Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Ridgeback was bred to hunt game, but also to guard homes and protect families. This is a strong dog, but one who wants to please. He is proud, dignified, and courageous, devoted to his family, and protective and loving of children.

Rhodesian Ridgeback breed facts

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, muscular dog originally bred in South Africa to hunt lions. It is also known as the African lion hound.

The peculiarity of this breed is the ridge of hair which grows forward on his back.

In 1922, a group of Rhodesian breeders set up a standard for Ridgebacks which has remained virtually unchanged ever since.

Information you should know before owning a Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed of dog able to retrieve, track, hunt game, and protect property.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are remarkably clean dogs. They are easy to keep as they are rarely noisy or quarrelsome, unless provoked.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the dog for everyone; he needs an owner who will invest the time it takes to build a bond of trust.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback, sometimes referred to as the African Lion Hound, is a native of South Africa bred by the Boer farmers to fill their specific need for a serviceable hunting dog in the wilds.

Immigrants to South Africa in the 16th and 17th centuries brought with them Danes, Mastiffs, Greyhounds, Bloodhounds, Terriers and other breeds. In 1707, European immigration was closed for one hundred years, and the native dogs played an important part in the development and ultimate character of the Ridgeback.

The Hottentots, a native race living in range of these early settlers, had a hunting dog that was half-wild with a ridge on his back formed by the hair growing forward. There was interbreeding between these dogs and those of the settlers, this crossbreeding, in due course, established the foundation stock of our present day Ridgeback. Of necessity, the Boer farmer developed by selective breeding, a distinct breed of the African Veldt-the Ridgeback.

In 1877 Rev. Helm introduced two Ridgebacks into Rhodesia where big game hunters found them outstanding in the sport of hunting lions on horseback. They raised and bred these dogs with an appreciation for their exceptional hunting qualities, the ridge on their back becoming a unique trademark. In 1922, a group of Rhodesian breeders set up a standard for Ridgebacks, which has remained virtually unchanged ever since.

Some outstanding specimens were imported to the United States in 1950 and the breed was admitted to registration by the AKC in 1955.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Short
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	Once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Handsome, strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical in outline, capable of great endurance with fair amount of speed. Mature dog is handsome and upstanding.
	Characteristics Peculiarity is the ridge on back formed by hair growing in opposite direction to the remainder of coat; ridge must be regarded as the escutcheon of breed. Ridge clearly defined, tapering and symmetrical, starting immediately behind shoulders and continuing to haunch, and containing two identical crowns only, opposite each other, lower edges of crowns not extending further down ridge than one-third of its length. Up to 5 cm (2 ins) is a good average for width of ridge.
	Temperament Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers but showing no aggression or shyness.
	Eyes Set moderately well apart, round, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, colour harmonising with coat colour.
	Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Well developed teeth, especially canines.
	Neck Fairly long, strong and free from throatiness.
	Forequarters Shoulders sloping, clean and muscular. Forelegs perfectly straight, strong, heavy in bone; elbows close to body.
	Body Chest not too wide, very deep and capacious; ribs moderately well sprung, never barrel-ribbed. Back powerful; loins strong, muscular and slightly arched.
	Hindquarters Muscles clean, well defined; good turn of stifle; hocks well let down.
	Feet Compact, well arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between toes and pads.
	Tail Strong at root, not inserted high or low, tapering towards end, free from coarseness. Carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.
	Gait / Movement Handsome, strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical in outline, capable of great endurance with fair amount of speed. Mature dog is handsome and upstanding.
	Coat Short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance, but neither woolly nor silky.
	Colour Light wheaten to red wheaten. Head, body, legs and tail of uniform colour. Little white on chest and toes permissible, but excessive white hairs here, on belly or above paws undesirable. Dark muzzle and ears permissible.
	Size Dogs: 63 cms (25 ins) desirable minimum height at withers; 69 cms (27 ins) desirable maximum height at withers; bitches: 61 cms (24 ins) desirable minimum height at withers, 66 cms (26 ins) desirable maximum height at withers.