Rhodesian Ridgeback
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.
- The Rhodesian Ridgeback was admitted to registry by the AKC
in 1955.
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.
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog,
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. 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 strong and free from throatiness.
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 hindlegs 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.
Color
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.
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 20
- Ridge 20
- Head 15
- Legs and Feet 15
- Neck and Shoulders 10
- Body, Back, Chest and Loin 10
- Coat and Color 5
- Tail 5
- Total 100
Disqualification
Ridgelessness
|
