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Rasse:     History Racestandard     History:   The Rhodesian Ridgeback is the only Race from Southafrica with a long history as hound and watchdog.   Allready in 1480, portuguese reports from Southafrica talk about the dog with the "ridge on the back", the only pet the "Hottentotten" had, as very useful and faithful. Also in the "report of the living conditions in South Africa" written by the scientist Theal in 1505, he mentions the "Hottentotten-Ridgeback".   For centuries, this rather unimpressive dog, who looked more like a jackal, accompanied his master in the struggle for live under the hard conditions, which where normal in the african continent. This dog was not only a reliable guard for the huts and cattle, but first of all indecomposable in the hunt for lions, which where the main danger for the means of existence of the natives. The lion was chased down by the dogs and could then be killed by the natives with their simple weapons.   The first settlers mention the "dog with the ridge" in the middle of the 17th. century and their great courage in the hunt for lions. The immigrants soon discover the superiority of the Ridgebacks to their own european hounds. To make use of the hunting-advantages of the african dogs, men started crossbreedings with traditional european races.   First of all there is the english Bloodhound, from whom he has the brilliant nose and size, but surely the Sloughi is one of the ancestors of the Ridgeback, from whom he has his excellent eyes and swiftness.   The most important stations of the breed are these: In 1879 "Charles Helm" brought two Ridgebacks from "Swellendamm" (Southafrica) to "Bulawaayo" (Rhodesia). Some of the descendents of these original imports where later bought by the big game hunter "Cornelius van Rooyen". From the core of these "Helm-dogs" he breeded the very much demanded "Van-Rooyen-dogs", later called "lion-dogs", in the end called "Rhodesian-Ridgeback". In 1922 the "breeding alliance of Rhodesian Ridgebacks" was founded in Bulawaayo. In 1925 the "Kennel Union of South Africa" acknowledged the Rhodesian Ridgeback as immaculate race.   Today, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is widely spread all over the world.     Standards for the race: top   FCI Standard supplied by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.   Date of publication of the original valid Standard: 10.12.1996   Utilization: The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used to hunt game in many parts of the world, but is especially prized as watch-dog and family pet.   Classification F.C.I.: Group 6, Scenthounds and related breeds. Section 3 Related breeds. Without working trial.   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 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 5cm (2").   Behaviour / Temperament: Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.   Head: Cranial Region: Skull: Should be of a hair length (width of head between ears, distance from occiput to stop, stop to end of nose, should be equal), flat and broad between the ears; 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.   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 the jaws. Jaws/Teeth : 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. 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 form coarseness. It should be of moderate length. It should not be attached too high nor too low, and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.   Limbs: Forequaters: 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. Shoulders: The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular. Pastern: Should be strong with light spring. Hindquarters: In the hind legs the muscles should be clean and well defined. Stifle: Good turn of stifle. Hock: Strong, well let down.   Feet: The feet should be compact and round, with well arched toes and tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.   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 and weight: Height at withers: Dogs: 63-69 cm (25" -27"). Bitches : 61-66 cm (24" -26"). Weight: 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. top

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