Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian Ridgeback breed standard no. 146 (FCI)
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 pioneers’ 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 5 cm (2 ins).
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.
HEAD
Skull
stop to end of nose, should be equal), the skull flat and broad between the ears and 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.
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.
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 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, powerful.
Chest
Should not be too wide but very deep and capacious and 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 inserted 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 when 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 ins) to 69 cm (27 ins)
Bitches: 61 cm (24 ins) to 66 cm (26 ins)
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.
NOTE
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.