FCI-Standard Nr. 146
Origin
Southern Africa.
Standard supplied by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.
Date of publication of the official 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 watchdog and family pet.
FCI-Classification
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 semidomesticated, 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
Ranial 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
he 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
General appearance
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
General appearance
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Disqualifying faults
- Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
- Any dog clearly showing physical of behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B.
- Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
- Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding
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