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Breed Characteristics
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Rhodesian Ridgeback
| Other Names | Ridgeback, Lion Dog, African Lion Hound |
| Country of Origin | Zimbabwe (formally Rhodesia) |
| Weight | Males: 80 - 90 lbs. (36 - 41 kg) Females: 65 - 75 lbs. (29 - 34 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 25 - 27 in. (63 - 69 cm) Females: 24 - 26 in. (61 - 66 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an appearance that is short and dense, sleek and glossy--neither wooliness nor silkiness is accepted. An easy to groom and low maintenance dog, the breed has been developed for hunting in the African brush. |
| Colour | The colours of the Ridgebacks are solid colours of blue, black, red/fawn, or beige for show or exhibiting dogs. But additional colours of brindle and white are also found in this breed. Ridge patterns vary--needle, feather, arrow, lute, violin, bowling pin, leaf, and saddleback. The patterns may be slightly lighter or darker in colour than the body, but are acceptable as long as they are clearly defined and symmetrical. The broader the ridge, the higher the value of the dog. |
| Litter Size | 7 - 8 puppies |
| Life Span | 10 - 12 years |
| Origin & History | The Khoikhoi people who occupied the Cape Peninsula when the Dutch began trading with the area during the mid 17th century, had a hunting dog which was described as ugly, but noted for its ferocity when acting as a guard dog. This dog measured approximately 18 inches (46 cm) at the withers, with a lean but muscular frame. The ears have been described both as erect and hanging, but the most distinctive feature was the length of hair growing in the reverse direction along its back. Within 53 years of the Dutch settlement, the Europeans were using these local dogs themselves. By the 1860s, European settlers had brought a variety of dog breeds to this area of Africa, including great Danes, bloodhounds, greyhounds and terriers. These breeds were bred with the indigenous African dogs, including the dog of the Khoikhoi people, which resulted in the Boer hunting dogs, a forerunner to the modern Rhodesian ridgeback. Reverend Charles Helm travelled to the Hope Fountain Mission in Southern Rhodesia in the 1870s, taking two ridged dogs with him. It was there that Cornelius van Rooyen, a big–game hunter, saw them and decided to breed his own dogs with them to incorporate their guarding abilities. The offspring were dogs with red coats and ridges. They became the foundation stock of a kennel which developed dogs over the next thirty five years with the ability to bay lions, that is, to hold them at bay while the hunter makes the kill. The dogs were used to hunt not only lions but also other game, including wild pigs and baboons. (They have the ability to kill a baboon independent of a human hunter.) The first breed standard was written by Mr. F.R. Barnes in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1922. Based on that of the Dalmatian, it was approved in 1926 by the South African Kennel Union. The first Rhodesian ridgebacks in Britain were shown by Mrs. Edward Foljambe in 1928. In 1950, Mr. and Mrs. William H. O'Brien of Arizona brought six carefully selected Ridgebacks to the US from South Africa. He and his wife and Margaret Lowthian of California began the process of getting the breed accepted by the American Kennel Club. The breed was admitted into the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a member of the hound group. |
| Personality | A fine hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is ferocious in the hunt, but in the home it is a calm, gentle, obedient, good dog. It is good natured, but some do not do well with small children because they may play too roughly and knock them down. They are intelligent, skillful and straight-forward dogs that are loyal to the family. They are brave and vigilant. Can be reserved toward strangers, so socialize well. They possess considerable stamina and 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 as 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 may also cause them to become combative with other dogs. When given what they need as the canine animal they will be excellent companion dogs, but are not recommended for most people, as most do not have the time nor energy to put into them. Ridgebacks react best to an extremely consistent and firm but calm approach to training. They are intelligent and learn quickly, but will be stubborn and willful if they are stronger-minded than the humans. Training should be gentle, but firm and should start young while the dog is still small enough to manage. They are also very good watchdogs, 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. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The number one major Health concern for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is dermoid sinus, with a minor concern as hip dysplasia. Dermoid Sinus in the Rhodesian Ridgeback is also called dermoid cyst, hair cyst, and African cyst. The Dermoid Sinus is similar to Spina Bifida in humans, and is a congenital condition that is present at birth, located on the midline of the neck, back, and tail along the spinal column. The abscess will form and resulting swelling will rupture the puppy's skin, which is not only painful but can be life threatening. Puppies who have this disease are usually put to sleep, or if surgery is performed before they go to their new homes, they will be sold as pet stock only, not allowed to be sold as Breeding material. The Dermoid sinuses are not similar in their makeup, which sometimes makes them impossible to find and remove, or see how far into the spine area they may go. Puppies who are not able to be fixed with surgery, need to be put to sleep. |
| Grooming | The smooth, shorthaired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and shampoo only when necessary. This breed is an average shedder. |
| 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, they need 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. |
| Other Considerations | Rhodesian Ridgebacks will do okay in an apartment as long as they get enough exercise. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with a large yard. |
