You can talk endlessly about a breed of dog called Thai Ridgeback. It is easy to guess that this is the national breed of Thailand. A distinctive feature of the dog is that on its back is the so-called ridge strip of wool. It grows in the opposite direction of the entire hairline of the animal. Let's talk about the breed standard, grooming and much more. Believe me, Thai Ridgeback is a very interesting topic for conversation.
Occurrence stories
To date, it is generally accepted that the ridgeback appeared in the east of Thailand, from where, in fact, the name of the breed came from. An interesting fact is that the islands on which the dogs lived were isolated from another area. This has led to the fact that for many years the ridgeback has not changed. For such a simple reason, this breed is considered pure and, of course, unique. However, today it is not possible to find out the exact origin of the breed.
Nevertheless, the ridgeback was tamed by a man several thousand years ago, which makes him one of the oldest dogs known to mankind. Soon, people realized that the breed was unique because of its hunting properties. Good dexterity, tenacity and a sense of smell - for this the ridgeback was appreciated.
Breed features
I would like to start with the fact that this breed is one of the rarest in the whole world. Naturally, it’s not so easy to buy such a friend, and you need to follow the care rules. The first owners of the Ridgebacks described them as ferocious animals that are able to catch up and tear apart their prey. But this remark applies only to hunting. For the rest, this is a completely peace-loving creature, though with a wayward character.
This dog is also unique in that it belongs to the cleanest breeds. This is facilitated by smooth coat, which is easily licked by the tongue. Ridgeback washes inaccessible places like a cat with his paws, which is characteristic of only a few representatives of the canine.
A bit about character
No doubt the Thai Ridgeback dog breed is very interesting in its character. It is worth noting that this animal always gets its way. If you need to ask something from the owner, then the expression on the muzzle of the once ferocious beast turns into such a pity that it is simply impossible to refuse anything. As for relations with people, the Thai ridgeback is very fond of its owners. The beast respects and adores its inner circle in its own way. But the dog treats strangers rather coldly and indifferently. She will not faithfully look into the eyes of a passerby - this is not typical of a ridgeback. Nevertheless, there are exceptions when the dog will like the owner’s friend. Perhaps this indicates a good mood of your pet. The severity and seriousness of this breed makes it look like fighting dogs. But Thai will never bite or provoke a fight first. Deviation from the standard is causeless aggression against a person.
Not only a faithful friend, but also a good hunter
As noted somewhat above, in ancient times this breed was used for hunting. Today, little has changed. In the eastern part of Thailand, a Thai ridgeback, whose photo you can see in this article, is used for hunting, guarding and as a support for wagons, etc. Interestingly, many owners over many years of friendship with Thais have not heard how their pets bark. But this does not mean that they have no voice. He is, but in ordinary life they do not show it. Therefore, if you suddenly heard an alarming bark of a ridgeback, then this can not be ignored.
Typically, this breed was used for hunting small and medium game. Prey could be hares, foxes and even wild boars. In addition, these dogs are extremely territorial, which is inherent in their character. Because of this, dogs automatically become excellent guards, which there is no need to additionally train. But Thais are not prone to hysteria, so they begin to bark only in the most extreme case.
Thai Ridgeback: breed description
This dog is medium in size, with an athletic physique. The body is muscular and strong, the neck is powerful. Due to this, the dog is very strong. Paws are somewhat shortened. The head is flattened, the forehead is low, when the ridgeback wrinkles it, the skin is gathered accordion.
The coat is short, a ridge is formed from it, which grows in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat. It is impossible not to notice that the main requirement for the ridge is its symmetry and distribution on both sides of the spine. But he should not go directly to the sides of the animal. The ridge can be in the form of an arrow, a needle, a feather, or graceful shapes such as a violin and a pin. It sometimes even has curls.
The height of a male Thai Ridgeback dog at the withers usually does not exceed 61 cm, and females 56 cm. Although deviations of several centimeters in one or the other direction are allowed. The average weight of a male dog ranges from 28 to 32 kilograms, but bitches in this indicator are significantly inferior - usually they reach 22-25 kg.
It is interesting that Thais have several types of wool. The most common is a super short velor up to 2 mm long. There is also a velor type of wool - up to 1 cm and standard 1-2 cm.
About Thai color
If we talk about what color a dog of this breed can be, then there is a fairly clear and strict standard. Thai ridgeback can have red, black, blue and isabella (fauna) color. Undoubtedly, representatives of red color are most often found in livestock. It is believed that precisely such individuals were tamed by humans in the first place. But the blue color is extremely rare. It is noteworthy that it is precisely such representatives who often have a ridge in the form of an arrow or violin of various colors. But the color of Isabella is considered the most difficult to reproduce. You can observe a light shade of vanilla or tea rose, which looks simply unique.
Thai Ridgeback: Owner Reviews
This breed, although it is considered one of the most ancient, today it is not too common. We will not say for what reason, since a whole host of factors influence this. It is enough to note that on the territory of Russia in 2007 there were no more than 80 individuals, however, all of them belonged to the international class. For this simple reason, there are very few owner reviews. Nevertheless, those that exist speak of the extreme friendliness of the ridgeback to the whole family. There is no aggression aimed at children or even other pets that live with the Thai. In nurseries, they note that these are not only very devoted friends of a person, but also very smart. Ridgeback intelligence is sometimes truly amazing. When necessary, the dog will play, when not, lie humbly by its owner. In principle, this quality is inherent in many dog breeds, but not all.
For apartment maintenance
If for some time we observe how the Thai behaves, then we can conclude that he looks more like a cat than a dog. Firstly, due to the independent nature, which makes the pet not only tactful, but also unobtrusive, and secondly, few breeds of dogs can boast such hygiene. For this simple reason, Thais are recommended to be kept at home. You will not get excessive inconvenience in the form of an unpleasant smell and coat, but you will definitely keep your pet's health. In addition, as noted above, the ridgeback gets along well with other dogs and cats. True, this rule applies only in the house.
On the street, keeping a Thai is not recommended for a number of reasons. Firstly, the pet can get very sick, and secondly, over time, it will become more wild. But as for walks, they are required for such an active pet as a Thai ridgeback.
For a healthy lifestyle
If you look at how some breeds of dogs behave, then you can endlessly be surprised at their laziness. Thai ridgeback is the exact opposite. This is a very active and fast pet who just loves spending time in the fresh air. Go jogging every morning? Great, take your friend with you. He will not give you any inconvenience, and he will also be very happy to frolic in the fresh air.
It should be noted that Thais are quite quickly and actively developing intellectually. They early become independent and independent. In addition, it is an extremely inventive breed. With a ridgeback you can play Frisbee or any other game that requires activity from your pet. Since they like to run a lot, endurance is at a high level, and believe me, you will get tired much faster. At the same time, after a hard day, the Thai likes to simply lie down or gently play with his master in a cozy atmosphere. In general, we can say that this breed, against the background of other non-native representatives, looks more organized.
A bit about maintenance and care
Some dog breeds need special care. But this is not about Thais. As noted above, ridgebacks are very active and love to run a lot. But it is not recommended to overload young individuals, as this can lead to damage or improper development of the skeleton, as well as ligaments. And when the pet grows up, it can be taken for a walk or a run.
It is worth noting that Thais do not particularly like water. These dogs bathe only when it is really needed. In addition, comfort and warmth are important for the Thai. In slush or rain it will be quite difficult to drive the animal out into the street. Even if he comes out, he will jump over all the puddles and go around the dirt.
Ridgeback is in great need of early socialization. This is due to the fact that the dog feels uncomfortable in the crowd, especially in an unfamiliar place. Panic can even begin, and this is a lot of stress for the animal, remember this.
Some interesting facts
Thai Ridgeback, whose photo shows the four main colors of the breed, can sometimes be confused with the Rhodesian Ridgeback. However, the latter is larger and has only a red color. In addition, there are very strict requirements for ridge on the back of a Rhodesian ridgeback. It can only be an arrow with two crowns.
If you decide to go to the forest, do not forget to bring your four-legged friend with you. He will be just happy. In addition, he is an excellent hunter and does not need preliminary training. By the way, sometimes a Thai Ridgeback dog refuses to follow the owner's orders. It's all about the nature of the dog. This dog needs a delicate approach. Try to learn a new team not too intrusively and in a friendly atmosphere, then everything will surely work out.
Conclusion
So we examined with you such an interesting breed as Thai Ridgeback. The nursery you visit to purchase a new friend must have all the necessary licenses. This will guarantee that they will sell you a dog with a good pedigree. Of course, it’s difficult to talk about the price, since it often changes, but in any case it will not be a cheap purchase. Nevertheless, you are not buying a thing, but a friend who will accompany you almost everywhere, so Thai is worth the money spent.
Basically, that’s all there is to say about a Thai Ridgeback dog. Today there is a kennel with such dogs in Moscow and in several other cities of the Russian Federation. There you will surely find a Thai who you like. If you decide to buy a ridgeback, be prepared to be friends with him for many years, as the animal is very attached to its owner, although it behaves quite independently.