Content
- Origin of the Rhodesian Lion
- Characteristics of the Rhodesian Lion
- Character of the Lion of Rhodesia
- Rhodesian Lion Care
- Rhodesian Lion Education
- Rhodesian Lion Health
O Rhodesian Lion or rhosedian ridgeback characterized by the crest of inverted hair present along its back. It is the only South African breed registered by the FCI, formerly known as the “lion dog”. it's a dog very faithful, but also something reserved.
Before adopting a Rhodesian Lion, whether small or adult, it will be very important to be properly informed about the breed's needs, such as care, training or the characteristics it has.
Then, find out everything about the Rhodesian Lion:
Source- Africa
- South Africa
- Group VI
- Rustic
- muscular
- Extended
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Shy
- Strong
- Passive
- very faithful
- Active
- Houses
- hiking
- Hunting
- Surveillance
- Sport
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Short
- Smooth
- Hard
Origin of the Rhodesian Lion
The origin of the Rhodesian Lion dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when Europeans colonized the South Africa. This is the only breed registered in the country. The ancestors of the Lion of Rhodesia were dogs of the Cape colony in South Africa, crossed with dogs of European settlers and Hottentot hunting dogs – the latter with crests.
From these crosses, the dog that is known today as Rhodesian was born, although the name was only used for the first time in the middle of the 20th century. Previously the Lion of Rhodesia was known as “lion dog”. This explanation comes from the fact that, as a hunting dog in small packs, it followed the footprints of its prey – lions – with great agility.
This breed was first described in the hands of F.R. Barnes, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1992, and was based on Dalmatian, approved by the South African Kennel Union. Today, Rhodesian Lions make excellent companion dogs.
Characteristics of the Rhodesian Lion
According to the International Cynological Federation (FCI) standard, the Rhodesian Lion is a balanced dog, strong, muscular, agile and active, with a symmetrical silhouette. It is expected that your head will not have wrinkles during rest periods and that the naso-frontal depression will be moderately defined. The color of the nose varies depending on the color of the eyes, the nose being black when the eyes are dark and brown when the eyes are the same shade.The eyes are round and shiny, and their color is in harmony with the color of the fur. The ears are medium, wide at the base, with rounded ends and high insertion.
The Rhodesian Lion's body is robust and muscular, but lean. The spine is strong, while the back is slightly arched. The chest is very deep but not too wide. The tail is medium in size, thick at the base and of moderate length. The coat of this species is short, dense, smooth and shiny. The color can range from light brown to reddish brown. In some cases, small white spots can be found on the chest and fingers. Also the ears and muzzle can sometimes have a darker color.
According to the FCI, the characteristics of the Lion of Rhodesia are:
• Males: Between 63 and 69 centimeters at the withers, weighing approximately 36.5 kg.
• Females: Between 61 and 66 centimeters at the withers, with a weight of about 32.
Character of the Lion of Rhodesia
The Rhodesian Lion's character is strongly influenced by its ancestors, when it comes to hunting dogs. it's a dog curious, very loyal and energetic, sometimes independent or even reserved with strangers. In order to avoid aggressive behavior or relationship problems, it will be very important to develop the social component as a child. This information will be developed in the section on education.
It is usually a dog very close to the family, with whom it creates a very strong bond. The relationship with children is excellent, however, due to their energy level it can be difficult to deal with them. is considered a dog very protective.
Rhodesian Lion Care
the care of by the Lion of Rhodesia it does not require great effort on the part of the owners. It will be enough to brush it weekly with a rubber comb (so as not to hurt your skin) and to bathe it every 2 or 3 months with specific products for dogs. Its appearance can be improved by occasionally feeding it with certain foods, such as salmon oil, olive oil or egg whites.
The Rhodesian Lion requires between 2 to 3 daily tours to maintain your musculature and it is also indicated that, at least once a day, you can to exercise. In addition to classic games, such as the ball, you can also start the dog in agility, running or any other activity that stimulates muscle development. It is important to emphasize that if the dog's activity level is too high, it will be necessary to guide him to a diet specially formulated for hunting dogs or even an increase in the daily amount of food. The daily life of the Lion of Rhodesia can also be enriched with intelligence games or, for example, discrimination games.
To highlight the Breed tolerance to warm or temperate climateHowever, the Rhodesian Lion does not adapt to cold climates, so it is important to pay attention to your skin in the off-season.
Rhodesian Lion Education
The education of the Lion of Rhodesia begins when the dog is still small, more specifically in the socialization stage, which varies from 3 weeks to 3 months of life. During this period, it is essential to socialize it with others. dogs, people, animals and environments, thus ensuring correct communication and avoiding fears or bad behavior. It is very important to pay attention to this phase because of the breed's tendency to shyness. Well socialized, the
It is also necessary to educate the dog so that he learns to urinate in the street after being vaccinated and teach him to inhibit the bite, for example. At this stage, it is important that the dog enjoy its hours of sleep and that it receives mental stimuli from the tutors, through intelligence games and varied activities.
We recommend applying the positive canine training to start working on the basic commands for puppies in their youth stage, which will allow the expression of this puppy's full potential. Once you've learned the basics, you can start the Rhodesian Lion in other activities that provide exercise and a good deal of enrichment, such as agility or other canine sports that combine learning.
You conduct problems The most common Rhodesian Lions are destructiveness and hyperactivity, usually related to lack of company, exercise and mental stimulation.
Rhodesian Lion Health
The main feature of the Lion of Rhodesia is precisely the crest of its back. The truth is that this detail is an anomaly of his hair: some hairs grow in the opposite direction and offer that "crest" aspect. However, this characteristic makes the breed prone to suffer from a congenital malformation of the spinal dermal sinus. The condition has been present from birth, and if the dog suffers from it, it is possible to see a small pit in its spine. This problem can cause more serious pathologies and requires surgical treatment.
Other hereditary diseases of the Lion of Rhodesia are:
- hip dysplasia
- Deafness
- elbow dysplasia
- Hemophilia
We recommend that you visit the veterinarian every 6 or 12 months to quickly detect any health problems and perform basic follow-up exams. It is also essential to follow the vaccination schedule and the regular deworming, both internal and external.
The life expectancy of the Lion of Rhodesia is between 10 and 13 years.