Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue & Adoption in Adelaide

1 rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback is available for adoption in Adelaide right now. Every listing links straight to the rescue.

How much does a Rhodesian Ridgeback cost to adopt in Adelaide?

Adults: $350 to $700
Puppies: $500 to $900

Typical Australian rescue range. The fee usually covers desexing, core vaccinations, microchipping, worming, and a veterinary health check before placement. The exact amount varies by rescue and by the dog's age and medical history, and the live number is on each rescue profile below.

Thor - Rhodesian Ridgeback available for adoption in Adelaide
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About Rhodesian Ridgebacks

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large dog breed originating in Southern Africa (Zimbabwe). Adult dogs typically weigh 32 to 41 kg and live 10 to 12 years. Typical traits: independent, dignified, athletic, reserved-with-strangers.

Experienced, active owners with secure fencing. The breed is an independent-minded hound-guardian that needs early training. First-time owners, sedentary homes, or those expecting an eager-to-please dog.

Adult Rhodesian Ridgebacks need about 75 minutes of daily exercise; adolescent dogs typically need 90 minutes. The coat is short-coated with low shedding, and brushing every 4 weeks keeps the coat manageable.

LocalPetFinder aggregates adoptable Rhodesian Ridgebacks from rescues across Australia into one searchable place. Use the city links to narrow to your area, or browse the full list below.

Common Rhodesian Ridgeback health concerns

Breed-associated conditions worth asking any rescue about before you adopt. A good rescue will already know whether a dog has been assessed for these.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

Moderate prevalence; OFA screening is standard for breeding stock.

Source: OFA →

Dermoid sinus

A congenital skin-tube defect specific to ridged breeds; surgically correctable when caught.

Source: VCA →

Bloat (gastric dilation-volvulus)

A deep-chested breed; feed two smaller meals rather than one large.

Source: ACVS →

Editorial summary for adopters, not medical advice. Ask the rescue about a specific dog's health, and consult your vet for individual guidance.

How adoption works in Adelaide

Rhodesian Ridgebacks in Adelaide are listed by a range of local rescues and shelters. Applications, home checks and adoption decisions are handled by the rescue directly. LocalPetFinder brings the listings together so you do not have to check each rescue separately, and does not take a fee.

Rhodesian Ridgeback adoption in Adelaide: common questions

How many Rhodesian Ridgebacks are available for adoption in Adelaide?

As of October 2026, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are uncommon in Adelaide rescue, only 1 is listed right now across 1 rescue on LocalPetFinder. They are usually adopted quickly, so it is worth applying early or setting an alert.

Where can I adopt a Rhodesian Ridgeback near me in Adelaide?

LocalPetFinder lists Rhodesian Ridgebacks available for adoption from rescues across Adelaide and South Australia. Every listing links straight to the rescue that has the dog, and the application is handled by them, not by us.

How long do Rhodesian Ridgebacks live?

Rhodesian Ridgebacks typically live 10 to 12 years.

How much exercise does a Rhodesian Ridgeback need?

Adult Rhodesian Ridgebacks need about 75 minutes of daily exercise. Adolescent dogs (under 2 years) typically need 90 minutes, more than mature adults.

What are common health concerns for Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

Breed-associated conditions to ask the rescue about include Hip and elbow dysplasia, Dermoid sinus, Bloat (gastric dilation-volvulus). See the citations in the health section above for authoritative information on each. This is an editorial summary, not medical advice, so check with your vet for individual guidance.

How much does it cost to adopt a Rhodesian Ridgeback in Australia?

Adoption fees for a Rhodesian Ridgeback from an Australian rescue typically range $350 to $700 for adults, with puppies usually $500 to $900. That fee normally covers desexing, core vaccinations, microchipping, worming, and a veterinary health check before placement. The exact number varies by rescue and the dog's age, medical history, and how long they have been in care, and the live amount shows on each rescue profile.

Are these Rhodesian Ridgebacks for sale in Adelaide?

Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Rhodesian Ridgeback here comes from an Australian rescue or shelter, not a breeder, pet shop, or classified seller. Adoption fees are typically $350 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900 and already include vaccinations, worming, microchipping and desexing when age-appropriate, versus roughly $2,000 to $5,000 or more to buy a Rhodesian Ridgeback from a breeder. If you searched "rhodesian ridgeback for sale adelaide" or "rhodesian ridgeback puppies for sale", adopting gets you a healthy, vetted dog for a fraction of the price.

Where can I buy a Rhodesian Ridgeback in Adelaide, and should I?

You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder typically charges $2,000 to $5,000 or more and often has a waitlist, while a rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback costs $350 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900 fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap rhodesian ridgeback-for-sale ads on Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace, which are frequently backyard breeders or puppy-farm resellers with unvetted, sometimes sick animals and no health guarantee. If you do buy, insist on seeing where the puppies were raised and getting vet records, and check the breeder against your state's pet-sale rules. For most families in Adelaide, adopting a rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback is cheaper, faster, and gives a dog in need a home.

Are there free Rhodesian Ridgebacks in Adelaide, or rhodesian ridgebacks under $500?

Adoption is the closest honest answer, and it is not free. A rescue Rhodesian Ridgeback in Adelaide typically costs $350 to $700, with puppies at $500 to $900, so the lower end lands under the "$500" people search for and the rest does not. What the fee buys is work already done, the vaccinations, worming, microchipping and desexing, which would cost more than the fee itself if you arranged it yourself, and it is still far below breeder prices. Be wary of genuinely free rhodesian ridgeback listings. An animal advertised free to a good home has usually not been vetted, and free rehoming ads are the route flippers and unregistered breeders use to move animals with no health guarantee and no recourse. Paying a rescue fee buys you a dog someone has already examined, treated, and been honest with you about.

Are there Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies in Adelaide, or only adults?

Both, but adults far outnumber puppies, and it is worth knowing that before you start looking. Most Rhodesian Ridgebacks arriving in Adelaide rescue are adolescents and adults, because that is the age at which first homes tend to give up. Puppies do come through, usually as accidental litters or with a surrendered mother, and they are typically spoken for quickly. Setting an alert beats refreshing the page. It is also worth asking whether you actually want one: an adult arrives with a temperament a foster has already observed and described, where a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy is a prediction, and for this breed in particular knowing what you are getting is the more useful thing.

Where can I find a Rhodesian Ridgeback near me in Adelaide?

Start with the listings on this page, which pull from Adelaide rescues and shelters and are refreshed regularly, so what you see is what is genuinely available rather than a stale directory. If nothing suits today, that is normal for this breed: rescue intake is intermittent rather than steady, and a breed with none listed this week often has several next month. Setting an alert beats checking back, and it is worth widening to nearby suburbs and towns, since most rescues serving Adelaide will adopt out across a reasonable driving distance rather than only inside one council area.

Need to rehome your Rhodesian Ridgeback?

If you are on the other side of this page and need to find your rhodesian ridgeback a new home, you can list them free on LocalPetFinder, owner to owner. Keep your pet at home until you choose the new family, and follow our guides on fair pricing, screening adopters and meeting safely.

How rehoming works →

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