Rhodesian Ridgeback

General Information - Rhodesian Ridgeback

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History

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a native of Southern Africa. The early settlers mated their imported breeds, which included the Great Dane/Greyhound/Collie/Pointer among others, to the native Hottentot Hunting Dog. Hottentot dog. "Hottentot" is a colonial name given to the Khoikhoi people. The Hottentot Hunting dog had hair growing in a reverse direction to the rest of the coat. The Settlers needed a dog that could withstand both hot and cold temperatures, limited water, cope with the rough bush, while performing the duties of guard dog and hunting dog.

In 1879 Missionary Rev Charles Helm journeyed from Swellendam in the Cape Province of SA to Rhodesia with 2 of these ridged dogs. Cornelias Van Rooyan (well known big game hunter and early authority on SA wild life) borrowed the dogs to take on a hunt. He soon concluded that they possessed excellent instinctive hunting qualities and he pioneered the breeding of a pack of the ridged dogs as hunters of big game for his own use. The reputation of the ridged dogs as fearless and efficient hunters was established. The ridge was respected and highly prized, thus retained and refined and found on our present day RR's. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were never expected to bring down a lion, rather they would track the lion and keep it at bay for the hunter to kill.

1922 saw the first Rhodesian Ridgeback Club. A standard of points were set (these differ little from those in use today) based on the standard of the Dalmatian. Today the RR is one of the most popular hunting dogs in Southern Africa. Their hunting characteristics have also proved to be useful in hunting all sorts of game in other parts of the world. Ref: The Rhodesian Ridgeback In Australia by Pauline Sadler The Rhodesian Ridgeback by T C Hawley The Rhodesian Ridgeback 1924-74 by Janet Murray The Rhodesian Ridgeback Indaba by Janet Murray

Temperament

A fine hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is ferocious in the hunt, but in the home it is a calm, gentle, obedient dog. They are intelligent, cunning but straight-forward dogs that are loyal to the family. They have something of a mind of their own, are brave, vigilant, reserved toward strangers, and possess considerable stamina. This breed needs thorough obedience training, socialisation with people and other dogs, and firm owner leadership to become the excellent companion he can be. Ridgebacks react best to an extremely consistent and equable approach to training. They are intelligent and learn quickly, but they are also strong and a bit stubborn. Training should be gentle and start young while the dog is still small enough to manage. They are also very good watch dogs, but not suggested for guard dogs. They are very protective of owners! This has to be addressed during their early training. This breed can be destructive than if left unsupervised.

Upkeep

The Ridgeback loves to run, and it needs daily mental and physical exercise to keep it from becoming frustrated. It can be a good jogging or hiking companion. The Ridgeback can live outdoors in temperate or warm climates, but it is usually much happier sleeping indoors and dividing its time between the house and yard during the day. Coat care is minimal, consisting only of occasional brushing to remove dead hair.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Rhodesian Ridgeback

 
ORIGIN: Southern Africa.
Standard supplied by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 10.12.1996.

UTILIZATION: The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used to hunt game in many parts of the world, but is especially prized as watchdog and family pet.

FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds.
Section 3 Related breeds.
Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Rhodesian Ridgeback is presently the only registered breed indigenous to southern Africa. Its forbears can be traced to the Cape Colony of Southern Africa, where they crossed with the early pioneer’s dogs and the semi-domesticated, ridged Hottentot hunting dogs. Hunting mainly in groups of two or three, the original function of the Rhodesian Ridgeback or Lion dog was to track game, especially lion, and, with great agility, keep it at bay until the arrival of the hunter.

The original standard, which was drafted by F.R.Barnes, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1922, was based on that of the Dalmatian and was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Rhodesian Ridgeback should represent a well-balanced, strong, muscular, agile and active dog, symmetrical in outline, and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed. The emphasis is on agility, elegance and soundness with no tendency towards massiveness. The peculiarity of the breed is the ridge on the back, which is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. The ridge is the escutcheon of the breed.

The ridge must be clearly defined, symmetrical and tapering towards the haunch. It must start immediately behind the shoulders and continue to the hip (haunches) bones. The ridge must contain only two crowns, identical and opposite each other. The lower edges of the crowns must not extend further down the ridge than one-third of its length. A good average width of the ridge is 5cm (2”).

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.

HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:

Skull: Should be of a hair length (width of head between ears, distance from occiput to stop, stop to end of nose, should be equal), flat and broad between the ears; the head should be free from wrinkles when in repose.

Stop: The stop should be reasonably well defined and not in one straight line from the nose to the occipital bone.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: The nose should be black or brown. A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown nose by amber eyes.

Muzzle: The muzzle should be long, deep and powerful.

Lips: The lips should be clean, closely fitting the jaws.

Jaws/Teeth: Jaws strong, with a perfect and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. The teeth must be well developed, especially the canines or holders.

Cheeks: Cheeks should be clean.

EYES: Should be moderately well apart, round, bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression, their colour harmonising with the colour of the coat.

EARS: Should be set rather high, of medium size, rather wide at base, and gradually tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried close to the head.

NECK: Should be fairly long, strong and free from throatiness.

BODY:

Back: Powerful.

Loins: Strong, muscular and slightly arched.

Chest: Should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious; the brisket should reach to the elbow. Forechest should be visible when viewed from the side. Ribs moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel-hoops.

TAIL: Should be strong at the root and gradually tapering towards the end, free form coarseness. It should be of moderate length. It should not be attached too high nor too low, and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.

LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: The forelegs should be perfectly straight, strong and well boned, with the elbows close to the body. When viewed from the side, the forelegs should be wider than viewed from the front.

Shoulder: The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular.

Pastern: Should be strong with light spring.

Forefeet: The feet should be compact and round, with well arched toes and tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.

HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: In the hind legs the muscles should be clean and well defined.

Stifle: Good turn of stifle.

Hock: Strong, well let down.

Hind feet: The feet should be compact and round, with well arched toes and tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: Straight forward, free and active.

COAT
Hair: Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance, but neither woolly nor silky.

Colour: Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and toes is permissible, but excessive white hairs here, on belly, or above toes is undesirable. A dark muzzle and ears permissible. Excessive black hairs throughout the coat are highly undesirable.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

Height at withers: Dogs: 63-69 cm (25” -27”).

Bitches: 61-66 cm (24” -26”).

Weight: Dogs: 36,5 kg (80 lbs).

Bitches: 32 kg (70 lbs).

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

SERIOUS FAULTS:
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical of behavioural abnormalities.

N.B.:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.


Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.