Which is Better between the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback? A Very Detailed Review.

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Italian Greyhound Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound or the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Overview

A very important difference between the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Italian Greyhound is a small-sized dog while the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Italian Greyhound belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

Factor Italian Greyhound Rhodesian Ridgeback
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 13 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 14 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Weight 6 to 15 pounds 70 to 85 pounds
Average Lifespan 14.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1930 $1620
Price Range $1500 – $2250 $1250 – $1900
Temperament Score 81.5 percent 84.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination at 36 months, recommend annual testing to age 10
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • 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 70 40
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 60 52

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125.

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

    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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Below is a list of where the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most different:

  • Italian Greyhounds adapt well to apartment living. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Italian Greyhounds are good for new dog owners. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very playful.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Italian Greyhounds weigh 6 to 15 pounds when fully grown. Italian Greyhounds are 13 to 15 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 Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The lifespan of Italian Greyhounds is between 14 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Italian Greyhounds is 14.5 years.

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

    Italian Greyhounds live longer than Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Temperament of the Italian Greyhound Versus the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a better temperament than the Italian Greyhound.

    This is because the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 percent while the temperament score for the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback by measuring the temperaments of 54 Italian Greyhounds and 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Price of Italian Greyhound versus Price of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    The average price of the Italian Greyhound puppy is $1930. The price of the Italian Greyhound typically ranges from $1500 – $2250. However, the price of a Italian Greyhound can be as low as $750 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 141 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound is more expensive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Italian Greyhound Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Average Price $1930 $1620
    Price Range $1500 to $2250 $1250 to $1900

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Italian Greyhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Italian Greyhounds. 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 Italian Greyhound 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.

    Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Adopting the Italian Greyhound versus Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhound named Massimo (Houston) that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Italian Greyhounds like Massimo (Houston) on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Italian Greyhounds, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are also available for adoption. For example, Ray Jay is a Male Rhodesian Ridgeback that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Ray Jay that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Beamer (Houston) is the name of another Italian Greyhound (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Italian Greyhounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Italian Greyhound versus the Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Italian Greyhound Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Intelligence Rank 60 out of 130 dog breeds 52 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Italian Greyhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 60 out of 130 dog breeds. The Italian Greyhound belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Italian Greyhounds tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is more intelligent than the Italian Greyhound.

    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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is more popular with dog owners than the Italian Greyhound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Italian Greyhound is 70 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Italian Greyhound

    Popularity of Italian Greyhound

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Year Italian Greyhound Popularity Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank
    2013 66 39
    2014 74 39
    2015 71 40
    2016 72 42
    2017 74 41
    2018 73 41
    2019 67 42
    2020 69 42

    Health Problems of Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback than for the Italian Greyhound.

    4 health tests are recommended for Italian Greyhound while 6 tests are recommended for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Italian Greyhounds and in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Italian Greyhound Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination at 36 months, recommend annual testing to age 10
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhound Breed is Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Italian Greyhound ranks 3 out of 32 dog breeds for Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 96 Italian Greyhounds, 4 of them had Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 3 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 30 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 58 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 62 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 Italian Greyhound and in Rhodesian Ridgeback and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

    Disease Italian Greyhound Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 3 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 30 out of 182 dog breeds 102 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 58 out of 115 dog breeds 11 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 62 out of 145 dog breeds 97 out of 145 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 15 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 31 out of 70 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 32 out of 49 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 48 out of 159 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 56 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems Not Common 168 out of 198 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: Italian Greyhound versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Italian Greyhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Italian Greyhounds shed more than Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Italian Greyhounds do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Italian Greyhound or the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Italian Greyhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Italian Greyhound or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds are very easy to groom.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Does the Italian Greyhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds 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.

    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 Italian Greyhounds Bark and Howl? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Italian Greyhounds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Italian Greyhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Italian Greyhounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Italian Greyhound vs. Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhound or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Italian Greyhounds good family dogs? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Italian Greyhounds 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 Italian Greyhounds and Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

    Italian Greyhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Italian Greyhound Easier to Train than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Is the Italian Greyhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Italian Greyhound or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Italian Greyhounds are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Italian Greyhound

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound:

  • Whippet (78 percent match with Italian Greyhound). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Whippet.
  • 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 Italian Greyhound vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Italian Greyhound vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Italian Greyhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Italian Greyhound versus Borzoi     Italian Greyhound versus Pug     Italian Greyhound versus Silky Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Valley Bulldog     Italian Greyhound versus Shih Tzu     Italian Greyhound versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Italian Greyhound versus Valley Bulldog     Italian Greyhound versus Jack Russell Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Puli     Italian Greyhound versus Irish Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Bernedoodle     Italian Greyhound versus Goldendoodle     Italian Greyhound versus American Bulldog     Italian Greyhound versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Saint Berdoodle     Italian Greyhound versus Black Russian Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Spanish Mastiff     Italian Greyhound versus Shiloh Shepherd     Italian Greyhound versus Norfolk Terrier     Italian Greyhound versus Tibetan Spaniel     Italian Greyhound versus Dutch Shepherd     Italian Greyhound versus Keeshond     Italian Greyhound versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Italian Greyhound versus Westiepoo     Italian Greyhound versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Stabyhoun     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bordoodle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Jack Russell Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Morkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Tibetan Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Boxerdoodle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Belgian Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chi-Poo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bluetick Coonhound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Morkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Coton de Tulear     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Belgian Malinois     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bullmastiff     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Boston Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Morkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Komondor     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Finnish Lapphund     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     

    Conclusion: Italian Greyhound 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 Italian Greyhound and the Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you and your family.