Ridgebacks make an ideal family pet. They are amazingly loyal and usually protective. Correctly socialised as puppies they are very trustworthy and have mild temperament. Over the last hundred years or so they have been selectively bred to care for and protect the homesteader and children in the African wild. And during hunting they must be brave yet non aggressive so that they do not go in to attack and get injured by the lion. In addition to the non aggressive nature of the Hottentot hunting dog further selective breeding has been done to highlight the non aggressive nature of the breed.

The selective breeding has created a dog that usually does not bark. Certainly a good Ridgeback never barks at the usual (such as neabours coming home etc). Most Ridgebacks however will bark at the treatening or unusual. Ridgebacks normally never use more force than is required to get the job done.

Ridgebacks cannot really be described as either energetic or lazy they are a bit of both. If you want to just laze around and watch TV all day they are happy to just do that with you. On the other hand if you want to go for a run, a walk or an exploration up a creek-bed then they are delighted to go too. The ridgeback does not demand exercise or need it particularly but is a very willing participant if it's what you want to do.

Correctly socialised Ridgebacks are great with children. They seem to know that the little one is more fragile than the adults and are proportionately more gentle.

Ridgebacks like comfort. If there is three places of varying softness located at random in the room where you are you will usually find the Ridgeback on the softest place even if you move them around to try to trick it.

Ridgebacks are a very clean animal compared to many breeds and have little odor. Our Ridgebacks sometimes wash themselves similar to a cat and live indoors. We shower them in summer avery second week but this is not really required if your not showing them. They are willing to please and learn good manners fairly quickly. However they have a mind of their own and often are a little reluctant to do something just because you ask. If you insist then they comply. It has been said that a Ridgeback always aims to please..... Itself mostly. Having said that, our two Ridgebacks are the most loyal well mannered dogs we have had out of several other large dog breeds.