how much is it to buy a rhodesian ridgeback puppy?

I haven't figured out how much I can write before the site cuts off the rest, AND if I write a long answer, the site tells me Yahoo Answers is not working, so I am going to try to send this response in several installments…because I really do know Rhodesians very well.

On the internet GO TO,

1.) rrcus.org (has, or has links to almost everything you need and would want to know)

2.) rescue sites for Rhodesians: put in the search box and hit enter:

A.) RRRI (a rescue organization for Rhodesians)

B.) RRUS (another rescue site for Rhodesians)

3.) for dog shows, and information on ALL of the recognized breeds, many links to much more go to the AKC's site

http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/s...

4.) for a sample of what going to a good breeder's site is like and what it will have on it try http://www.kalaharirr.com/

5. One very educational list serve, where breeders and fanciers alike talk about Rhodesians is

rr-folk. Sign up, it is free. This group will give you the education I wish I had had, when I started out with Rhodesians, AND even dogs in general. You will read posts from a lot of breeders, and get an idea of who you like…because if you use a GOOD breeder, you may have a friendship for life. (But there are many Rhodesian blogs, and the like, you should get on them, some are less stuffy than RR-folk. Don’t be shy, jump in. Most of us remember what it was like to start learning.)

I want you to understand, that the price of the dog, even if several thousand, is not going to be your biggest expense in having a dog, IF you are a decent dog owner, it is going to be the care, medical and other wise, over the life of the dog. (See below for general pricing information)

Second, please don’t get a dog, if you don’t intend to give him a “forever home.” They are like children, and see you as their family, their entire world; even if you have been a bad owner. Rhodesians can grieve for you if you even go off for a few days. They often stop eating, until you come back.

A Rhodesian can have hair that will cause a rash on some people, especially fair haired people.

Big breed dogs, generally live a shorter life than smaller breeds. Though some Rhodesians may live to be 15 years old, many will die before age 9. Large breeds are also more prone to get arthritis, or dysplasia, than smaller breeds. Large breeds also get “bloat” more than small breeds. You need to know about bloat, it can kill your dog quick! PLUS, if you take your dog on vacation with you, (sometimes if you have bought from a GOOD breeder, they will take your dog while you go on vacation) you are going to have a devil of a time finding a place that will take a dog as big as a Rhodesian!

Rhodesians like to get “on top” of things. If you go to the vets and are sitting on the bench, your Rhodesian will want to sit there with you, instead of on the floor like just “plain” dogs. If he goes into the yard, he may stretch out on TOP of the picnic table. Once I was showing one of my boys, and he decided he wanted to see across the arena; without warning me, he jumped into my arms! ONE HUNDRED POUNDS OF DOG! We must have looked like a circus act…except that I was so shocked, my chin hit the floor.

I have had Rhodesians for over 30 years. They really are a lot different from most dog breeds. It is hard to say why exactly, it is a lot of reasons. Perhaps it is because to create this breed a semi-wild dog was used, called the Hottentot dog.

My dogs LOVED me, but to others they may have seemed reserved. They are not like the little dogs that jump all over you, begging you constantly for attention.

A Rhodesian will not do what you want, because you MAKE him do it; he has to WANT to do it for you, because he loves and respects you. I had many breeds before Rhodesians, and if they did wrong, I would punish them. (My thinking about training any kind of dog with punishment, has changed now, and I would not...but before I had Rhodesians, I did.) I could make them do what I wanted. Punishment doesn’t work well on Rhodesians.

Perhaps this is why so many people say that Rhodesians are a very stubborn, hard headed breed.

A Rhodesian is a smart dog, very smart (in spite of some dog books rating them as average… they are sometimes so smart it is amazing.) To train a smart dog, you have to be smarter.

You NEED, you MUST, socialize the Rhodesian early and keep them socialized, as they are very protective, and have their own ideas about what is and isn't yours. This is extremely important with this breed, and unless you have had dogs and understand how they think, you probably are going to have trouble with this.

The first Rhodesian I ever saw, jumped over a Volkswagen car. They can jump, so your standard three or four foot high fence is NOT high enough. (Make sure your fence can not be tunneled under, either!)

People want to get dogs and put them outside to guard the house. DON'T. Once someone gets in your house, you need them t

Check out your local shelters. I doubt it'll be easy for you to find one there as it is kind of like a rare breed. Not many people own these dogs. If you can't find any, you could always search for reputable breeders that have this breed. You can call up your local kennel & ask them for contacts. In the meantime, if you have not studied about this breed yet or own this breed before, you better do some research online. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not for the inexperienced owners. They are very courageous dogs & CAN be difficult to handle if not socialized from young with other people & animals & if not trained from young.

Ridgebacks are kinda hard to find. I live in the East Bay in Cali and my boyfriend and I had to go to Washington to get ours.

We searched online for months prior to finding our breeder!! We paid a pretty penny for our Shyla. (over $1000...yeah.) But let me tell you we would have paid twice that amount if we knew what we had before hand.

These dogs are totally awesome. You need to make sure you have the time and the space for a crazy, large dog in your life.

They are very destructive if they are not busy with a toy!!

And dont listen to people that say this breed is bad with people or other dogs. If you start introducing them to lots of people and other dogs ASAP they are so loving and outgoing and very nice...just a little hyper!!