What Kind of Food for a Rhodesian Ridgeback?

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are large dogs that were bred in African to help with hunting. Because of their size, Ridgebacks require a lot of food in order to maintain good health and body shape. Some experts and breeders recommend that to truly feed a Ridgeback right.

  1. About Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    • The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a muscular hunting dog classified in the hound group by the American Kennel Club. South Africans first bred the dogs as hunters for the farmers there, but the dogs eventually became companions for big game hunters. Rhodesian Ridgebacks helped to hunt lions. They are large dogs, usually between 25 and 27 inches tall and around 75 pounds at adulthood. Ridgebacks have distinctive ridges on their backs. Most of the dogs are brown or reddish brown.

    Feeding the Ridgeback

    • A Rhodesian Ridgeback is an active dog that enjoys exercise, so the breeder at Semper Fi Ridgebacks recommends feeding the dogs a diet of raw meat. The food is healthy and more natural than some of the processed dog foods available and also harkens back to the diet the dog would have eaten as a hunting dog in Africa. Recommended meats include beef, pork, lamb, fish, venison and organ meat, along with some mashed up vegetables.

    Supplements for Ridgebacks

    • Rhodesian Ridgebacks also can benefit from supplements in their diet. W.D. Cusick, the author of "The Best Diet for a Rhodesian Ridgeback," on his blog includes a long list of supplements to feed the breed, including vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, B-12, D and E, along with niacinamide, biotin, benzoic acid, folic acid and calicum. Materials recommended for the dog include copper gluconate, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

    What Ridgebacks shouldn't eat

    • Both experts recommend a diet of fresh foods instead of processed dog foods, which often contain wheat and grain, instead of meat that a dog like the Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred to eat. Read the labels of store-bought dog food to find out the ingredients. Don't give a Ridgeback vitamin C. It can contribute to liver and kidney problems.