[AUDogGuy]

Hi, I am brand new to the site and joined mostly to get some insight on the question above. What breeds would you say are compatible with the Rhodesian? We would be getting both as puppys.

 

[mathilda]

I think it depends more on the individual dog than the breed. most breeds would work fine together if the owner is able to meet the needs of both dogs and manage them.
If you've got a female, I'd personally chose a male dog as a second though, since I've seen females getting into trouble with each other... but even then it depends in the temperament if the individuum.

 

[icemaiden]

I agree with Mathilda.

I would also like to add - don't get both at the same time, Get one, put a lot of work into socialising and training. And when you have a wonderful dog that everybody loves and you can take everywhere withou problems, then think about getting a second dog.

 

[AUDogGuy]

I agree with Mathilda.

I would also like to add - don't get both at the same time, Get one, put a lot of work into socialising and training. And when you have a wonderful dog that everybody loves and you can take everywhere withou problems, then think about getting a second dog.

I get that it would depend on the individual dog but that is too an extent and is something that cannot fully be realized until after owning the dog for quite some time. I am asking about breeds based on common characteristics.

I have owned dogs my whole life and have trained all of my dogs myself. I have always found that getting 2 dogs at the same time is much easier to train them both at the same time vs getting one and it being used to it being the only dog/center of attention and then getting a new addition. This is just my experience. The 2 times i have done this in the past they were siblings. One was a pair of sisters, all black short haired German Shepherds, the other was a set of Chow Chows. We want 2 so that they will have company and another puppy to play with when we aren't there or are busy around the house.
We haven't ruled out just getting a set of Rhodesians but just wanted opinions on some other breeds that may fit in well

 

[mathilda]

i think it is also better to start with one and then add a second when the first one is all awesome and perfectly trained.
You'll need a lot of work to work, train, exercise, play and walk with both of them seperately.
especially the proper socialisation needs a lot of time and should be done seperately and every day.
socialising is more than them meeting other dogs and people. take them with you to cafés, restaurants, teach them to drive in the train, metro, the bus, a taxi, walk in the park with them, take them with you to children's birthday parties, fairs or train stations, the zoo, the vet, take them with you to all kind of places and let them listen to all kind noises, so that they get used to their surroundings changing.

RRs are still pretty rare dogs over here, so i can only tell about the few I met Rhodesian Ridgebacks are sensitive dogs, they use their own head and depending on the situation will make their own decisions, they're willing to deal with conflicts with dogs and people because of that(which makes them a bit different and in certain aspects more difficult to train that Schäfis for example).
these are not the simplest dogs, but so are chow chows in their way.
the question is: do you need two dogs that will be strongwilled, have high protection drive and preydrive, often have big individual distance to strangers and are pretty aloof or are you perhaps willing to meet the needs of two different breeds.
for example the poodle.They can be aloof as well, but they're much more willing to work together with their owner. they're fun to be around, relatively easy to care for if you keep the fur short, are great at adapting to their owner, you can do all kinds of sports with them that are boring for the RR, and overall they're just great family dogs.

 

[AUDogGuy]

i think it is also better to start with one and then add a second when the first one is all awesome and perfectly trained.
You'll need a lot of work to work, train, exercise, play and walk with both of them seperately.

Well, they're still pretty rare dogs over here, so i can only tell about the few I met Rhodesian Ridgebacks are sensitive dogs, they use their own head and depending on the situation will make their own decisions, they're willing to deal with conflicts with dogs and people because of that(which makes them a bit different and in certain aspects more difficult to train that Schäfis for example).
these are not the simplest dogs, but so are chowchow in their way.
the question is: do you need two dogs that will be strongwilled, have high protection drive and preydrive, often have big individual distance to strangers and are pretty aloof or are you perhaps willing to meet the needs of two different breeds.
for example the poodle.They can be aloof as well, but they're much more willing to work together with their owner. they're fun to be around, relatively easy to care for if you keep the fur short, are great at adapting to their owner, you can do all kinds of sports with them that are boring for the RR, and overall they're just great family dogs.

I appreciate your opinion and i have never had one and added another, just always got 2 at the same time. I always looked at like if i am going to have 2 kids then i want twins so i can get them through diapers in 3 years vs having them seperately and buying diapers for 5 years lol.

I currently have a Rhodesian mix. She was not the easiest dog i have trained by any means, very strong willed, same for the chow chows, but she is the sweetest dog i have ever owned. The hardest thing to break with her was the chasing instinct. Didn't matter if it was a squirrel or another 75 pound dog if anything decided to run from her she was chasing it. 99% of the time once it was caught there was no aggression she would just pin it in a corner trying to keep it from running and if it got away and ran she was after it again. she now will stop on a dime at command, i unexpectedly got to practice this just last week. I was lazy and decided to take her outside without a leash (I never do this) just to pee before going to bed, no one is ever out late and there arent any dogs in our neighborhood so i just did it. Of course someone walking through is walking a pit mix and their dog goes crazy, Stella starts running at it and on command her butt hits the ground and she skids to a stop 10 feet from the other dog. At this point their dog is going nuts and Stella just looks back at me, I say "lets go inside" and she runs in the house. Sorry to get off track, just one of those proud parent moments.

But i do like the poodle recommendation, my fiancee has always said she loved poodles. I like Germans but she is not a fan. I think the fun part about getting 2 different breeds together as puppys would be adapting to their different needs as far as training and creating a stable situation.

 

[AUDogGuy]

Wo lebst Du in Deutschland? Ich lebte in Kaiserslautern fur 2 Jahre.

 

[mathilda]

Wo lebst Du in Deutschland? Ich lebte in Kaiserslautern fur 2 Jahre.

K-town? (military?)
dann wohn ich nich weit weg.
Saarland, Nähe französische Grenze.

If you think you can do it, than do it. it not the forum can stop you.
I'D still train and socialise them seperately, so that they still work together with you well, when you're happen to be out alone with one of them.
also to make sure they bond probably with you and you don't end up with a case of littermate syndrome.

 

[traciek88]

I agree it's not always the best idea to get two dogs at once. But if you're going to do it, you're going to do it. I can't really say there are many breeds of dogs that I would call "incompatible", especially if they're raised together from puppies. Sometimes problems can arise from differences in size or if a larger dog has a high prey drive, but for the most part I think any dogs can live together if they have the right personality.

Do you mean similar energy levels or size or what? Are there some breeds you were considering other than Rhodesians?

 

[TruckersMom]

Rhody's do best with other Rhody's as far as I know. We have quite a few Rhody friends and they all have 2 Rhody's never mixed breeds but i think that is because Rhody's have a TON of energy and tend yo be a little over protective so you need a breed who can mesh well.