Training & Socialization

At Florida Ridgebacks, we believe that proper training and early socialization are key to raising well-rounded, confident, and happy Rhodesian Ridgebacks. We’re committed to giving our puppies the best start in life, ensuring they grow into well-behaved companions ready for their forever homes.

Socialization: The Foundation for a Confident Puppy

From an early age, we expose our puppies to a variety of experiences, sounds, environments, and people to ensure they are well-socialized. This includes interactions with adults, children, and other animals. We also introduce them to different textures, sights, and noises—anything that will help them feel comfortable in any setting.

Socializing a puppy early can help prevent behavioral issues down the line and helps them become confident in unfamiliar situations. By the time they are ready to go home at 8 weeks, our puppies are used to everyday life and are ready to adapt quickly to their new families.

Basic Training: Building Good Habits Early

In addition to socialization, we begin teaching our puppies essential foundational behaviors, such as:

  • Crate training: Helping them adjust to a crate as a safe space, which is key for travel and when left alone at home.

  • Potty training: We start working on crate training and establishing a routine to help with housebreaking.

  • Leash walking: Early exposure to walking on a leash helps your puppy get accustomed to walks and being outside in public.

AKC Star Puppy Program

We’re proud to participate in the AKC Star Puppy Program, which is a fantastic way to get your puppy off to a great start. The program provides a series of positive training exercises to help your puppy become well-behaved and socially confident.

The AKC Star Puppy title is earned after completing the program’s requirements, which include:

  • Basic commands such as sit, stay, come, and down.

  • Socialization with people, dogs, and various environments.

  • Learning to be well-behaved in public places.

While we don’t directly certify our puppies, we ensure they are on their way to completing the program when they go home. This provides new owners with a solid foundation for continued training and success with their puppy.

The Importance of Ongoing Training

Our puppies leave our home with essential skills, but training is a lifelong journey. As your puppy grows, we encourage you to continue building upon the foundation we’ve provided. We offer support and advice as needed, and we’re always happy to answer questions about how to best train and care for your Ridgeback.

By the time your puppy leaves us, they will have the essential tools to thrive in their new home, and you’ll be ready to continue training and building a deep bond with your new best friend.

Let us help you raise a Rhodesian Ridgeback that is well-behaved, confident, and ready to be a loving member of your family! Feel free to reach out to us for more information on training tips or the AKC Star Puppy Program.