Australian Shepherd has high obesity risk, needs regular exercise and food control to maintain healthy weight.

Rhodesian Ridgeback has average risk of obesity, needs daily walks and quality diet to maintain healthy weight.

Active
Friendly
Intelligent
Loving
Affectionate
Good-natured
Protective

Dignified
Loyal
Sensitive
Intelligent
Mischievous
Strong
Willed

Australian Shepherds are moderate shedders, but regular brushing can reduce shedding and maintain coat health.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed very little hair, making them a great choice for those who dislike excess hair in the house.

Choose an Australian Shepherd if you want a top-notch watchdog. This breed takes guarding seriously, and may not require much training, though obedience or guard dog training can improve their skills.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are decent watchdogs - they'll alert their owner if something seems amiss.

United States

South Africa

Basque Shepherd

african tribal dog, dane, mastiff, bloodhound, pointer, greyhound, terrier

American Canine Registry
American Kennel Club
America's Pet Registry
Dog Registry of America Inc.
North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
American Canine Association, Inc.
Continental Kennel Club
National Kennel Club
New Zealand Kennel Club
United Kennel Club
Australian Shepherd Club Of America

American Canine Registry
American Kennel Club
America's Pet Registry
Canadian Kennel Club
Dog Registry of America Inc.
Federation Cynologique Internationale
Kennel Club of Great Britain
North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
American Canine Association, Inc.
Australian National Kennel Council
Continental Kennel Club
National Kennel Club
New Zealand Kennel Club
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Of The US

Herding (AKC:1991 & UKC)

Hound (AKC:1955)
Sighthounds & pariahs (UKC)

Blue
Brown
Amber

Brown
Amber

Black
Brown

Black
Brown

Black
Red
Blue

Fawn
Red

Australian Shepherds have longer coats compared to most dogs.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks have coats that can be either short or medium in length.

An Australian Shepherd can have a litter of 12-15 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback can have a litter of 10-12 puppies on average. However, it's worth noting that the size of the litters can vary greatly. Factors that can influence litter size include the health of the mother, breeding history, and genetics.

Australian Shepherds are highly adaptable and versatile, making them excellent companions for families and individuals of all lifestyles.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are known for their adaptability and can adjust well to different environments and lifestyle changes.

Cataract
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Hip Dysplasia
CEA
Von Willebrand's Disease

Dermoid Sinus
Hip And Elbow Dysplasia
Bloat

Distichiasis
Deafness
OCD
Nasal Solar Dermatitis
Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Entropion
Deafness
Cataracts
Hypothyroidism
Degenerative Myelopathy

Eye
Hip
Blood
Hearing

Hip
Hearing
Breeder Check For Dermoid Sinus
Skeletal
Thyroid Tests
X-Rays
Eye Examination

Australian Shepherds thrive on an active lifestyle due to their high-energy nature.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks' high energy levels make them unsuitable for a low-key dog, choose accordingly.

Australian Shepherds need high physical activity and are ideal for active individuals, but not suitable for sedentary lifestyles or small apartments.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks require significant physical activity and suit those with an active lifestyle.

Australian Shepherds are active and require sufficient sleep to stay healthy.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks sleep less than other breeds but still need adequate sleep for good health.

Australian Shepherd dogs are highly protective and make excellent guard dogs due to their strong instinct to defend their territory and owners, and their high level of vigilance.

Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs have a strong protective nature and territorial instinct. They are highly vigilant and will fiercely defend their home and family.

Go to Beach, Walk, Frisbee, Hike, Backpacking, High Five, Speak, Walking, Petting, Sniffing, Tug-of-war, Play, Run, Chase, Jogging, Being chased, Tug of war, Running, Walks, Fetch, Sticks, Toys, Fetching, Napping, Kissing, Jumping, Heel, Squirrel gazing, Stare, Greet humans

Fetch, Eating Snacks, Walk, Run, Playing, Tug-of-war, Running, Sniffing, Jumping, Walking, Get massages, Facial kisses, Wandering, Catch treats, Play, Zoomies, Go get it, Everything, Cuddling, Walks, Swimming

Australian Shepherds are high-energy dogs. They need mental as well as physical exercise. These dogs require a lot of your involvement and without it they can, and will, become problematic dogs.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are medium-energy dogs and typically enjoy socializing and playing casual or even sustained games of chase with other dogs. They may also have occasional periods of barking or racing around the house.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Australian Shepherd, it's at least 14 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

There's really no limit to how far you walk your dog as long as they're comfortable. For Rhodesian Ridgeback, it's at least 10 miles / week. Just remember to build distance and stamina gradually over time.

In general most Australian Shepherds usually need at least 90 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

In general most Rhodesian Ridgebacks usually need at least 60 minutes of exercise daily. This can be spread across the day and include all sorts of high-energy activities, like walking, running and playing.

The Australian Shepherd requires an average amount of grooming compared to other breeds.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a low-maintenance breed that doesn't require much grooming.

Pin Brush
Comb
Nail Clipper

Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Nail Clipper

For an average 55-70 pound (25 - 32 kg) Australian Shepherd feed 2.5 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

For an average 79-85 pound (36 - 39 kg) Rhodesian Ridgeback feed 2.8 cups daily. But, keep in mind, the amount you feed is going to be dependent on the quality of the food you are feeding.

The average cost of an Australian Shepherd is somewhere $1.70 - $2.00 per day.

The average cost of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is somewhere $2.10 - $2.70 per day.

The average per month expenses of an Australian Shepherd is between $48 - $63. This makes an average of $576 - $756 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

The average per month expenses of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is between $55 - $73. This makes an average of $660 - $876 per year. It will be on the higher side when the dog is still small because it will need more frequent visits to the vet, shots.

Australian Shepherd is a very intelligent and trainable breed.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are average in obedience intelligence but have a high IQ and may cause trouble if left unsupervised.

This breed is sensitive to its environment and best suited for patient and understanding families with a consistent routine.

This breed is sensitive and requires gentle handling and a calm home environment.

Australian Shepherds are average in their friendliness toward cats and tend to do well with them, especially if raised together.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are somewhat cat friendly and can be trained to get along with cats.

Australian Shepherds are average in their friendliness towards other dogs, and socialization can help.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are less friendly towards other dogs, but can improve with socialization.

Australian Shepherds are very playful, so adopting an older one might be a better option for a more relaxed experience.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a playful breed that needs daily playtime to be happy.

The Australian Shepherd is highly intelligent and eager to please, making it a great choice for both novice and experienced dog owners due to its easy trainability.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are usually easy to train but require consistency to fully obey commands.