Breed Comparison: Great Dane Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

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Great Dane Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Overview

A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

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.

Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Factor Great Dane Rhodesian Ridgeback
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Weight 100 to 200 pounds 70 to 85 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Height 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 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
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Life Span 7 to 10 years 10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 8.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1560 $1620
Price Range $1000 – $2000 $1250 – $1900
Temperament Score 81.5 percent 84.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • 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 15 40
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 48 52

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane. 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most different:

  • Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Great Danes are very easy to train. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Great Danes weigh 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Great Danes are 26 to 34 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 Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The lifespan of Great Danes is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Great Danes is 8.5 years.

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks live longer than Great Danes.

    Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a better temperament than the Great Dane.

    This is because the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 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 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Price of Great Dane versus Price of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is more expensive than the Great Dane.

    Great Dane Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Average Price $1560 $1620
    Price Range $1000 to $2000 $1250 to $1900

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. 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 Great Dane 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.

    Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes 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 Great Dane named Luke that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Luke on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Great Danes, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are also available for adoption. For example, Mufasa 21-12-102 is a Male Rhodesian Ridgeback that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Mufasa 21-12-102 that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Charlie Cato is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Great Danes and Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Great Dane Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 52 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Year Great Dane Popularity Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank
    2013 16 39
    2014 15 39
    2015 15 40
    2016 14 42
    2017 14 41
    2018 16 41
    2019 17 42
    2020 15 42

    Health Problems of Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback than for the Great Dane.

    4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 6 tests are recommended for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Great Dane Health Problems

    Great Danes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Dane 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 Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Dane 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 Great Danes for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes 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 Great Danes 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 Great Dane Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the Great Dane ranks 4 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 183 Great Danes, 10 of them had Shoulder problems.

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

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 4 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 33 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 35 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 42 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 59 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 75 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 92 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 130 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 Great Dane and in Rhodesian Ridgeback and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

    Disease Great Dane Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank
    Shoulder problems 4 out of 22 dog breeds 15 out of 22 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 33 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 35 out of 49 dog breeds 32 out of 49 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 40 out of 159 dog breeds 48 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 42 out of 115 dog breeds 11 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 59 out of 182 dog breeds 102 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 75 out of 144 dog breeds 56 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 92 out of 198 dog breeds 168 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems 130 out of 145 dog breeds 97 out of 145 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 31 out of 70 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: Great Dane versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Great Danes shed more than Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Great Danes 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 Great Dane or the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes are very easy to groom.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes 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 Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Great Danes 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 Great Dane or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Great Danes 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 Great Danes and Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Great Dane

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane:

  • Flat-Coated Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Labrador Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (70 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Shiloh Shepherd.
  • 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 Great Dane vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Great Dane vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Great Dane versus Rottweiler     Great Dane versus Pug     Great Dane versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Great Dane versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Great Dane versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Great Dane versus Hovawart     Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel     Great Dane versus Border Collie     Great Dane versus Border Terrier     Great Dane versus Norwich Terrier     Great Dane versus Irish Wolfhound     Great Dane versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Great Dane versus Border Terrier     Great Dane versus Australian Terrier     Great Dane versus Maltese     Great Dane versus Basset Hound     Great Dane versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Great Dane versus Korean Jindo Dog     Great Dane versus Redbone Coonhound     Great Dane versus Cockalier     Great Dane versus Brittany     Great Dane versus American Eskimo Dog     Great Dane versus Great Pyrenees     Great Dane versus Standard Poodle     Great Dane versus Australian Shepherd     

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Catahoula Bulldog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Maltipoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cocker Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Golden Retriever     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cocker Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavachon     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cairn Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Irish Wolfhound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavachon     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Maremma Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Australian Cattle Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Shetland Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Leonberger     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Mal Shi     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Portuguese Pointer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Irish Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Japanese Spitz     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Plott     

    Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you and your family.