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.
Harmakhis Wisdom Daksha of Aresvuma and Vincent
Adjo Funsani Aresvuma
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.
Vizara Iringa Aresvuma
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.
Vizara Iringa Aresvuma
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.
Harmakhis Wisdom Daksha of Aresvuma
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.
N.B. :
Male animals should have
two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.