Which is Better between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier? A Very Detailed Review.

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Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Yorkshire Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and for the Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog while the Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Yorkshire Terrier 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.

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Rhodesian Ridgeback to the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier

Factor Rhodesian Ridgeback Yorkshire Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Height 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 70 to 85 pounds 4 to 6 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1620 $2420
Price Range $1250 – $1900 $1600 – $2950
Temperament Score 84.2 percent 83.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 40 9
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 52 27

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125.

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

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

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are most different:

  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Yorkshire Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom. However, Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Yorkshire Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

    On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers weigh 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Yorkshire Terriers are 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    The lifespan of Yorkshire Terriers is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Yorkshire Terriers is 13.5 years.

    Yorkshire Terriers live longer than Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus the Yorkshire Terrier

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a better temperament than the Yorkshire Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 percent while the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 84.2 percent, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and 43 Yorkshire Terriers.

    Price of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Price of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 a Rhodesian Ridgeback can be as low as $500 and as high as $2850. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 175 Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of the Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more expensive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Yorkshire Terrier
    Average Price $1620 $2420
    Price Range $1250 to $1900 $1600 to $2950

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy or the Yorkshire Terrier 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.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Adopting the Yorkshire Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Rhodesian Ridgebacks and many Yorkshire Terriers 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback named Mufasa 21-12-102 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Mufasa 21-12-102 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Yorkshire Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, James Doakes is a Male Yorkshire Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Yorkshire Terriers like James Doakes that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, Levee is an adorable Male Yorkshire Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Yorkshire Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback versus the Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Yorkshire Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 52 out of 130 dog breeds 27 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 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 Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Yorkshire Terrier 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Year Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 39 6
    2014 39 6
    2015 40 7
    2016 42 9
    2017 41 9
    2018 41 10
    2019 42 12
    2020 42 13

    Health Problems of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Yorkshire Terrier than for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    6 health tests are recommended for Rhodesian Ridgeback while 7 tests are recommended for the Yorkshire Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and in Yorkshire Terriers.

    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.

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Yorkshire Terriers

    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
  • 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 Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

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

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback and in Yorkshire Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier:

    Disease Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank Yorkshire Terrier Rank
    Thyroid problems 11 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 15 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 31 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 32 out of 49 dog breeds 23 out of 49 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 48 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 56 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 97 out of 145 dog breeds 3 out of 145 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 102 out of 182 dog breeds 88 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 168 out of 198 dog breeds 159 out of 198 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 1 out of 40 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: Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed more than Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Yorkshire Terrier

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Yorkshire Terrier?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Rhodesian Ridgeback Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    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.

    Yorkshire Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Rhodesian Ridgebacks Bark and Howl? What about Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Rhodesian Ridgeback vs. Yorkshire Terrier

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

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

    Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Yorkshire Terrier?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Rhodesian Ridgebacks good family dogs? What about Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Easier to Train than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Better for Apartment Owners than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Yorkshire Terrier?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    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 Yorkshire Terrier vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Yorkshire Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier:

  • Affenpinscher (74 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Affenpinscher.
  • Lhasa Apso (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Lhasapoo (75 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Lhasapoo.
  • Chorkie (83 percent match with Yorkshire Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Chorkie.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pharaoh Hound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bouvier des Flandres     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Whippet     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinook     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Saint Bernard     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinese Crested     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Puggle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Tibetan Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus American Hairless Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Shihpoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Japanese Chin     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Shihpoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Lakeland Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Kuvasz     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Brussels Griffon     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus West Highland White Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Maremma Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bouvier des Flandres     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Frenchton     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bouvier des Flandres     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus English Toy Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bullmastiff     

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus American Hairless Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Bichon Frise     Yorkshire Terrier versus American Foxhound     Yorkshire Terrier versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Yorkshire Terrier versus Frenchton     Yorkshire Terrier versus English Cocker Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus English Cocker Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Spinone Italiano     Yorkshire Terrier versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Yorkshire Terrier versus Leonberger     Yorkshire Terrier versus Australian Kelpie     Yorkshire Terrier versus Australian Cattle Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus English Springer Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Cocker Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Briard     Yorkshire Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Bearded Collie     Yorkshire Terrier versus Tibetan Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Saint Bernard     Yorkshire Terrier versus Swedish Vallhund     Yorkshire Terrier versus Goldendoodle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Saint Berdoodle     Yorkshire Terrier versus Pug     

    Conclusion: Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Yorkshire Terrier better suits you and your family.