Breed Comparison: Golden Retriever Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

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Golden Retriever Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Golden Retriever and for the Rhodesian Ridgeback. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Golden Retriever or the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Overview

A very important difference between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Golden Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Golden Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Golden Retriever to the Rhodesian Ridgeback based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Factor Golden Retriever Rhodesian Ridgeback
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 75 pounds 70 to 85 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1870 $1620
Price Range $1500 – $2200 $1250 – $1900
Temperament Score 85.6 percent 84.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 3 40
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 4 52

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Golden Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Golden Retriever is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a better pet than the Golden Retriever. So, you should get the Rhodesian Ridgeback!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Below is a list of where the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most different:

  • Golden Retrievers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.
  • Golden Retrievers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Golden Retrievers are very easy to train. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most similar:

  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Golden Retrievers are 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Rhodesian Ridgebacks weigh 70 to 85 pounds when fully grown. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The lifespan of Golden Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Golden Retrievers is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is 11.0 years.

    Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Temperament of the Golden Retriever Versus the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Golden Retriever has a better temperament than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    This is because the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 percent while the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.2 percent, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback by measuring the temperaments of 813 Golden Retrievers and 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Price of Golden Retriever versus Price of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The average price of the Golden Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2200. However, the price of a Golden Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $6500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2668 Golden Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is $1620. The price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback typically ranges from $1250 – $1900. However, the price of the Rhodesian Ridgeback can be as low as $500 and as high as $2850. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 175 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Golden Retriever is more expensive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Golden Retriever Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Average Price $1870 $1620
    Price Range $1500 to $2200 $1250 to $1900

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Golden Retriever and Rhodesian Ridgeback. For different price points, the charts show how many Golden Retriever puppies or how many Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Golden Retriever puppy or the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Adopting the Golden Retriever versus Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Golden Retrievers and many Rhodesian Ridgebacks are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Golden Retriever named D837 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Golden Retrievers like D837 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Golden Retrievers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are also available for adoption. For example, Magnum is a Male Rhodesian Ridgeback that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Magnum that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Bear is the name of another Golden Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Grady (Courtesy) is an adorable Male Rhodesian Ridgeback on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Golden Retrievers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Golden Retrievers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Golden Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Golden Retriever Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Intelligence Rank 4 out of 130 dog breeds 52 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Golden Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 4 out of 130 dog breeds. The Golden Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Golden Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback has an obedience intelligence rank of 52 out of 130 dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Golden Retriever is more intelligent than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Golden Retriever versus Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Year Golden Retriever Popularity Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank
    2013 3 39
    2014 3 39
    2015 3 40
    2016 3 42
    2017 3 41
    2018 3 41
    2019 3 42
    2020 4 42

    Health Problems of Golden Retriever versus Health Problems of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to more genetic health problems than the Golden Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback than for the Golden Retriever.

    4 health tests are recommended for Golden Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Golden Retrievers and in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

    Golden Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Golden Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Golden Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Golden Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Golden Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers here.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Health Problems

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Rhodesian Ridgebacks for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Rhodesian Ridgebacks here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Golden Retrievers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Golden Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Golden Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranks 11 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 6564 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 636 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and how common these diseases are in Rhodesian Ridgebacks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 11 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 15 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 31 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 32 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 48 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 56 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 97 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 102 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 168 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Golden Retriever and in Rhodesian Ridgeback and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

    Disease Golden Retriever Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank
    Ichthyosis problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 11 out of 22 dog breeds 15 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 17 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 33 out of 115 dog breeds 11 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 36 out of 144 dog breeds 56 out of 144 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 39 out of 49 dog breeds 32 out of 49 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 40 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 45 out of 198 dog breeds 168 out of 198 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 56 out of 159 dog breeds 48 out of 159 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 56 out of 70 dog breeds 31 out of 70 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 58 out of 182 dog breeds 102 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 112 out of 145 dog breeds 97 out of 145 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Golden Retrievers shed more than Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Golden Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Golden Retriever or the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Golden Retriever or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Does the Golden Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Golden Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Golden Retriever vs. Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Golden Retrievers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Golden Retrievers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Golden Retriever or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Golden Retrievers good family dogs? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Golden Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Golden Retrievers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Golden Retriever Easier to Train than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Is the Golden Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Golden Retriever or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Golden Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Golden Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Golden Retriever:

  • Aussiedoodle (74 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Irish Setter (72 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Irish Setter.
  • Labrador Retriever (75 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  • Black Mouth Cur (79 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Golden Retriever vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Golden Retriever and how the Rhodesian Ridgeback compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Golden Retriever and of the Rhodesian Ridgeback to other breeds:

    Golden Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     Golden Retriever versus Lhasapoo     Golden Retriever versus Scottish Deerhound     Golden Retriever versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Golden Retriever versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Golden Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     Golden Retriever versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Golden Retriever versus Japanese Spitz     Golden Retriever versus French Bulldog     Golden Retriever versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Golden Retriever versus Puggle     Golden Retriever versus Clumber Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus German Longhaired Pointer     Golden Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute     Golden Retriever versus Finnish Lapphund     Golden Retriever versus Labradoodle     Golden Retriever versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Golden Retriever versus Brittany     Golden Retriever versus Catahoula Bulldog     Golden Retriever versus Havanese     Golden Retriever versus Affenhuahua     Golden Retriever versus Hovawart     Golden Retriever versus Brittany     

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Akita Chow     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Peek A Poo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinook     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus American Hairless Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Skye Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Australian Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus American Hairless Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus West Highland White Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus English Cocker Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Australian Shepherd     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pharaoh Hound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Lowchen     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinook     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Affenpinscher     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Australian Shepherd     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Xoloitzcuintli     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pointer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavapoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pomapoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chorkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Boerboel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chorkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Goldador     

    Conclusion: Golden Retriever versus Rhodesian Ridgeback. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Golden Retriever and the Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you and your family.