Rhodesian Ridgeback Training Guide – Crate, Toilet & More Tips!

Dog training is no easy feat, but putting in the effort when your dog is still a puppy will ensure you wind up with a well-trained adult dog with instinctive, good behaviour.

There are so many training methods to try and so many complex commands to work on… where do you even start?

Should I Train My Rhodesian Ridgeback?

Yes. Dogs should be trained to weed out bad habits and encourage correct behaviour. A Rhodesian Ridgeback – or Ridgie – is no different. In fact, due to their large size and physical strength, puppy training is important to teach Rhodesian Ridgebacks what is the proper behaviour before they grow too large to control!

Are Rhodesian Ridgebacks Easy To Train?

Okay… so Ridgies are not the easiest pooch to train.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are highly intelligent and really, very trainable. The thing is, they can also be incredibly stubborn and have a strong, often defiant, independent nature.

Find the right technique for your dog, and they will see training sessions as a positive experience, encouraging them to work with you instead of running in the opposite direction!

What Kind Of Training Does A Rhodesian Ridgeback Need?

Basic obedience training should be at the top of the list and include:

• Heel
• Sit
• Toilet training

Socialisation training is also important and includes teaching your pup:

• Not to jump up
• Not to steal food from the table
• Not to incessantly bark

Toilet Training A Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy

A Rhodesian Ridgeback is a big dog, and with a big dog comes the potential for a big mess.

Teaching puppies not to relieve themselves indoors should be the first thing all dog owners seek to achieve, or the end result will not be pretty.

When to start toilet training your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy

There are two ways of looking at this.

1. You can begin toilet training your puppy at about five or six weeks by watching for signs that it might be about to go to the toilet, then taking your pup outdoors to the same spot. Instantly reward your pup outside with physical attention, play, or a treat. At this age, you are preventing accidents and laying some groundwork since the puppy is likely too young to have bladder control.
2. The real toilet training begins at about 12 weeks. At this time, your puppy will be able to ‘hold it’ for a bit longer and will soon ‘ask’ to go outdoors to go to the toilet.

How to toilet train your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy

• Keep mealtimes regular and refrain from leaving food out between meals.
• Take your pup outdoors after every meal, as well as after a nap. Always take your puppy outside first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
• Take them to the same spot. Their own scent will make the dog understand what they are there for.
• Use positive reinforcement. When your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy goes outdoors, reward them with a tasty treat, a few minutes of play, or even a short walk.

Crate Training Your Rhodesian Ridgeback

Crate training teaches your dog to see a crate, cage, or pet carrier as a safe space and not to be afraid or put up a fight if they are asked to go inside it.

Why is it important to crate train your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy?

If you teach your Rhodesian Ridgeback to accept a crate now, it will save you a lot of grief in the future. A crate or carrier might be required to transport your dog safely or even used as a safe space in situ to keep your dog contained.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are large dogs, so forcing one into a crate against its will will be difficult. If your Ridgie trusts you and recognises the crate as a safe space, though, it will be more inclined to listen to your commands and climb inside.

When to start crate training your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy

The idea is to encourage dogs to view a ‘crate’ as their space, a bit like a den. Most dog breeds will respond better to crate training as puppies, so it’s advised to begin crate training when your pup is about 8 weeks old.

How to crate train your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy

A safe sleeping space

The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, like most dogs, is easy to crate train if you start by placing the pup into the crate at night. Your pup will view the crate as a safe sleeping space and not feel left out of any fun around them!

The open den method

Leave the crate open in a busy part of the house so your pooch can wander in and out. If you place your dog’s bed and toys inside the crate, it will become a safe, inviting space they can choose to go into.

Pros and cons of crate training

Pros:

• Keeps a dog away from harm, for example
• Easier/safer transportation or to keep large dogs contained on car journeys
• Keeps excitable dogs calm when strangers visit the house

Cons:

• Many cages are much too small for large dogs like Ridgies
• Feeling trapped can cause emotional distress and anxiety
• Dogs might hurt themselves trying to break free

Can I Train My Rhodesian Ridgeback To Do Tricks?

Yes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are highly intelligent and incredibly astute dogs and once they come to respect their trainer, they are more than capable of learning new commands.

Due to their powerful, agile build, the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed is particularly well suited for agility-based tricks, including:

• Tunnels/ tubes
• Jumps
• Weaving
• Walk-over seesaw

Tips For Training Your Rhodesian Ridgeback

Ridgies are super smart, but once they respect you as their trainer and start working with you, they will become easier to teach. With the right dog training methods, Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies can learn a lot.

Be consistent

Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a short attention span, so keep training classes short and sweet.

It is recommended that a Ridgie owner attempts no more than 5-10 minutes of training at a time but several times a day. This consistency helps the puppy familiarise itself with the desired behaviour without becoming bored by endless training.

Positive reinforcement is key

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are intuitive, and if they sense their owner or trainer becoming impatient, that natural instinct to rebel will kick in, leading to bad behaviour.

Instead, reward your dog for good behaviour or a successful training session with lots of attention, play, or tasty treats.

Avoid over-using treats

Using too many treats is not a good idea, though. It’s recommended that treats make up no more than 10% of a dog’s daily calorie intake; any more could cause your dog to suffer a bad stomach ache.

Relying too much on treats as a training technique might also lead your dog to expect treats for desired behaviour and, in some cases, lead to negative behaviour if no treat is given.

Consider clicker training

Clicker training is an alternative training method whereby good behaviour is followed by a ‘click’, which is in turn followed by a treat.

This method can be a good alternative to relying solely on treat-based training. However, it can quickly and easily also fall foul and lead to too many treats
being given.

Final Thoughts on Training A Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are super smart; they know their own mind, and they have a strong, rebellious streak. Consistent training from a young age is necessary, especially with these strong and powerful dogs.

However, if you put in the effort now, your clever pooch will respect and work with you, and before you know it, you will have a loyal, obedient companion for life.