Rhodesian Ridgeback
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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 hunging 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 Dalmation 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 immediatley 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 5 cm (2"). BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness. HEAD
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 [Scissor bite] the jaws. Mouth 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 sparling, with intelligent expression, their colour harmonising 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 from coarseness. It should be of moderate length. It should not be attaced too high nor too low, and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled. LIMBS Forequarters 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. Pasterns should be strong with slight spring. Shoulders The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed. Feet The feet should be compact and round, with well arched toes, and tough elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads. Hindquarters In the hind legs the muscles should be clean, well defined, good turn of stifle and strong hocks well let down. 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 The desirable heights are: Dogs 63 cm (25") to 69 cm (27") Bitches 61 cm (24") to 66 cm (26") WEIGHT The desirable weights are: 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. N.B: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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