Dog
Group:
Hound 
Rhodesian Ridgeback Champions
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Pronunciation:
roh-dee-zhuh rij-bak
Breed Description:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog is a large sized breed that should be very athletic with long, lean lines. They should be muscular enough to have the look of a dog with great stamina but not too muscular where they look course. The overall shape of the dog should be one of symmetry with a slightly longer body than it is tall. The head should be broad and the ears should hang down the side of the head. The tail should be long and should taper to a point.
The coat of the Rhosdesian Ridgeback si unique simply because of a ridge of hair that runs down the length of the spine. The short hair should grow in the opposite direction of the rest of the group. The rest of the coat should be very dense and should be short. It should have a glossy look to it and the texture should be medium in roughness. The color of the Rhodesian Ridgeback can be any solid shade of Wheaten from the light, gold wheaten to a deep reddish wheaten. There should be no other color but a small marking of white on the chest or toes is allowed.
Temperament:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog is an intelligent breed that is active and athletic. This is a breed that loves to get going and they are always happy to meet any exercise regime that their owners put them through. The breed is usually very affectionate with their family, but they tend to be reserved with everyone else, especially strangers. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is usually very good with children and provide homes with a calm and gentle dog. They can be stubborn at times and really need an owner who can provide firm and consistent rules. The breed does well with other dogs and pets but they can be protective of their family against other animals and people.
Height:
The average height of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is between 24 to 26 inches for a female and 25 to 27 inches for a male.
Weight:
The average weight of a Rhodesian Ridgeback is between 65 to 75 pounds for a female and 80 to 90 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog is considered to have low to average health and the breed does have a number of serious health problems. These are Addison's Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Gastric Torsion, Atopic Dermatitis, Epilepsy, Cataracts, Osteosarcoma, Hypothyroidism, Auto-Immune Hemolytic Anemia, Elbow Dysplasia, Lymphosarcoma, Myasthenia Gravis, Hypertonic Osteodystrophy, Deafness, Mast Cell Tumors, Hemangiosarcoma, Megaesophagus and Anesthesia Sensitivity.
Living Conditions:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dogcan do very well in apartments, especially with proper exercise, however, the ideal home is one with a large yard. A fence is important since the Rhodesian Ridgeback will wander, especially if they become bored. They should not be left alone in the backyard for long periods of time.
Exercise:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog does not have an over excess of energy and can really make due with about 30 minutes of exercise each day. However, the breed does have plenty of endurance and can outlast most people when it comes to jogging so they are always happy for longer periods of exercise.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis since they can be prone to ear infections and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Rhodesian Ridgeback breed of dog was developed in South Africa nad is believed to have been developed from an ancient breed that was domesticated by the Hottentot Tribes. While there is no clear indication of what breeds went into the Rhodesian Ridgeback, it is thought that the Hottentot dog was crossed with the Bloodhound, Great Dane and Deerhound. The breed was commonly used to hunbt lions and the breed as we know it today, can attribute much of its look and temperament of the breeding program of a man named Van Rooyen, who bred his own dogs for hunting. Although the first Rhodesian Ridgebacks had no set standard except the ability to hunt lions and the ridge of hair, finally in the 1920's a breed standard was created and the breed finally took shape into what we know today. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
