Here are presented three different rhodesian ridgeback standards:

1) FCI-Standard,

2) AKC Standard,

3) 1922 Original Breed Standard.

FCI-Standard N° 146 / 10.12.1996 / GB

RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK

ORIGIN:

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

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 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:

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.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

from: www.fci.be

EXAMPLES: (from FOLWARK ZWIERZECY)

Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed Standard

Hound Group

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

Disqualification

Ridgelessness

Approved August 11, 1992

Effective September 30, 1992

from: AKC

1922 Original Breed Standard

DESCRIPTION OF THE RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK (LION DOG) The peculiarity 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. This ridge, which must be regarded as the escutcheon of the breed, is broad behind the shoulders and tapers off towards the root of the tail. It should be clearly defined and start immediately behind the shoulders and continue up to or over the loin. In shape it resembles a fiddle with the string towards the tail. A dog without a clearly defined ridge is not recognised as belonging to this breed.

IN GENERAL APPEARANCE the Ridgeback should represent a strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical in outline and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed.

THE HEAD should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between the ears and should be free from wrinkle. The stop should be defined and not in one straight line from the nose to the occiput as required in a Bull Terrier.

THE MUZZLE should be long, deep and powerful, jaws level and strong with well developed teeth, especially the canines or holders. The lips clean, close fitting the jaws.

THE EYES should be moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression, their colour harmonising with the colour of the dog.

THE EARS should be set on rather high, of medium size, rather wide at the base and gradually tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried close to the head.

THE NOSE should be black but a lighter colour is admissible if it is in keeping with the colour of the dog. A spotted nose is incorrect, but is not a disqualification.

THE NECK AND SHOULDERS The neck should be fairly long, strong and entirely free from throatiness. The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed.

THE BODY,BACK, CHEST AND LOINS 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 powerful; and loins strong, muscular and slightly arched.

LEGS AND FEET The fore legs should be perfectly straight, strong and heavy in bone, elbows close to the body. Fore feet round, compact, with well arched toes, round tough elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads. In the hind legs the muscles should be clean, though well defined and the hocks well let down.

THE TAIL should not be too strong; strong at the insertion but gradually tapering towards the end, free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too low down, but carried with a slight curve upwards and never curled.A short tail is a blemish, but not a disqualification.

THE COAT should be short, hard, dense and fine, sleek and glossy in appearnace, but neither woolly nor silky.

COLOURS Brindles, fawns, sables, whole colours or mixed with white.

SIZE Up to 28 inches.

WEIGHT Up to 80 lbs.

Standard written by F.R. Barnes in 1922 and accepted by the South African Kennel Union (now the Kennel Union of Southern Africa) in 1926.

CHANGES

1931 - height reduced from 28 inches for dogs and bitches to dogs (25-27"), bitches (24-26"). 1936 -color description was changed to Wheaten preferred, fawn permissible. (During the 1940's the current color description was selected.)