be careful, rhodesian ridgebacks are not for everyone. i had one, large female about 100 lbs., great guard dog if she wasn't sleeping, i had to get a small auxillary dog that barked alot to alert her of potential trouble coming. this dog could climb, and often did, a six foot wall which made keeping her in the yard very trying. once outside the property she came home when SHE wanted. this dog did not come when called unless in the house. they are big and they know they are the boss. i would have to trick her into getting in the car to regain control. ridgebacks scent themselves, this means that after a good bath they lick themselves head to toe, getting good and saliva-ed up. this will give them their own unique (to other dogs in the pack) smell. in the tropical heat it STINKS, and then so does your sofa. when you are not in the house they sleep where THEY want, like your bed which now stinks..you can give the dog a perfume bath and they will cover it up with saliva stink. off the leash this dog bit anything on 2 wheels, kid on a bike to a bad dude on a harley. any stranger, young or old, male or female,that came on the property and into the yard unannounced got bit, the plumber's wife got a nasty one on her fat butt and i had to buy her a new pair of stretch pants. my ridgeback bit first and then barked. i think before she died from heartworm, they have short hair that makes them easy prey for mosquitoes, (that's where heartworm comes from), and she had her shots, her bite total was 28. only 3 deserved it. they shed hair, albeit short hair. they poop mountains. any leash has to be made of chain, rope and other woven leash types get bitten off fast. i am skeptical of the bloodlines in these dogs as well. i have seen quite a few that have the hairline ridge, are of the right color but something just isn't right, skinny heads, pointy snouts, only 50-60 pounds. make sure you see the parents of the puppies, they should be big with box heads. i am sure someone out there will tell me i didn't train the dog correctly, i didn't, i got her out of the pound when she was 2 years old, a lot of these dogs wind up in the pound because they are not like other dogs and owners can't deal with it. i am sure someone has one that is an angel, but, this is a difficult breed, go to a ridgeback breeders website and see for yourself. you have been warned. all that said, i loved that dog but she was a royal pain in the arse......................