Rhodesian Ridgeback Picture Gallery

Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders

Rhodesian Ridgeback Clubs/Associations

The Rhodesian Ridgeback Description

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.

Did you know?

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.

So you want to own 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.

Indicative Breed Standard

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.

Head and Skull

Of fair length, skull flat, rather broad between ears, free from wrinkles when in repose. Stop reasonably well defined. Nose black or brown in keeping with colour of dog. Black nose accompanied by dark eyes, brown nose by amber eyes. Muzzle long, deep and powerful. Lips clean and close fitting.

Eyes

Set moderately well apart, round, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, colour harmonising with coat colour.

Ears

Set rather high, medium size, rather wide at base, gradually tapering to a rounded point. Carried close to head.

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

Straight forward, free and active.

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.