Thai Ridgeback: Your Complete Guide

The Thai ridgeback is a unique and rare dog breed originating from Thailand. This dog is one of three dog breeds that possess the distinctive ‘ridgeback’ appearance characterized by hair that runs in a ridge along its back.

These dogs are often difficult to find in the United States, but many individuals are interested in adopting them due to their distinct appearance, their fierce loyalty, and their active natures.

Below, we discuss everything you need to know about the Thai ridgeback breed including their temperament, the type of home environment they thrive in, and how to properly care for this dog. It’s important to understand all you can about this breed if you want them to thrive under your care.

Quick Look at the Thai Ridgeback

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Thai Ridgebacks?

The Thai ridgeback is a unique breed of dog that is fairly rare and not commonly encountered in the United States. These dogs originate from Thailand, and they are a pariah-type dog, which means they are generally half-wild and free-roaming around their home areas.

The Thai ridgeback is one of only three dogs that have a distinctive ridge of hair on their back that stretches from behind their shoulders to their hips; this ridge primarily takes on a violin pattern or a saddleback pattern, though eight different patterns have been noted.

The Thai ridgeback has a history as a hunting dog, and they are also popular in Thailand for watchdogs and escorts during travel. These dogs are known to be loyal and alert, and they are generally very protective, which suits them for this type of work.

Individuals who are interested in adopting the Thai ridgeback should note that they need to be well-bred and trained in order to be happy and that this dog typically thrives in working or outdoor environments. It can be difficult to find the Thai ridgeback outside of Thailand, which makes adopting this dog slightly more difficult.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes this breed as part of its ‘Hound Group’ designation.

What Do Thai Ridgebacks Look Like?

The Thai ridgeback is muscular, agile, and streamlined in their body. These dogs look naturally athletic, and they are. They have short, dense coats, pointed ears, and a straight, somewhat sword-shaped tail. These dogs may have a spotted tongue, and they typically appear in a solid coat color of black, blue, fawn, red, or shades of brown.

The Thai ridgeback will have a distinctive ridge of hair that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of their fur that starts just behind their shoulders and goes down to the hips. This ridge is typically present from birth, but some puppies may be born without it and develop it later.

What Size Is a Thai Ridgeback?

The Thai ridgeback is a medium-sized dog that stands between 20 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder. This dog can weigh between 35 and 60 pounds, with males of this breed typically being larger and slightly more well-muscles than females.

What Is a Thai Ridgeback’s Coat Type and Length?

The Thai ridgeback has a short, smooth coat that may feel somewhat hard or coarse to the touch. Their coat is a single layer, and they don’t have any kind of dense undercoat. These dogs do best in moderate or warm climates due to their coat type.

What Is a Thai Ridgeback’s Temperament?

The Thai ridgeback is known for being fiercely loyal to their family and fairly athletic. These dogs will typically have bursts of energy and they love to run around outdoors or complete working tasks. Your Thai ridgeback will be protective and brave, and they are known for being agile and intelligent.

It’s important to train your Thai ridgeback, as these dogs can be territorial or mistrustful of strangers due to their history as working and guard dogs. Your Thai ridgeback may be shy or aggressive when not properly socialized, so it’s important to spend plenty of time with this dog training them and encouraging both mental and physical stimulation.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Good With Kids?

Thai ridgebacks aren’t the best choice for families with children, as they might not understand how to play gently, and they typically don’t enjoy loud and rough children playing with them.

These dogs can be protective and loyal to children in their families, but they must be trained properly so that they don’t become too territorial or protective, something that can result in barking or growling in certain situations.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Good With Other Animals?

The Thai ridgeback has a high prey drive, and they aren’t the best choice for living alongside other animals, especially smaller animals like cats or prey animals like hamsters. These dogs may get along with other dogs once they have been properly socialized and trained, though they can be very suspicious and mistrustful of other animals at first.

Lots of training and socialization from an early age helps to ensure these dogs get along well with other breeds.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Aggressive?

Thai ridgebacks can be territorial and protective due to their natures as hunting and watch dogs. Aggressive behaviors like snapping, growling, and barking can manifest in these dogs if they are not properly trained, socialized, and handled by an experienced owner who understands dog behavior.

The Thai ridgeback can be difficult to train and understand, which is why well-bred dogs and an authoritative attitude are necessary to train and control this independent, loyal dog.

Do Thai Ridgebacks Bark?

Thai ridgebacks aren’t particularly vocal, and they tend to be a quiet dog overall. They may be okay in areas with noise restrictions, but this dog isn’t the best choice for apartment living due to their high exercise needs and the general suspiciousness of others that their history as a watchdog brings.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Affectionate?

Thai ridgebacks aren’t known to be especially cuddly or affectionate, though they do form strong bonds with their owners. These dogs enjoy working alongside their owners, and they are very loyal.

You can expect these dogs to want to be near you most of the day, though they love to independently work, run, and play during regular intervals. Your Thai ridgeback likely won’t warm up to strangers very quickly, though they can be trained to be less suspicious overall of other people and animals.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Intelligent?

The Thai ridgeback is an intelligent breed, and they easily learn new commands. This dog enjoys working and the mental stimulation that comes with learning, and you can expect them to be happy if given tasks to do throughout the day.

It’s important to keep in mind that Thai ridgebacks can be fairly independent, and they might have a stubborn streak that is hard to keep in check. It takes a lot of patience and consistency to keep this dog in control.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Energetic?

Thai ridgebacks are medium to high energy, and they need to receive two to three decent-length walks per day to stay happy. They will also need time to run around outdoors in a fenced-in space, and they can visit dog parks as long as they are well-socialized to play with other dogs.

This breed comes from hunting and watchdog origins, so they are happy to work outdoors, and they often experience bursts of energy throughout the day.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Easy to Train?

Thai ridgebacks aren’t the easiest to train due to their independent nature. These dogs have a high prey drive, and they might easily be distracted by other things around them. They typically require an experienced hand and an individual who understands dog behavior to stay focused on training.

That being said, once this dog is focused on training, they learn new things easily. They may be able to learn complex tricks and learn agility training due to their athletic nature.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Good Watchdogs?

Thai ridgebacks make good watchdogs because they have historically been used for this purpose, and they are both protective and loyal. This breed has no problem alerting their owners with a strong bark if they sense a threat, and they are naturally mistrustful of strangers.

Are Thai Ridgebacks Good Service Dogs?

While Thai ridgebacks are intelligent and eager to please their owners for the most part, they might not be the best choice for service dog tasks. They are naturally athletic and require lots of exercise to stay happy, and they require strict training to overcome their independent, sometimes stubborn, natures.

A Thai ridgeback likely won’t be able to perform service dog tasks with consistency, and they may not be affectionate or cuddly enough to act as emotional support animals or therapy dogs.

How to Care for a Thai Ridgeback?

Thai ridgebacks are rare dogs, and they require a certain set of care steps to ensure they thrive around your home. These dogs will need significant training and socialization from a young age to counteract any overly territorial or aggressive behaviors, and they will need plenty of exercise to stay happy.

You will need to take your Thai ridgeback on several walks a day and preferably give them a fenced-in area to run around regularly.

Thai ridgebacks do better as the only dog in a family, and they aren’t the best choice for families with young children. Experienced dog owners are the best choice of owner for this breed, and you should always designate a place in your home for this dog with a bed, toys, food, and water to make them feel comfortable and happy.

Do You Need to Groom a Thai Ridgeback?

The Thai ridgeback has relatively low grooming needs, and they will only need to be brushed one or two times a week. They rarely need to visit professional groomers for trims, and they should be bathed as needed. Your Thai ridgeback will shed their coat one to two times a year, and you can help this process with more regular brushing and de-shedding tools.

Do Thai Ridgebacks Shed?

The Thai ridgeback is a low shedder, and they don’t typically shed that much fur throughout the year. They do lose and shed their coats one to two times per year, and this is the most shedding you will see from this dog. Because the Thai ridgeback only has a single coat, they might not trigger allergies as much as other dogs, but they aren’t technically considered hypoallergenic.

What Health Problems Do Thai Ridgebacks Have?

The Thai ridgeback is prone to certain health issues due to their genetics. However, this dog is rarer to encounter so it’s hard to pinpoint the specific health problems that might be present in this breed. In general, you should look out for signs of hip dysplasia and dermoid sinus cysts, which regularly plague ridgeback-type dogs.

Consistent veterinary care helps to ensure your Thai ridgeback has a healthy life and can catch health issues before they become too serious.

How Long Do Thai Ridgebacks Live?

On average, the Thai ridgeback will live between twelve to fifteen years. You can help your dog live their happiest, longest life with proper care, regular vet visits, and lots of exercise.

What Should a Thai Ridgeback Eat?

Your Thai ridgeback will need a healthy diet of dry or wet dog food split up into two or three meals a day. In general, you can feed your dog between one and three cups a day of food, but the exact amount depends on the size of your dog, how active they are daily, and the caloric content of the food.

You can speak with a veterinarian if you have any questions about what to feed your Thai ridgeback and how much.

Is a Thai Ridgeback the Right Dog for Me?

The Thai ridgeback is a unique and distinctive breed, and they aren’t commonly seen outside of their home country of Thailand. These dogs are intelligent, loyal, and active, and their naturally athletic natures require lots of exercise to stay happy. Thai ridgebacks make good watchdogs, and they are perfectly happy working outside with their owners.

The Thai ridgeback might be the right dog for you if you have significant experience with dogs, you know how to train dogs and understand dog behavior, and if you have an active lifestyle to help this dog thrive.