When Will My Rhodesian Ridgeback Calm Down?

If you have ever wondered to yourself, when will my Rhodesian Ridgeback calm down? There really isn’t a universal answer.

Positive Training Leads to Calmness

The way that a dog acts depends on each individual’s personality and the environment that they grow up in. It can also depend on how they have been trained.

It is ideal for every dog to get proper training, either from a caring and knowledgeable owner or a professional trainer. Dogs are not born naturally programmed in the way that they should behave.

Dogs, in general, need to learn how they are expected to behave and need to be taught what is expected of them. This should always be done with positive training methods.

Positive training is a great way to help a Rhodesian Ridgeback learn how to be calm even in situations where they may naturally feel uneasy, anxious, or excited.

Depending on how excitable your Rhodesian ridgeback is naturally, they may need a little or a lot of training. The good news is that every dog, no matter what their breed, can be trained.

The Age of Training

It is ideal to train a dog when they are young and as early as seven weeks old. At this age, a puppy trainer will likely teach simple things such as daily routines, including when bathroom breaks are and what time bedtime begins.

Consistency is key and will also help to expedite any progress. Housetraining will start as soon as the puppy moves in, and at eight weeks, it is time to teach a puppy how to behave.

Puppies are naturally excitable and full of energy, so they need to be taught how to be calm indoors. Dogs are very inquisitive and can sense what their owner is feeling, so if you feel frustrated or angry during training, it’s beneficial to get some air and calm down before training.

Positive vibes do much more for relationships than negative reinforcement. Remember that training is a process and that sometimes the results you want don’t always happen as quickly as you like, but the results you want will happen. Just be patient and consistent, and it will all pay off.

Personality Traits of a Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not known for being the most energetic breed out there, but it is a hunting breed that loves to run.

If they are not hunting, they can accumulate a lot more energy than they need, which can make them restless, and they will display signs of restlessness and will likely seem anxious or uneasy.

The best way to combat this particular trait is to set aside time each day to exercise and burn off any excess energy. A brisk walk each day is a great form of exercise, and your Ridgeback should have plenty of space to stretch its legs, such as a big yard or pen.

Your dog will have its own unique way of telling you that it needs to get some fresh air. Your pup may show you by pacing around the room, whimpering, or even pawing at you.

Fuel That Energy

Feeding your Rhodesian Ridgeback a proper diet will ensure that your pooch has everything needed to grow strong and healthy and will also keep your pup healthy and happy.

Just as a poor diet can affect a human’s diet, it can also cause bad behavior. In addition, a poor diet can cause irritability and can even cause an allergic reaction in sensitive dogs.

Diet is a very important component of keeping your dog happy and calm. There are many different brands of dog food to choose from, but your dog will need a few different types of food throughout its lifetime.

You should fuel your dog with a high-quality puppy diet during the puppy phase and then progress to large breed food. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is considered a large-breed dog since it will be between 75 to 85 pounds when fully grown.

Feeding your dog a high-quality diet will ensure that your pooch gets everything it needs and maximize its lifespan. Because of its muscular and lean build and high-energy personality, lots of protein is a must.

A higher amount of fat is also great fuel, but fat and protein should come from animal sources such as fish and chicken. Good dog food will also have between three and five percent of fiber in addition to digestible carbohydrates.

Stay Calm in the Moment

If your Ridgeback displays signs of too much pent-up energy, a short burst of high-intensity energy-busting exercise will be needed. For times when your dog has a lot of energy, a 30-minute run should do the trick.

In other words, a slow-paced walk probably won’t satisfy your dog’s need to burn off some energy. If you are too tired for e run, you could also play a game of throwing a ball or have them follow you as you go on a bike ride.

A good amount of daily exercise to aim for daily should be about 30 minutes of vigorous exercise in addition to about one or two hours of more moderate activity.

If you don’t have your own yard or live in an apartment building, try to find a nearby dog park where you can let your pooch run free and burn off some of that pent-up energy. As an added benefit, your dog will also get to meet and greet other dogs and get in that important socializing time.

Not all Ridgebacks enjoy the water, but if yours does, it’s likely that it is a very good swimmer since swimming tends to come naturally to many Ridgeback breeds.

Pay Attention to Your Dog

Since every dog is different, even in the same breed, you need to learn all about your particular pet. Observe them and see how they react to what you are doing.

It’s essential to know your pooch so that you can have great communication and so that you can understand and react to their signals. This eliminates frustration and makes training one-on-one much easier.

Final Thoughts

Remember that your dog can sense what you feel, so your puppy will likely emanate that same calm vibe back if you are calm.

So, if you are wondering, when will my Rhodesian Ridgeback calm down? Remember that each dog is different with a different personality, and although they may reach calmness within different timeframes, it will happen.