ORIGIN:

Southern Africa. Standard established by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD: 10. 12. 1996.

USE:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used to hunt game in many parts of the world, but is especially valued as a guard dog and family member.

FCI CLASSIFICATION:

Group 6 Hounds, scent hounds and related breeds.
Section 3: Related Breeds. Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is currently the only recognized breed originating from southern Africa. Its ancestry can be traced back to the Cape Colony, where it interbred with both the dogs of the early pioneers and the semi-domesticated Hottentot dogs, which had a ridge on their backs. Usually hunting in groups of two or three dogs, the Rhodesian Ridgeback's original purpose was to track large game, primarily lions, and hold them with great agility until the hunter approached. The original standard, established by F.R. Barnes in 1922 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, was based on the Dalmatian standard and was recognized by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa in 1926.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback should be a well-balanced, strong, muscular, agile, and active dog, symmetrical in profile and extremely stamina-oriented at medium speed. The main emphasis is on agility, elegance, and functional soundness, without any tendency toward a massive appearance. The distinctive feature of the breed is the dorsal crest ("ridge"), which is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to that on the rest of the body. The dorsal crest is the emblem of the breed. The dorsal crest must be clearly defined, symmetrical, and narrow towards the hip bones. It must begin immediately behind the shoulders and extend to the hip bones. The dorsal crest may have only two vertebrae ("crowns"), which are of the same shape and opposite each other. The lower edges of the vertebrae must not extend beyond the upper third of the dorsal crest. A good average width of the dorsal crest is 5 cm (2 inches).

BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTER / NATURE:

Dignified, intelligent, reserved towards strangers, but without signs of aggression or shyness.

HEAD:

TOP OF THE HEAD:
Skull: Should be of medium length (width between the ears, distances from the occipital protuberance to the brow ridge, from the brow ridge to the tip of the nose should be equal), flat and broad between the ears; in a relaxed position, there should be no wrinkles on the head.
Stop: The forehead should be well defined: the profile should not be a straight line from the occipital prong to the tip of the nose.

FACIAL SKULL:
Nose: The nose should be black or brown. A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, while a brown nose should be accompanied by amber eyes.
Muzzle: The muzzle should be long, deep and strong.
Lips: The lips should be tight and close to the jaws.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong jaws, with a perfectly fitted and complete scissor bite. This means that the upper incisors closely overlap the lower incisors and are set squarely in the jaws. The teeth must be well developed, especially the canines.
Baking: No baking.
Eyes: Should be moderately wide set, round, clear, and sparkling, with an intelligent expression. Their color should harmonize with the coat color.
Ears: Should be set fairly high, of medium size, fairly broad at the base, and tapering to a rounded tip. They should be worn close to the head.
NECK: Should be fairly long, strong and without loose throat skin.

BODY:

Back: Powerful.
Loins: Strong, muscular and slightly arched.
Chest: Should not be too broad, but very deep and spacious; the lowest point of the sternum should be at the level of the elbow point.
Forechest: Should be visible when viewed from the side.
Ribs: Moderately sprung, never barrel-shaped.
Tail: Strong at the base, gradually tapering towards the tip, not coarse. Of moderate length, set neither too high nor too low, carried slightly curved, but never curled.

LIMBS:

Forequarters: The forelegs should be completely straight, strong, and with strong hock bones, with the elbows close to the body. Seen from the side, the forelegs should be wider than when viewed from the front. Strong pastern joints, with a slight incline.
Shoulders: The shoulders should be sloping, clearly defined and, being muscular, suggest great speed.
Hindquarters: The muscles of the hindquarters should be lean, the knees well bent, the pastern short.
Feet: Round, with close-fitting and well-arched toes.
Gait: With good range, free and lively.

COAT:

Hair: Should be short and dense, smooth and glossy in appearance, but neither woolly nor silky.
Color: Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and toes is acceptable; extensive white hair here, on the belly, or above the toes is undesirable. A dark muzzle and dark ears are acceptable. Excessive black hairs throughout the coat are highly undesirable.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:

The desired heights at the withers are:
Males: 63 cm (25'') to 69 cm (27'').
Females: 61 cm (24'') to 66 cm (26'').
Weight:
Males: 36.5 kg (80 lbs).
Females: 32 kg (70 lbs).

MISTAKE:

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.
NB: Males must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Translation: Jochen H. Eberhardt

Source: www.fci.be