All About Rhodesian Ridgies

Friendly enough to romp in a yard with group kids and yet courageous enough to take a pride of attacking lions in Africa, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has been the subject of fine artists since the mid-sixteenth century because of its unusual markings and friendly attractive demeanor. It is a fine beast to walk at the end of your leash as it is a protective, yet well-behaved dog that is easily socialized.

This courageous yet calm canine is a regal subject for a portrait because of its noble bearing, big soft friendly eyes and smooth caramel to gray coat. Its fur is beautiful and silky and drapes with the hand. However it is also a legendary creature with one very special anatomical feature that is found in no other canine breed.

If you look at the back of a Rhodesian Ridgeback you will see that it boasts a long narrow ruff of fur that stretches from head to tail along the length of spine. If you look at this ridge closely it almost seems like one long scratch from a single pronged lion’s nail had raised the nap on the fur in the opposite direction and the hair has stuck up in a ruff permanently.

In fact, the legend of the how the Rhodesian ruff came to be is the scenario that you will see immortalized in old European paintings. In these works of art will often see scenes of a pride of lions attacking a single Rhodesian Ridgeback or you will see a group of Ridgebacks taking on a single lion. Always in these scenes, the back of Rhodesian Ridgeback as it is being attacked is being scraped during a scuffle with a lion.

This long reverse ruff is a symbol of the dog’s bravery that has remained with it and that we can see and feel every time we run our fingers through the Ridgie’s fur. The ruff itself can be quite beautiful with little streaks or whorls about it; it is like a scar of honor that is always there on every puppy that is born as a reminder of the dog’s heritage as a hunter and protector.

There is the legend and then there is genetics of how this beautiful ruff came to be. The Ridge’s full official name is the Rhodesian ridgeback because immigrants to that area of Africa owned them.

German and Dutch emigrants believe the original ridgeback stock produced by the crossing of such dogs as mastiffs, bloodhounds, Great Danes, and terriers brought to South Africa. In addition to its outstanding ability at hunting lions, the ridgeback was prized as a protector of farms from prowling animals.

No matter what its origins there is no doubt whatsoever that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of the most beautiful and well composed of mutants, both aesthetically and in terms of temperament.

The Ridgie a smart sensitive and loyal dog, soft and cuddly like a big cuddly teddy bear yet at the same time a loyal watch and guard dog. However unlike the some guard or watch dogs the Ridgie is more mellow; also has the characteristics of a companion dog which makes it a truly unusual pet. The Ridgie truly a masterpiece of breeding and that ruff from head to tail is your indication that you are about to buy one of the best behaved, friendliest and loyal of puppies that exists

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Drawbacks of Kitty Toilet Training

Although toilet training your cat may seem like a good idea at first. There are some situations where it may not be the appropriate thing to do.  

For instance you might find it hard to teach an old cat new tricks. An older cat may find it difficult to jump up on the toilet lid or balance itself. The result might be an animal that urinates or defecates beside the toilet instead. Older animals might also get angry with you and defecates elsewhere in your home anyway.  

Toilet training on kitties will also not work if any one in your house (including your spouse, guests and your kids) forgets to leave the toilet lid up. This is incredibly frustrating for a feline who is trying to please you but can’t because you won’t let him. If the cat constantly encounters a closed lid he or she may eliminate elsewhere in your home. One solution to this problem however is to simply remove the lid from your toilet permanently.  

Visitors and guest might be disgusted by the idea of having to share a toilet with a furry animal. They may not like seeing cat hair on the toilet seat.   In some cultures this idea would be very objectionable as cats are seen as vermin or rodents.  One plus about having a litter box is that it can be easier to see if your kitty is suffering from health problems if you are looking at his or her feces. It is harder to see problems in their feces or urine if it is diluted by toilet water.  

Some cats will naturally object to fouling where they like to drink. Your cat may refuse to use the toilet because it would rather drink from it. Cats like to drink cold, fresh water and may see attempts to convince him or her to go in the bowl as being a sin that is hardwired completely against their natural instincts.  Your cat may leave footprints on the seat or decide to play in the toilet water. This means that you may need to clean the toilet seat every time before you sit on it. This is also something that will not be enjoyable to your guests.  If your cat is fluffy he or she may shed in the bathroom so bath mats and towels could be covered with cat hair.  Another drawback is that training your cat to use the toilet can take a long time , as long as six months in some cases.

All of these months you will be looking at a messy bowl or tray of some kind filled with feces, litter and also possibly water. This will be in your bathroom, beside your toilet and then eventually in your toilet. If you don’t like the smell of cat urine or feces in your bathroom then toilet training your cat may not be for you.   Many people who have two or three bathrooms reserve one especially for the cat to solve this type of problem.

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