The Ridgebacks are a very smart, responsive and trainable dog.  They are also known to be independent thinkers.  They are a very clean dog with little or no odor (scent travels far on the African veldt), and are usually very easy to housetrain.  They may look like a big, lazy couch protector, Ridgebacks are very athletic, able to jump over high fences, and they enjoy swimming.  Being proficient swimmers, they can be an annoyance if the owner, or a neighbor, doesn't want them in the pool.  They will be a threatening presence as a watchdog, if something occurs that they don't understand, or someone approaches their territory that they don't know.  Because of their innate abilities to protect the family, a Ridgeback should not be trained as a guard dog, instead these natural protective qualities should be enhanced with obedience training.  An untrained, uncontrollable dog is a nuisance in any breed, but with Ridgebacks it is dangerous.  Starting early in life, a Ridgeback that is raised with other pets and children, trained in obedience and is loved will mature into lovely calm dogs.  It has been said that "a mature Ridgeback is happiest when either running flat out across a field, or flat out asleep at your feet."
        As a note to future owners of Ridgebacks, they do get rather enthusiastic about dinner time.  They can drool quite a bit while their food is being prepared, and when presented with the bowl, they do inhale their food.  They are expressing their appreciation for your culinary artistry.  Also, a good cupboard lock may be needed to keep the clever dog from absconding with a tasty tidbit to hold him over until dinnertime.