherwise, the Thai Ridgeback is not particularly susceptible to diseases. Of course, it is important that the breeder has done a good job and was not only looking for profit. Therefore, you should always check carefully where you buy your dog.
If you care for your Thai Ridgeback well and with understanding, it can live up to at least twelve years.
Suitable accessories
For the care of a Thai Ridgeback you do not need any special accessories. However, you need a certain basic equipment for every dog. You should pay attention to quality, not quantity. This way, not only your four-legged friend will be happier, but you will also save money.
High quality dog food is important to keep your dog fit and healthy for a long time. You should also get a leash for walking your dog. You need a food and water bowl and a dog blanket.
Additional dog literature can help you acquire knowledge. This can be especially beneficial for the Thai Ridgeback. So you learn to understand dogs in general better. This can make the more difficult training of the Thai Ridgeback easier.
You should also look for a competent veterinarian. You should be able to trust him in case of emergency. In addition, you can go to the same vet regularly. This way your Thai Ridgeback does not have to get used to new doctors all the time.
Very important for a Thai Ridgeback is toys, such as balls. You can let your dog retrieve the balls. This way you can always keep your dog fully occupied. Even if you are exhausted or tired and have no energy to romp with your four-legged friend.
Origin & History
The roots of the Thai Ridgeback lie in eastern Thailand. It is believed that the origin of these dogs is on the island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand. Here, long ago, his ancestors have lived independently of people for centuries.
There, this breed formed distinct from other quadruped breeds. The Thai Ridgeback breed is even said to have been mentioned in written records that are more than 350 years old.
The Thai Ridgeback spread more and more and eventually reached Bangkok. This is where the original breeding of the Thai Ridgeback is said to have started. The ancestors of the Thai Ridgeback were mainly used as hunting or guard dogs. They were also valued as companions of carters.
The Thai Ridgeback is one of the only two dog breeds recognized by the FCI with a ridge. The other breed is the Rhodesian Ridgeback. FCI stands for Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The FCI association not only divides dogs into breeds and sections, but also determines standards for breeding and breed characteristics.
Whether the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Thai Ridgeback share a common past is still unclear. In 1980, the Japan Kennel Club became interested in the Thai Ridgeback and drafted the first standards in 1990. The final recognition of this dog by the FCI happened only a few years later.
The Thai Ridgeback is a rare dog breed. There are only a few good breeders in Germany who are engaged in breeding this dog. The number of Thai Ridgebacks living in Thailand is currently estimated at about 2500 animals.
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