Country: South Africa
Group Southern, AKC Hounds
Recognition CKC, FCI, AKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, RRCUSI, APRI, ACR
Height: Dogs 25-27 inches (63-69cm) Bitches 24-26 inches (61-66cm)
Weight: Dogs 80-90 pounds (36-41kg) Bitches 65-75 pounds (29-34kg)
Life Expectancy About 10-12 years.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, handsome, muscular hound. Its name describes its most unique characteristic, a clearly defined symmetrical ridge running the length of its back, formed by hair that grows in the opposite direction from the rest of its coat. The short, sleek coat comes in light to dark wheaten, sometimes with small white markings on the chest and feet. The head is long, the skull is flat and broad with extremely powerful muzzle and jaw. Ridgebacks have well developed teeth, and a marked stop. The bright, sparkling eyes are round with an intelligent expression. The nose color should be either black or brown, depending on the color of the coat. The front legs should be very straight and strong, with heavy bone. The strong tapered tail is fairly long and curves slightly upward.
Temperament
A fine hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is ferocious in the hunt, but in the home it is a calm, gentle, obedient, good dog. Good-natured, but some do not do well with small children because they may play too roughly and knock them down. They are intelligent, cunning but straight-forward dogs that are loyal to the family, have something of a mind of their own, are brave, vigilant, reserved toward strangers, and possess considerable stamina. 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 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 they may also become combative with other dogs. They need thorough obedience training, socialization with people and other dogs, and firm owner leadership to become the excellent companion he can be. Ridgeback's 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, but firm and should 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 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.
Living Conditions
Rhodesian Ridgebacks will dog 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 walks or jogs. In addition, it needs 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.
Grooming
The smooth, short-haired 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 resulted from crosses between ridgebacked dogs originally kept by native tribes in South Africa and other breeds, such as the Khoikhoi dog, Mastiff, Deerhound and some breeds that are not known. It was the native Khoikhoi dog that gave the Ridgeback his distinctive reverse-hair coat marking, a dominant characteristic that today makes him unique among dog breeds. The ridgebacks were imported by Boer settlers in the 16th and 17th centuries. Its standard, fixed in Rhodesia, dates from 1922. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was used for many purposes. This impressive, protective hound could hunt game, retrieve, take care of children, and guard property. South African hunters discovered that the Ridgeback, used in packs, was very effective against lions, hence the breed's other name, the African Lion Hound. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is well adapted to the harsh African environment. He can withstand very high temperatures and the damp cold of night. It is insensitive to insect bites and can go without food and water for over 24 hours. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1959. Its country of origin is Zimbabwe.