Hybrid breeds, also known as designer breeds, have become popular over the last few years, essentially combining two purebred dogs to produce one fine dog with unique temperament, traits, and characteristics. One such hybrid/designer dog is the Rhodesian Ridgeback and Staffordshire Terrier mix.

In this post, we’ll detail this hybrid breed to give you a better understanding of what to expect while owning one of these beautiful dogs.

Breed Overview

The Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix is a hybrid mix combining the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Both parent breeds are friendly; however, they have different personalities, and you never know what personality traits a mixed pup will have. Still, these dogs are friendly and love to be around their humans. If you have an active family, a Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix will fit right in due to their natural athletic nature and loving personalities.

Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier Mix Puppies

It’s unclear when these dogs came on the hybrid dog scene, and it may have been a case of accidental breeding. Hybrids have gained in popularity over the last 20 years or so, so one can guess how long these hybrid dogs have been around. That said, these hybrid dogs are rare and not easy to find.

You can always search your local rescue for a Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix. Dogs of all breeds and mixes end up in shelters for various reasons, and you may get lucky; plus, you’ll be giving a dog in need a loving home, and you won’t pay breeder prices, which will be significantly cheaper.

Given these are hybrid dogs, beware of fake breeders trying to pass dogs as a true mix of the two breeds. Ask to see both parents of the puppy (if you find one) and verify both parents are purebred. A surefire way to tell a true Rhodesian Ridgeback is that the dog will have a trademark “ridge” of backward-growing hair along the back.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier Mix 🧠

These dogs have an excellent temperament and are quite intelligent. Both parent breeds are friendly, but they have a few differences when it comes to personality traits. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is affectionate, even-tempered, and protective of their human families. The Staffordshire Terrier is brave, clever, and courageous. They are inquisitive dogs and love to investigate anything and everything around them. They are also highly social dogs and do well with human interaction.

Are These Dogs Good for Families?

The Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix is an excellent dog to add to your family for companionship. They are active and love to engage in any activity with their humans, whether swimming, running, walking, or hunting. These dogs do well with children and love to play. They don’t like to be left alone for long, so keep this in mind if you and your family are absent from the home often.

Like any dog, these dogs will benefit from positive reinforcement to learn acceptable behaviors. They have a sensitive nature, and any negative reinforcement with yelling will not bode well—rough training will only make the dog afraid of you. These dogs are also better suited for an experienced dog owner.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

It’s hard to say if these dogs do well with other dogs. We do know they can be dominant at times, which could pose problems. However, with proper socialization, these dogs can get along with other pets. Take heed to supervise your dog around smaller pets, such as guinea pigs or hamsters, as both parent breeds have a strong prey drive.

Things to Know When Owning a Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier Mix:

Food & Diet Requirements

It’s best to feed a high-quality, 100% complete and balanced dog food with top-quality protein as the first ingredient. Protein is essential in a dog’s diet, and providing top-quality protein will benefit your active Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix. Ensure you read the feeding recommendations on the food package to provide appropriate portions. Many dogs are overweight, which can lead to health problems if not kept in check. If you’re unsure of what to feed, use your veterinarian as a resource to help you choose the appropriate food for your pooch.

Exercise

The Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix is an active dog due to a trait of both parent breeds, and they get bored easily if not exercised. It’s crucial to take your dog on daily walks or engage in a game of fetch in the backyard. These dogs love to go swimming, hunting, walking, or running, and they are happy to tag along on any such activity with you. You can also enroll your dog in an agility or tracking course for exercise. These dogs love to run, and given their intelligence, they excel in canine sports. Providing at least 1–2 hours per day of exercise should suffice to keep your dog in shape and both physically and mentally stimulated.

Training

Even though these dogs are intelligent, training one can be somewhat of a challenge due to their independent nature—this is why these dogs are better suited to an experienced dog owner who can establish leadership in the pack.

Keep training sessions short, as these dogs can get bored with training rather easily. You can divide the training sessions into multiple short daily sessions, ensure you have treats on hand, and give praise when your dog obeys. Socialization is also important in training, and it’s a good idea to take your dog to a dog park you trust to get him socialized at an early age.

Grooming ✂️

Fortunately, these dogs have short hair and shed very little, usually requiring just a quick brush once a week to remove dead hair. They typically only need baths when dirty, and you should check the nails every 3 weeks and trim them as needed. Check the ears every 2–3 weeks and clean them as needed with ear wipes or a liquid solution made for dogs.

Establishing a dental hygiene routine is vital in encouraging healthy teeth and gums. Neglecting your dog’s dental hygiene will only create dental problems that will need addressing, which can be costly. Not to mention, your dog could develop an illness to vital organs if constantly swallowing bacteria due to periodontal disease. Getting your dog acclimated to teeth brushing at an early age is best. You can also provide dental chews or water additives in addition to brushing the teeth.

Health and Conditions

Any dog may be prone to specific health conditions, which holds true for a Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix. Both parent breeds are susceptible to certain health conditions, but this doesn’t mean your dog will develop any of the conditions we’ll mention below; it’s wise to familiarize yourself with possible health conditions so you can address them immediately should any arise.

Buying your pup from a reputable breeder is important because a reputable breeder will not breed a dog with certain health conditions that can be passed to the offspring. That said, ensure the parent breeds have a certified clean bill of health.

Male vs Female

Females are not quite as big as males. If the dog takes more after the Rhodesian Ridgeback side, a female may be more independent and have more of a nurturing and motherly nature as opposed to a male. Males are also more energetic and protective than females.

If the dog takes more after the Staffordshire Terrier side, a male may be more dominant than a female. Females tend to be more submissive to their masters than males.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier Mix

1. They Make Excellent Guard Dogs

These dogs are protective of their humans and will protect a family member if need be. Both parent breeds of the Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix are excellent guard dogs, so it stands to reason their offspring will inherit this trait.

2. One Parent Breed Is from South Africa

The Rhodesian Ridgeback hails from South Africa, where they were bred as hunting dogs with a coat fit for rough terrain. Also known as the “African Lion Hound,” these dogs were bred with the native Khoikhoi dog and other dog breeds brought over by European settlers during the colonial period, such as Greyhounds, Mastiffs, Great Danes, and Bloodhounds.

3. They Are Extremely Energetic

These dogs require a lot of exercise! Making time to exercise them is important and should be done daily. Otherwise, they may become destructive and unruly. They are also not suitable for apartment living.

Summing Up

The Rhodesian Staffordshire Terrier mix is a beautiful hybrid dog with many excellent characteristics and traits. They do require someone with a firm tone to establish dominance, but positive reinforcement is key in training these dogs due to their sensitive nature. They are intelligent and love to be around their humans. A drawback is they are hard to find—but not impossible. They do well with children but also have a strong prey drive, which means supervising them around smaller animals is a must.

These dogs are loving, loyal, eager to please, and are fun to take on hikes, walks, runs, or even dips in the pool or any other body of water. They make excellent companions, and you can’t go wrong with adding one to your family.

Related Reads:

• Rhodesian Border Collie Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits
• Rhodesian German Mix: Pictures, Care Guide, Temperament & Traits

Featured Image Credit By: Left – Nina Quka, Pexels | Right – Zanna Pesnina, Shutterstock