It is very important to look at the temperament and personality as well as the
physical beauty, grace and elegance that is so appealing about the Thai Ridgeback.
Although today most dogs are mainly
pets, they will still maintain many of the same instincts for the purpose that they were used, herding, guarding, retreiving
and so on. When talking about temperament in the Thai Ridgeback one must remember that this breed has been used
for centuries as hunter, guard dog and companion. They often had to provide for themselves and hunt on their own for food,
which has given them strong survival instincts and a very high level of intelligence and drive.
Well bred and properly socialized
Thai Ridgebacks make loyal, loving pets. They are naturally
protective of their home and family and can be aggressive or shy when not properly socialized. Because of prior geographic
isolation and lack of human contact, the Thai Ridgeback remains independent minded and much of the original natural instinct
and drives remain intact, particularly their prey drive. Due to its nature, the Thai Ridgeback is not recommended for
the novice dog handler and are best kept by consistent
owners who have a thorough understanding of dog behavior.
Thai Ridgebacks in general are a fun-loving dog with a get up and go attitude
and seems to have a great joy for life. They are affectionate with their families and love the comforts of their home and
they cherish the warmest and sunniest spot they can find.
The energy level is typically
medium to high, with most of the day spent lounging and activity periods occurring in sporadic bursts. They are
often busy, chasing anything that moves, chewing toys and can amuse themselves for hours at a time. Their attitude towards
strangers can range from shy to aloof to very sociable. It is very important that as a pup a Thai Ridgeback gets a lot of
early socialization.
Their use as a hunting dog seems to have contributed a great amount to their
personalities. They are very alert and aware of their surroundings, and love the thrill of the chase. They excel at
hunting and obedience and are the masters of agility.They are quick, agile
and possess excellent jumping abilities and may seek to roam if not properly contained.They must be encouraged through
positive reinforcement methods and do not do well with heavy-handed corrections such as leash jerking and hitting. They can
easily become stubborn and defiant if improper methods are used. If done properly they are quick learners and eager to please.
This breed has few health issues. The rare occurance of Hip dysplasia does occur.
More common than that is the Dermoid Sinus Cyst. A dermoid Sinus (DS) is categorized as a "neural tube fusion defect". In
these cases, a tube or sinus forms from the spinal column to the skin. They can be either open to the skin or closed. These
tubes are lined with hair and when the natural shedding of the coat takes place, the hair inside of these tubes often is not
expelled. The result is an infection due to a build up of hair and oils leading to abcesses. At this point it is a painful
and potentially dangerous situation for the dog. Dermoid Sinuses are often found on the midline of the neck, back and tail
along the spinal column. However can occur on the head and shoulders. This condition is usually detected at
birth. Once removed from a dog it usually no longer poses a threat or causes any discomfort.
Thai Ridgebacks are a medium sized dog, with males being slightly
larger than the females. Size averages 22 to 24 inches tall and weigh 45 to 60 pounds for males and females average 20 to
22 inches tall and weigh 40 to 50 pounds. These dogs have a wedge-shaped head, prick ears, and the tail is carried vertically
or curved like a sickle. The signature feature of this breed is the ridge on their back. The ridge is formed by hair
growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. Ridges can be any shape but to be shown or bred should
be symmetrical and within the confines of the back. Occassionally they can be born ridgeless while these dogs can not
be shown they are pets and great performance dogs. The Thai Ridgeback is an extremely clean breed with little or
no odour and minimal shedding, due to its short, smooth tropical coat. They come in solid red, blue, black and fawn. Being
tropical dogs they do not tolerate cold weather well, unless they are properly adapted to it or are equipped with a dog coat.
They are easily housebroken as they are naturally clean dogs.
