The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a beloved family member in many households around the world. These medium-large-sized, sweet, and sensitive dogs are equally intelligent and energetic, making them the perfect friend, playmate, and jogging partner. They’re also a healthy breed for the most part, with a lifespan averaging 10–12 years.

Regarding health issues, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are prone to joint issues¹ like hip and elbow dysplasia. They also love playing and exercising, so picking out high-quality dog food to support their joints and energy levels is key.

If you’re unsure where to start, these reviews are a round-up of our top recommendations for Rhodesian Ridgebacks. If your Rhodesian Ridgeback has health issues, we recommend running any dietary changes by your vet first to ensure the new food suits them.

It’s also a good idea to bear in mind that not every type of food will be suitable for every dog.

A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Best Dog Foods for Rhodesian Ridgebacks

1. Ollie Fresh Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

If you’re looking for the convenience of having your dog’s food delivered to your door, you should consider Ollie Fresh Dog Food. Ollie is a dog food delivery service specializing in baked and fresh recipes. By taking a quick quiz on Ollie’s website, you can get personalized recommendations based on your dog’s calculated optimum daily calories, activity level, age, breed, and what they like or don’t.

Ollie also considers any allergies or sensitivities your dog may have. The fresh recipes use high-quality protein sources (beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey) depending on the flavor your dog likes best and are packed with healthy fruits and veggies like sweet potatoes, kale, butternut squash, blueberries, and cranberries.

Ollie is the best overall dog food for Rhodesian Ridgebacks because of its high-quality ingredients and personalized approach.

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2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free – Budget Buy

This grain-free chicken recipe by Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food is our best dog food for Rhodesian Ridgebacks for the money recommendation. It’s high in protein (34% min), nutritionist-developed, and formulated to keep dogs as healthy and active as possible. We think it’s ideal for energetic Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

The first ingredient is real chicken, followed by chicken meal. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and LifeSource Bits, which are an antioxidant blend in the form of small kibble pieces. On the downside, some dogs weren’t happy with the LifeSource bits and picked them out.

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3. Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility Large Breed

Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Mobility is designed to support your dog’s joint and hip health. Chicken meal is the main ingredient, followed by brewer’s rice, and the recipe also contains EPA from fish oil. EPA is good for keeping your dog’s joint cartilage in good shape, which in turn helps keep them mobile and active.

Most pet parents were happy with the Hill’s recipe, including those with finicky eaters, and some mentioned that their dogs’ mobility improved. Of course, not every dog enjoyed it. A few users weren’t happy with the kibble size and found it too large for their dogs. However, adult Rhodesian Ridgebacks shouldn’t have a problem with it.

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4. Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Food

For puppies, we recommend this large-breed recipe by Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy Food. Formulated for puppies up to 18 months of age, it’s made with real chicken. Other ingredients include kale and spinach, which are vitamin-packed vegetables that are a source of iron, antioxidants, and beta-carotene.

This formula also contains DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids to support brain health and glucosamine and chondroitin to support the developing joints. Some users found this recipe helpful for their puppies with sensitive stomachs, and it may be a good choice for puppies with digestive problems. Some users praised the quality of the food but commented that their dogs weren’t keen on the flavor.

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5. Merrick Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food

Our fifth choice for Rhodesian Ridgebacks is the Merrick Healthy Grains salmon recipe, which is made with brown rice and ancient grains, including quinoa. This is another recipe containing glucosamine and chondroitin for joint and hip health and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to keep the skin and coat shiny and healthy.

Best of all, it’s made with real deboned salmon, which is great for immunity and fighting inflammation. It’s also a good source of protein, which keeps the muscles in good shape. According to some customers, the kibble size is perfect, and it’s a good choice for picky eaters. Others found the kibble too small for larger dogs.

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6. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dog Food Large Breed Salmon and Rice Formula

If your Rhodesian Ridgeback has a sensitive stomach or skin, you might want to consider the Purina Pro Plan formula. It contains natural prebiotics, live probiotics, and oatmeal to aid digestion, as oatmeal is especially easy on the stomach. Sunflower oil is a source of omega-6, and nutrient-packed real salmon is the first ingredient.

Some happy users commented that this recipe worked well for their sensitive dogs and that they spotted a reduction in itchy skin and diarrhea. Others weren’t so happy about a recent formula change and found the kibble too powdery.

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7. Wellness Complete Health Adult Dry Dog Food

This Wellness Complete Health Adult Lamb & Barley recipe is formulated to support your dog’s immune system, skin, coat, eyes, teeth, gums, and digestive tract. It contains antioxidant-rich blueberries and spinach, flaxseeds for an omega boost, and added taurine, vitamins, and minerals.

Several users commented on the flavor and how much their dogs enjoyed it. Some dogs disliked the flavor, but this can happen with new foods. If your dog has a chicken allergy, we recommend avoiding this recipe. Even though lamb is the main ingredient, it still contains chicken fat.

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8. Purina One Natural Smart Blend Dry Food

This Purina One formula is another recipe supporting overall health. The first ingredient is real lamb, a quality protein source that supports muscle development. Vitamin A, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium support the immune system. If your dog isn’t a fan of lamb, other flavors are available, including chicken.

Most dog parents were happy with Purina One, but some said their dogs disliked the flavor. It’s also important to be aware that Purina One contains chicken by-product meal, so it’s not a good choice for dogs with poultry allergies.

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9. Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie with Ancient Grains Recipe

Taste of the Wild Ancient Prairie is a popular dog food brand that creates high-protein recipes based on what dogs would be eating in the wild. As such, this formula is made with a range of meat sources—water buffalo, pork, chicken meal, and roasted bison—and ancient grains. So, if your dog has exotic tastes beyond the standard protein sources typically included in dog foods, this one might be worth a shot!

Judging by the user reviews, this formula went down a treat with plenty of dogs, with tastiness and the quality of the ingredients being cited as two of its winning points. Some users found that it didn’t sit well with their dogs, though, and it’s important to note that this recipe contains chicken meal, so be careful if your dog has poultry allergies.

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10. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe

If your Rhodesian Ridgeback is more of a wet food fan, you can try the Blue Buffalo turkey recipe. In addition to turkey, it contains garden vegetables, including peas and sweet potatoes. It can be served as a meal or treat and contains no by-product meals.

Most users were happy with the recipe, and some appreciated that it’s made with turkey instead of chicken for a change. However, a few users commented that their dogs weren’t happy with the taste and texture, and some complained of cans arriving dented.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Food for Rhodesian Ridgebacks

When choosing dog food for your Rhodesian Ridgeback, it’s easy to feel bowled over by all the options on the market. The easiest way to choose a brand is to narrow your options down based on a few factors, including:

If you’re ever uncertain or have doubts about the best food for your dog, your vet is the best person to ask. They’ll be able to recommend brands they trust and consider best for your dog’s needs.

Summary

To recap our top picks, we chose Ollie’s dog food delivery service, which uses high-quality ingredients and offers customized meal recommendations, as our best overall choice. Our best value pick was the protein-rich Blue Buffalo’s chicken recipe from its Wilderness range, and we went for the Hill’s Science Diet Adult Healthy Mobility Large Breed Recipe as our third pick.

We picked these products based on their suitability for large breeds, their high-quality protein sources and ingredients, and potential health benefits like joint care and mobility. We hope you’ve found these reviews useful and can find the perfect food for your smart, sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback!

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Featured Image Credit: Couleur, Pixabay