Adopting a Ridgeback

The primary purpose of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Welfare Trust is to protect and improve the welfare of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed its main day to day activity is to find caring, permanent homes for dogs that need them for a variety of reasons.

With careful home checking and dog assessment procedures, our aim is to place each individual dog in an appropriate and loving home for the rest of its life.

Some are simply victims of circumstance, perhaps a bereavement, break up of a relationship, loss of job or home, or a family move overseas.

However, do remember that in many ways, taking on an adult dog can be as demanding as taking on a puppy. These dogs are usually trouble free and settle easily into a new environment. Some may have come from unsuitable homes where they may have been mistreated or allowed to develop bad habits which will need to be corrected.

In our experience, very few Ridgebacks are untrainable or unable to respond to kindness, affection, accompanied by firm but sensitive handling.

Having won their confidence, a rescue Ridgeback will reward you with loyalty, affection and a great deal of enjoyment. Only essential documentation is passed on, if possible we will pass on a dog's history (but not its papers, other than vaccination and/or insurance certificates). But, occasionally the history will not be known if, for example, the dog has come from another general rescue sanctuary or has been abandoned.

We take great care to match the requirements and characteristics of each dog with the potential new home. We will not place a dog in a home with children unless it can be shown to have previously lived happily with children. We prefer not to place male dogs in a home where there are existing male dogs to avoid possible problems of jealousy and conflict.

Exercise is an important consideration. Ridgebacks are hounds and so need a great deal of exercise - at least an hour and a half a day with the opportunity to safely run free. Unless you are taking on an older dog, a small local park is unlikely to be appropriate.

Being hunting dogs, Ridgebacks are likely to chase anything that runs away from them - as most things do, careful consideration should be given to where the dog will be exercised.

If, after careful thought and consideration, you decide that you will be able to offer a special home to a deserving adult Ridgeback whose world has fallen apart, you can be assured that you will not be on your own.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NO RESCUED RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK MAY BE USED FOR BREEDING



To take the next step to rehome a Ridgeback either email:  ridgebackwelfare or Telephone: 0300 10 10 030

An Adoption Request Form can be  downloaded here;

Once registered you will be included on our waiting list email notifications