When’s the last time you read about a Goldendoodle hunting a lion? My guess is that you haven’t…
Well, with this unique Poodle mix you may just read an article like that one day. The Rhodoodle is a mix between a Poodle and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred to help hunt lions in Africa, which gives this Doodle dog quite the character.
If you want to learn more about this lion-hunting Doodle breed, check out the rest of this guide!
What is a Rhodoodle?
A Rhodoodle is a Doodle dog breed with one parent being a Poodle and the other a Rhodesian Ridgeback.
They are also called a Rhodesian Doodle, Rhodesian Ridgedoodle, or Ridgedoodle.
Both parent breeds contribute traits that make this unique mix really stand out. Overall, they are intelligent, family-friendly, and athletic.
Let’s take a closer look at the history of the parent breeds.
History of Parent Breeds
The Rhodesian Ridgeback comes from an African country previously called Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. This dog breed is a mix of several different breeds, including Great Dane, Bloodhound, Airedale Terrier, and Bulldog.
Although some other sites and sources claim there are other breeds involved in the mix as well. One reason for the many different breeds associated with the Rhodesian Ridgeback is due to the Dutch breeding their dogs with the native dogs of Rhodesia.
Poodles originated in Germany, not France, as many believe. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that the Poodle became France’s national dog.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was nicknamed the “lion dog” due to its history of working as a pack to capture and hunt lions. They are a large breed with slick short tight coats and come in various colors. Due to their coat type, they tend to shed; however, their hairs are smaller in length.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are an active and alert breed. They are known to be on the quiet side due to their history of hunting lions.
Although they are soft in nature, they are protective over their family members, and if a person they are unfamiliar with is around their family or comes to the door, they will let out a warning bark.
Once their family tells the dog that the new person is okay, the Rhodesian Ridgeback will back off and accept the new person or people and are welcoming.
This breed is not recommended for novice training larger breeds, especially breeds with Bloodhound genetics, due to their stubbornness and independent mindsets.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have several different temperaments, and those with more aggressive traits are used more for lure coursing. In this competition course, the dog is chasing mechanical prey.
These temperaments are more prey driven and may not be the best for young families. Whereas some breeders are careful when breeding their Rhodesian Ridgebacks and focus on dogs with more calm and gentle temperaments.
Poodle
Poodle comes from the German word “pudel,” which means to splash in the water. Poodles were initially bred as water hunting dogs, specifically for ducks.
Poodles have long curly hair, not fur making them a low allergen and low dander dog breed. Dogs with these types of coats are perfect for those with allergies to dogs.
Their classic haircut, also known as the Continental Clip, is designed for a specific purpose; to keep their internal organs warm while spending time in the water hunting.
There are three different sizes of Poodles: toy, miniature, and standard. There are medium (or moyen) and teacup-sized as well but these sizes are not officially recognized.
Poodles are smart, trainable, and great for families with young children as they are eager to please their family members.
Appearance
Depending on the genetics the puppy receives from each parent, it can be a good mix of the parents or take on more genetics of one parent over the other.
The first generation of a Rhodesian Ridgeback Poodle mix may look more like the Poodle parent with some of the Rhodesian Ridgeback’s colors, markings, height, and weight.
Or the puppy will take on more looks of the Rhodesian Ridgeback with a few traits of the Poodle parent.
If the first-generation Rhodesian Ridgeback-Poodle mix is bred with another Poodle, their puppies will take on more qualities of the poodle parent and grandparent. This is ideal for those sensitive to dog allergens.
Coat Type
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have short, tight coats that shed but generally are not odorous.
Poodles have long curly hair that should be groomed every few weeks.
A mix between the two breeds will most likely result in a medium-length coat and may or may not have curls depending on the genetic traits the dog takes on from the parent breeds.
Coat Colors
Rhodesian Ridgebacks come in a variety of colors and markings. These colors include:
- Light Wheaten
- Red Wheaten
- With a black nose
- With a brown nose
- Wheaten
- With a black nose
- With a brown nose
Some of the coat traits can include a black mask and white markings.
Poodles also come in a wide variety of colors; however, many of the colors are not approved if planning on showing them. These colors include:
- Apricot
- Black
- Black and Brown
- Brown and Cream
- Black and Gray
- Black and silver
- Black and Tan
- Black and white
- Blue
- Blue and White
- Brown
- Brown and White
- Cafe au lait
- Cream and White
- Gray
- Gray and White
- Red
- Red and White
- Red and Apricot
- Silver
- Silver Beige
- White
- White and Apricot
- White and Silver
- Black and Apricot
- Brown and Apricot
- Red Merle
- Blue Merle
Depending on the parent’s coloring, the Rhodesian Ridgeback-Poodle mix can take on any of these mixed colors. If you’re after a specific color, take a look at the parents, and you’ll be able to get a better idea of what color the puppies may be.
Size
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a larger breed, whereas Poodles, as stated previously, come in three different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. The size of your Rhodoodle pup will depend on the size of the parent breeds but will most likely be a medium to large dog.
Height
A Rhodoodle is most likely to be 15 to 24 inches in height. This is dependent on the size of the Poodle parent.
Rhodesian Ridgeback males range from 25 to 27 inches tall, whereas females range from 24 to 26 inches tall.
A Standard Poodle stands over 15 inches tall, miniatures stand just under 15 inches, and a toy Poodle is no more than 10 inches tall. The AKC does not specify the height differences for males versus females.
Weight
A Rhodesian Ridgeback male weighs anywhere between 85 to 95 pounds; a female Rhodesian Ridgeback weighs anywhere from 75 to 80 pounds.
A Toy Poodle (gender not specified) weighs anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds. A Miniature Poodle (gender not specified) weighs 10 to 15 pounds. And a Standard Poodle weighs anywhere from 60 to 70 pounds.
A mix between the breeds will most likely result in a heavier-weighted dog. However, their weight is also determined by the dog’s height and can easily range from 45-80 pounds.
Traits and Characteristics
Temperament and Personality
Rhodoodles inherit a good mix of personality from both parent breeds.
Poodles are a very athletic breed that is eager to please their owners. They are quick learners and are very trainable.
Their temperaments are also perfect for families with children. They will gladly spend the day hiking, running, hunting, or anything active and then spend the evening snuggled with their family members.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great family dogs and are protective over their loved ones. If they are bred properly, they are sweet and kind to those they are unfamiliar with.
They should be well socialized to accomplish these types of traits. Although they may make great family pets, they are relatively stubborn and difficult to train.
They do not like being told what to do, but they are willing to do an activity or command if they believe it is their idea.
Common Health Issues
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a generally healthy breed. However, that does not mean they won’t succumb to health problems. The most common health issues they can experience are hip and elbow dysplasia, problems with their thyroid, and eye anomalies.
Poodles are prone to hip dysplasia, several types of eye disorders, idiopathic epilepsy, and several other genetic diseases.
Due to the genetic diseases each parent breed can experience, it is most likely that the puppy will also experience hip dysplasia and eye problems. Yet, many breeders do extensive genetic testing to ensure they provide the healthiest puppies.
Be sure to find a breeder who tests for these issues and provides a genetic health guarantee to certify the healthiest puppy.
Lifespan
Rhodesian Ridgebacks have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years. However, many have lived up to 12 years, and a few have lived up to 16 years.
Poodles, regardless of their size, have an average lifespan of 10 to 18 years.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback-Poodle Mix will most likely have a lifespan of at least ten years. If they are healthy, well taken care of, and live in a proper environment, they can live even longer.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, that’s the Rhodoodle! In this article, I covered:
- History of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
- History of Poodles
- Appearance [colors, size, coat type]
- Personality of a Rhodoodle
- Health issues to keep an eye out for
A Rhodesian Ridgeback-Poodle mix is an athletic dog great for families as long as they are well trained. This Doodle breed is expected to be medium to large in size. If you want a larger breed with all the best traits of both parent breeds, this is the pup for you!
