Overview
The Phu Quoc Ridgeback comes from the island of the same name off southern Vietnam, and it is one of only three ridged breeds in the world. It is smaller and lighter than the Rhodesian, with a short coat, a whip tail and a reputation for climbing, swimming and digging, and it hunted small game largely unsupervised.
You will rarely meet one in the UK, so treat each as an individual, but the type is clear: a quick, muscular primitive hound that thinks for itself, bonds closely with its own people and keeps a polite distance from everyone else.
Exercise and walking needs
Budget around ninety minutes a day. These are athletic dogs that cover ground with ease and get bored of the same route quickly. Vary the walk and include some rough terrain, water if the owner allows it, and sniffing time.
They are good jumpers. A fence that would hold a Spaniel may not hold a Phu Quoc, so check any enclosed field before unclipping.
On the walk
- Recall: Variable, and poor once a scent or a moving animal takes over. Long line until the owner has shown you the dog coming back under distraction.
- Other dogs: Confident, not usually quarrelsome, but reserved. Rough greetings from strangers are not appreciated; introduce slowly and let the dog choose.
- Water: Webbed feet and a love of swimming. Check banks and currents before you let the dog near a river, and towel off afterwards.
- Strangers: Aloof rather than nervous. Do not force attention from passers-by and ask children to let the dog approach first.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk in places with natural obstacles: logs, slopes, streams. This dog enjoys using its body.
- Hold the lead firmly near squirrels and deer, where the instinct to chase is strong.
- Check paws after beach or rocky walks. Active dogs of this kind pick up cuts and thorns.
- Build a routine. Independent dogs settle faster when every walk starts the same way.
What to ask the owner
- Where has the dog been let off lead safely, and does it ever climb or jump fences?
- Is swimming allowed, and are there places on your route to keep it out of?
- How is the dog with strangers approaching it directly on the street?