Broholmer vs Rhodesian Ridgeback
Side by side
Broholmer
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Adult weight
Males 50–70 kg (110–154 lb); females 40–60 kg (88–132 lb)1
Males 36–41 kg (79–90 lb); females 29–34 kg (64–75 lb) (breed club figure)2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Plenty
Health
No sourced figure
Bone cancer (much more likely); Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (much more likely)6
Class
Watchdog
Watchdog
Which suits you
Size
The Broholmer is larger on average: about 55 kg (121 lb) as an adult, against 35 kg (77 lb) for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Broholmer moults most as the seasons change, the Rhodesian Ridgeback sheds through the year.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and a moderate amount with the Broholmer.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Broholmer: cooperative, with its own ideas; Rhodesian Ridgeback: decides for itself) and on handler demand (Broholmer: needs steady training; Rhodesian Ridgeback: needs an experienced owner).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
What they're like
Broholmer
Pinschers & molossoids · Large
The breed is calm and good-natured, friendly with people it knows but watchful and self-assured with strangers, and it keeps a guarding instinct.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Scent hounds · Large
The Ridgeback is affectionate and gentle with its own people but reserved with strangers, and is generally quiet.
Breed traits
Day to day
Broholmer
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Activity
Differs
Happy with modest walks
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Broholmer
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Broholmer
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Chases; needs managing
Likely to chase small pets
Puppy growth
Reference curves · both sexes
Summary
Detail
The Broholmer grows to the heavier adult, about 55 kg against the Rhodesian Ridgeback's 35 kg.
Broholmer
Rhodesian Ridgeback
More comparisons
Compare the Broholmer with
Sources
- 1
- 2American Kennel Club. Rhodesian Ridgeback breed page. ↑
- 3
- 4Hawthorne et al., 2004. Body-weight changes during growth in puppies of different breeds. Journal of Nutrition 134(8 Suppl): 2027S–2030S (WALTHAM). ↑
- 5
- 6
- 7Morrill et al., 2022. Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science 376: eabk0639 (Darwin's Ark). ↑
- 8Dogs Trust. Finding a good, responsible breeder. ↑
- 9American Kennel Club. Screening puppy buyers: how top breeders find the best homes. ↑
- 10
Parts of this page were written by AI ·