which dog is better a Great Dane or a Rodesian Ridgeback?

Question

i have a 12 acre field with 2 horses and a donkey behind my house and a pool in my back yard

Answer 1

great dane...both are hounds but the ridgebacks have a hunting/persuing nature about them which may end up being quite unwelcome in your home especially with your other animals. they are also very territorial and may start problems. great danes are a milder more itreverted dog with many of the same characteristics but without the agressive behavior

Answer 2

I am partial to the Rodesian Ridgeback. I have had both, and the Great Dane is a large, drooling, playful dog. Not recommended for children. I just think that if the Dane gets too playful, it might hurt the child more than the ridgeback. Ridgebacks are smaller dogs (about the size of labs) with medium-short hair (longer than great danes, not reccommended for those with allergies). They are playful, smart, and clean. It took me a week to "potty-train" my ridgeback. The ridgeback eats less and i dont think will become cranky or lazy in their later years. My ridgeback was afraid of water, but that seems to be an individual dog thing,?,. So if you want a dog that can go swimming with you, then I think the great dane might cause a bit more bother because of its size (if you have a small pool, or an above ground pool).

Either way you decide to go, both dogs are very playful, loyal, and just all around fun. I just think that the great danes are HUMONGUS (sp?) dogs and I personally dont recommend them for anyone under 5'8", lol.

Answer 3

Great danes may be big but they are very social and enjoy living inside with the family. I have has 2 and they make great indoor dogs, I really don't think they would make a good outdoor dog if that is what you are looking for. My impression of the Rodesian Ridgeback is that they aren't as social and could make a better outdoor dog.Both breeds seem to enjoy water, and would enjoy your swimming pool.

Answer 4

I don't know much about Dane's... but I have a thing for sighthounds (and a ridgeback is a sitehound) I'm feeling lazy so I'm going to cut and paste from my last response about ridgebacks...

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Ridgebacks are by no means 'huge' animals. They're certainly not small dogs and are large, but not huge... They are powerful and agile and intelligent. They are also sighthounds which means two things. First, they need a lot of exercise to stay in good condition... Second, you shouldn't own one without either a fenced in yard or more than 50 acres of property. Being sighthounds, if their chase instinct is still intact (and it will be unless you get a puppy mill dog from a pet store or an overactive breeder) you will not be able to stop them when they see anything that could be prey... chipmunks, rabbits, cats, etc...

They were bred for two things in Africa: hunting small game and baying lions/protection. Despite popular belief, a ridgeback can NOT kill a lion, nor were they ever intended to. Their purpose in this aspect was to keep lions away from the villages and in some cases to corner the animal until a human could get there to kill it. They also did this in LARGE packs, not a single dog against a lion... they used their number and agility for this not their power and stamina.

Ridgebacks can make great pets especially if you're looking for a jogging partner... some tend to get defensive as their instincts are hard wired to protect their family... they do respond better than a lot of sighthounds but please do not just let one run around in your suburban back yard; it may take 5 years but it will end up dead if you do this.

PLEASE PLEASE read up about the breed before you buy one... also consider rescuing one... luckily there isn't as many of them in rescue as other breeds but there are some who need homes. This is a link to breed info and rescue, please read it before you take home a new ridgeback puppy.
http://rrcus.org/assets/html/breedinfo/For_you.htm
http://www.ridgebackrescue.org/what_is_an_rr.html

Answer 5

Well my opinion is Danes I have had both, true Danes have a shorter life expectancy (7 yrs) but I have had them last 9 and 10 yrs so. But Ridgebacks have 12 to 15 yrs. life expectancy and Danes are better with children because they are goofier and more playful. BUT if you have children find puppies to raise together, older Danes get temperamental, not cranky Ladies and Gentlemen just like any breed.

Answer 6

I can't answer fairly, because I've never had a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I have had three Great Danes though and I love them. They are large, but very sweet tempered, kind and funny dogs. Good inside and out. They get really cold easily though. If you live where it's cold in the winter you need to think about whether you can keep them in.

Answer 7

It depends on what you are looking for in a dog...Danes don't live as long, but they are a very fun and loving breed.Just make sure that you don't buy from a pet store! Also make sure, if you don't go to Dane Rescue or Rhodesian Rescue, go to a qualified breeder that has health tested BOTH parents for all the genetic diseases and conditions that occur with these breeds. Don't buy a heartache, and help stop the puppy mill industry by letting everyone you know not to buy from pet stores.

Answer 8

Great Danes do tend to harass livestock..they also have a shorter life expectancy than Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

Answer 9

idk much about great danes but ive had a ridgeback b4 they are great wit kids and are really attached to the teenagers of the house if there are any but they love there owners period. they will sit aorund all day or play all day up to th owner just know this breed needs to be cared for because if this dog has to go into surgery it is very sensitive to anhestetics and might die from it so make sure your vet knows the breed but i have a full breed pitbul and its the best dog ive ever had very playful and friendly WITH THE FAMILY pits loves kids BUT NOT ADULTS and they do get along with other animals they just dont relly like them when they get older but they will not start fights just finish them

Answer 10

I vote for the Great Dane.