Breed Standards
Description
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, muscular hound. The broad head is flat between the ears. The muzzle is long and deep, with a defined stop. The nose is black, brown or liver, depending on the coat of the dog. This breed sometimes has a black tongue. The eyes are round and are usually brown, depending on the shade of the dog. The medium-sized ears are set high, dropping down, wide at the base and tapering to a point. The chest is deep. The front legs should be very straight and strong. The tail is fairly long, thicker at the base, tapering to a point and curving upward slightly. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The coat is short and dense with a clearly defined symmetrical ridge of hairs growing in the opposite direction down the middle of the back. Coat colors include light wheaten to shades of red sometimes with a little white on the chest and toes.
Height & Weight
Height:
Males 25 - 27 inches (63 - 69 cm)
Females 24 - 26 inches (61 - 66 cm)
Weight:
Males 80 - 90 pounds (36 - 41 kg)
Females 65 - 75 pounds (29 - 34 kg)
Temperament
A fine hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is ferocious in the hunt, but in the home it is a calm, gentle, obedient, good dog. It is good natured, but some do not do well with small children because they may play too roughly and knock them down. They are intelligent, skillful and straight-forward dogs that are loyal to the family. They are brave and vigilant. Can be reserved toward strangers, so socialize well. They possess considerable stamina and without enough mental and physical exercise they can become high strung and unmanageable. This breed needs a firm, confident, consistent pack leader who can provide rules the dog must follow and limits as to what it can and cannot do. Meek and/or passive owners, or owners who treat the dog like a human rather than a canine will have a hard time controlling this breed and may also cause them to become combative with other dogs. When given what they need as the canine animal they will be excellent companion dogs, but are not recommended for most people, as most do not have the time nor energy to put into them. Ridgebacks react best to an extremely consistent and firm but calm approach to training. They are intelligent and learn quickly, but will be stubborn and willful if they are stronger-minded than the humans. Training should be gentle, but firm and should start young while the dog is still small enough to manage. They are also very good watchdogs, 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 more destructive than a Lab if not given enough exercise and is not convinced the humans are his authority figure. Do not overfeed this breed. Provided this dog meets cats and other pets when it is young, any potential problem will be prevented. Ridgebacks make excellent jogging companions.
Health Problems
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a hardy breed, able to withstand dramatic changes of temperature, however they are susceptible to hip dysplasia, dermoid sinus and cysts. Also prone to mast cell tumors.
Living Conditions
Rhodesian Ridgebacks will do okay in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with a large yard.
Exercise
These dogs have great stamina and you will tire long before they do. They need to be taken on daily, long, brisk walksor jogs. In addition, they need plenty of opportunity to run, preferably off the leash in a safe area. If these dogs are allowed to get bored, and are not walked or jogged daily, they can become destructive and start to display a wide array of behavioral problems.
Life Expectancy
About 10-12 years
Grooming
The smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and shampoo only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin
The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in Zimbabwe and worked as a hunting dog and as a retriever, took care of children and guarded property. It descended from crosses between ridgebacked dogs that were imported by Boer settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries that were originally kept by native tribes in South Africa along with breeds such as the Khoikhoidog, Mastiff, Deerhound and possibly the Great Dane. Its standard, fixed in Rhodesia, dates from 1922. Reverend Helm introduced two Ridgebacks into Rhodesia in 1877. Big-game hunters soon discovered, that if used in packs they were excellent in hunting lions on horseback, hence the breed's other name, the "African Lion Hound." The dogs did well in the African heat of the day and the damp, cold nights. The breed was imported to the United States in 1950. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was recognized by the AKC in 1955.
Group
Southern, AKC Hounds
Recognition
CKC, FCI, AKC, KCGB, CKC, RRCUS, APRI, ACR, DRA, NAPR, ACA
CKC = Continental Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
RRCUS = Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US
APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
ACA = American Canine Association Inc.
For Shows
General Appearance
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active hound, symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even, dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his master, reserved with strangers. The peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on the back. The ridge must be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed.
Size, Proportion, Substance
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly longer than tall but well balanced. Dogs - 25 to 27 inches in height; Bitches - 24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight - Dogs - 85 pounds; Bitches - 70 pounds.
Head
Should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between the ears and should be free from wrinkles when in repose. The stop should be reasonably well defined. Eyes - should be moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, their color harmonizing with the color of the dog. Ears - should be set rather high, of medium size, rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried close to the head. Muzzle - should be long, deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws. Clear faced or masked dogs are equally correct and neither is preferred. A clear face with black or brown/liver pigmentation only on nose, lips, and around the eyes, or a masked face with black or brown/liver pigmentation is correct as long as the color is not continuing with a solid mask over the eyes. A darker ear often accompanies the darker masked dog. Nose - should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color of the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with amber eyes. Bite - jaws level and strong with well-developed teeth, especially the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck should be fairly long. It should be strong, free from throatiness and in balance with the dog. The chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The tail should be strong at the insertion and generally tapering towards the end, free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too high or too low and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled or gay.
Forequarters
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs should be perfectly straight, strong and heavy in bone. The feet should be compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
In the hind legs the muscles should be clean, well defined and hocks well down. Feet as in front.
Coat
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 permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or above the toes is undesirable. (see muzzle)
Ridge
The hallmark of this 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 must be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined, tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind the shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls) directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns (whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third of the ridge. Disqualification - Ridgelessness. Serious Fault - One crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
Gait
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long, free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and endurance.
Temperament
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
Scale of Points
General appearance, size, symmetry and balance
Ridge
Head
Legs and Feet
Neck and Shoulders
Body, Back, Chest and Loin
Gait
Coat and Color
Tail
Total
CKC = Continental Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
RRCUS = Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US
APRI = American Pet Registry, Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.
NAPR = North American Purebred Registry, Inc.
ACA = American Canine Association Inc.
15
20
15
15
10
10
10
3
2
100
Disqualification: Ridgelessness.
Approved January 12, 2010
Effective March 31, 2010