The Rhodesian Ridgeback Community

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of Africa's most distinctive and capable hunting and working breeds, a powerful, athletic and versatile South African dog developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by European settlers in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from crosses involving the semi-domesticated hunting dogs of the indigenous Khoikhoi people - who carried the distinctive reversed spinal ridge that is the hallmark of the breed - with various European dogs brought by settlers, including Great Danes, Mastiffs, Greyhounds, Bloodhounds and Terriers. The result was a multipurpose farm and hunting dog capable of tracking and harassing large game including lions - earning the breed the popular name the Lion Dog - guarding homesteads in a demanding environment, and adapting to the extreme heat and demanding conditions of the African bush. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is registered by the Kennel Club in the Hound Group. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, muscular and symmetrically built dog of striking physical presence. The coat is short, dense and glossy in wheaten shades ranging from light wheaten to red wheaten, with or without a small white mark on the chest or toes. The defining feature of the breed is the ridge of hair along the spine that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat, forming a clear, symmetrical pattern with two crowns at the shoulders. This ridge is unique to the breed and is the source of both the name and the breed's historical associations with the Khoikhoi. Adults typically stand 61 to 69 centimetres at the shoulder and weigh 29 to 41 kilograms. The character is loyal, dignified and deeply devoted to its own family, combining a powerful physical presence with genuine affection for those it trusts. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is not the instantly sociable, easy-going companion of some other large breeds - it is reserved rather than open with strangers, confident in its own assessment of situations, and possessed of the independence that was essential in a dog required to work in challenging conditions at considerable distance from human direction. This independence, combined with the breed's considerable size and strength, makes experienced, consistent handling from an early age not a preference but a necessity. The prey drive is strong and cohabitation with small animals requires management. Recall requires thorough, early training. The breed has remarkable stamina and requires genuine daily exercise. Health considerations include Hip and Elbow Dysplasia testing and Dermoid Sinus testing of breeding stock. Bloat is a risk given the deep chest. Purchase prices from KC-registered, health-tested breeders range from £1,000 to £2,500. Monthly running costs average £100 to £180. The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Great Britain is the primary resource for breed information, health testing requirements, responsible breeders and rescue contact.