If you like to keep your house clean, suffer from allergies, or are looking for a low-maintenance dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of the best dog breeds for you.
The South African Lion Hound (as Ridgeback hunting dogs are referred to in Southern Africa) is a low-shedding dog, meaning they don’t leave much excess hair lying around your home. However, this breed does still shed somewhat.
As a Rhodesian Ridgeback owner, there are certain aspects of their coat shedding that you need to be aware of. Let’s take a closer look at this low-shedding pup!
Ridgebacks are a low-shedding breed – which is a blessing for dog owners. Although they still shed their coats throughout the year, the amount of dead hair they leave behind is relatively minimal. This is due to two main reasons:
Still, despite their low shed count, you need to meet the regular grooming needs of the breed.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback will shed in small and regular amounts throughout the year to grow new hair. The question of whether a Rhodesian Ridgeback sheds more during certain seasons depends on the habit of the dog.
A dog that spends most of its time outside will become more acclimatised to the changing seasons and naturally blows its coat in the spring to make way for a lighter summer coat. You may also notice your Rhodesian Ridgeback experiencing a second shedding season during the autumn, which allows them to grow in their extra dense coat for winter.
On the other hand, a Rhodesian Ridgeback that spends most of its time indoors may not naturally shed its coat similarly.
Rhodesian Ridgeback shedding levels are the same for puppies as it is for adults – there is nothing to suggest that a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy will shed more than an adult.
Still, you should start brushing your Rhodesian Ridgeback within the first few weeks of them being home to get them accustomed to the feeling of dog brushes.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback’s coat is dense and made up of hair as opposed to fur. For this reason, you’ll never see a Rhodesian Ridgeback with a silky or woolly coat. Instead, this breed boasts a glossy coat with sleek dog hair.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback features only a single coat, meaning their hair is quite light. This makes it easier to distribute natural oils throughout their bodies.
However, due to this single coat, Ridgebacks thrive more in warmer climates than in colder ones. They generally do not fare well in humid, rain or cold temperatures.
Despite Rhodesian Ridgeback shedding minimally compared to other dogs, you could still minimise the hair loss process and control the dog’s shedding even further by following these tips.
You could control a Rhodesian Ridgeback’s shedding by bathing the dog once every couple of weeks and brushing every week. This will help soften and remove dead hairs from the dog’s coat.
A dietary issue may be the reason why your Rhodesian Ridgeback is shedding excessively. Poor nutrition may be the result of being underfed. This can lead to an increase in loose hair.
As with ensuring your Ridgeback receives proper nutrition, you’ll also need to check if they’re allergic to anything you’re feeding them. Your dog could also be allergic to something in their surrounding environment, so be vigilant.
Your local veterinarian will be able to identify allergies and provide pet medical advice.
Excessive hair loss may also result from bacterial or fungal infections or can be a sign of parasites. For this reason, you should regularly check your dog’s coat for any of these issues.
Although Rhodesian Ridgebacks are low-shedding dogs and are recommended for those suffering from minor to moderate allergies, they cannot be classed as hypoallergenic.
The Ridgeback’s coat still sheds somewhat and may still trigger an allergic reaction.
Ridgebacks lose hair, just like any dog, but shed only minimally. They feature only a single coat and are short-haired dogs, meaning they barely have any hair to shed in the first place. A healthy dog should be shedding minimally – if your Rhodesian Ridgeback is showing signs of excessive shedding, then something may be wrong.
With their easy grooming care, these intelligent dogs make for a great family pet.
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