• Breed Standard

    • RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
      Rhodesian Ridgeback breed standard no. 146 (FCI)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
      FCI 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 pioneers' 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 escut- cheon 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 5
      cm (2 ins).      BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT
      Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shynessHEADCRANIAL 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 powerfulLips: The lips should be clean, closely fitting the jawsJaws/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 archedChest: 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.Pasters: 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 and its effect upon the health and
      welfare of the dog.      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
     

     

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