Although increasingly popular, Rhodesian Ridgebacks remain somewhat of a rarity throughout the world, including in Australia. Currently, there are just 80 registered breeders of Rhodesian Ridgebacks throughout Australia. This is a relatively small figure compared to the near-250 Australian National Kennel Council-registered Golden Retriever breeders.
Due to their rarity, you may find yourself paying more than you’d expect for a Ridgeback puppy. In this guide, we’ll let you in on all you should know before adopting a Ridgeback, from the upfront cost to ongoing maintenance costs.
A Ridgeback that comes from a reputable breeder and has champion bloodlines will likely cost somewhere between $1,500 and $3,000.
It’s common to see purebred Ridgeback puppies selling for over $3,000.
You may find the Ridgeback you have your eye on to have a price tag that exceeds your budget. Besides the size of the litter, several influencing factors determine the cost of a Ridgeback, including:
The dog’s bloodline impacts the price of all dog breeds, not just Ridgebacks. Breeding lines that have been kept within the Ridgeback breed standard will definitely cost more, especially those with the pedigree paperwork to prove their lineage.
Breeding Rhodesian Ridgebacks isn’t easy; it takes years of maintaining breeding standards, looking after the breeding stock, and removing genetic defects as they appear.
Reputable breeders, therefore, have a right to charge high costs for their Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies. A reputable breeder will also ensure they’ve had all their necessary vaccinations vet-checks and register them with the Australian National Kennel Club.
A dog show-ready Ridgeback will certainly cost more than the average dog without papers. The defining and most desirable feature of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is the ridge of hair on its back, which grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat hairs.
The colour of the dog’s coat may also impact its price. Although all Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs are technically wheaten, the shade of their coat can differ dramatically, from pure black wheaten to silvery wheaten. Although pure wheaten is most desirable, getting a pure black wheaten Ridgeback is rarer, which may cause the breeder to charge more.
The good health of the pups, as well as the parents, can cause the price of a Ridgeback to be on the higher end. For example, if none of the parents suffers from common health issues, such as dysplasia, dermoid sinus, or hypothyroidism (and has medical certification to prove it), the puppy’s price will be higher.
With how rare it is to find a Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder in Australia, it may be even trickier to find a reputable one. Here are the signs of a reputable Ridgeback breeder:
Microchipped and health documentation. If the breeder has gone through the effort of getting the Ridgeback microchipped, then you can trust that they care for the overall health and well-being of the puppies. Additionally, if the breeder has had the dog screened for the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia, then you’re probably not getting ripped off.
Before adopting, ask the breeder if they will keep their name on the registration.
If the breeder wants its name associated with the dog even after it has been adopted, then the breeder clearly cares about upholding the purity of the bloodline. A breeder keeping their name on the registration prevents other non-registered breeders from legally using the puppy to breed more dogs.
Find out if the breeder is registered with the ANKC before you even agree to visit the puppies.
Before adopting a Ridgeback dog, be sure to consider the maintenance costs that come with the breed, which include:
To keep your Ridgeback fit and healthy, you’ll likely have to pay $60 monthly for high-quality dog food.
Given the number of health issues your Ridgeback could develop, it would be best to take out insurance to cover its whole lifetime. Insurance costs vary.
The grooming needs of a Ridgeback are minimal, meaning you can carry it out yourself without the assistance of a professional groomer. This keeps maintenance costs down somewhat, although you will need to cover the cost of dog shampoo.
A costly Ridgeback will likely be purebred with minimal health concerns, meaning they’re definitely worth the price!
Ridgebacks are a wonderful breed, perfect for a family environment, but good-quality pups tend to be costly. Potential puppy buyers should get well-informed with breed information before purchasing and check that the breeder is ANKCR-registered.
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