Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of the most versatile of hounds. Named for the African nation of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), it was originally developed in South Africa by the Boers as a hunter of large game animals. The Rhodesian is a powerful, athletic dog. While it has the long lean line of the sight hound, its musculature is evident. The chief characteristic of the breed is the very visible "ridge"� on its back a long line of fur running down the spine where the hairs run in the opposite direction as does the rest of the coat. The ridge rises into two whorls (crowns) as it travels from between the shoulders to a point between the hipbones. The Rhodesian Ridgeback stands from 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder, with the male being a bit bigger than the female. Its coat is short, thick and glossy, and the current standard calls for any shade of wheaten, from light to reddish. The breed's original standard allowed solids of brindle, black, sable and even white. These colors are still seen very rarely. A little bit of white may be present on the chest and toes. In some individuals, the face is dark. Where the nose is black, the eyes will be dark; where the nose is liver-colored, the eyes will be amber. The ridge may be any color, but must be symmetrical and contain two whorls. The tail of the Rhodesian is long, smooth and strong and medium-set; it hangs down with a slight curve. The head is held high, and when at rest is free of wrinkling. The snout of this breed is long and strong, but not narrow as are those of many sight hounds. As the Europeans settled the "Cape Colony"� region of South Africa in the 17th century, they brought to their new home many of the traditional working dogs to which they were accustomed: mastiff, Great Dane, bloodhound, terrier, sight hound. At the same time, a native tribe in the area introduced to the Boers their own dogs, who were descended from indigenous wild dogs and had a distinguishing ridge mark on their backs. Over time these native dogs were crossbred with the traditional European breeds, and the result was the early form of the Ridgeback type. In 1707 all European immigration was ceased for a century. The Boers set themselves to further developing the breed as a useful hunting dog for the rough terrain of Africa, and as guard dog for the Dutch merchants' transport wagons. At this time they called the dog the African Veldt. In 1879 Rev. Charles Helm from the colony's Swellendam district traveled to Rhodesia, and there gifted his friend Charles Van Rooyen with two bitches of the unique new breed. Van Rooyen spent the next several years breeding European dogs with the two, perfecting the breed into a dog suited for the large game hunting on horseback. The result was a dog that was fearless in the face of wild boar, elephant, and most importantly, lions. This dog was capable of scenting and tracking, was fast, physically tough enough for the African environment and terrain, and a ferocious defender of home and property. Van Rooyen had noted early on in his breeding program that those offspring which carried the ridge on the back were particular adept at cornering a lion and keeping it at bay until hunters arrived. Although the dogs were injured and occasionally killed in the process, they religiously stayed on the prey. This dog eventually became known as Van Rooyen's Lion Dog, or the African Lion Dog. In 1922 a group of fanciers met to form the first breed club. A standard was drafted, using the one for the Dalmation, but writing it for a bigger, ridgebacked, red wheaten dog. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was recognized by the South African Kennel Club in 1924. The Rhodesian is relatively free of health problems. One common to the breed is dermoid sinus. This is a disorder of the nervous system affecting the spinal cord. Puppies must be examined by a veterinarian soon after birth and as they grow, to screen for the disease. When it is found, it will be fatal unless treated; the available treatment is an expensive surgery. Even when surgery is performed the pup should never be bred. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism is increasing in the Rhodesian Ridgeback; it is unclear whether the disease is actually present more often, or the quality of diagnostic tools is allowing early detection. This condition can be quite harmful to the individual if left untreated; however, treatment consists of an inexpensive life-long medication that controls the disorder successfully. This breed is a large hunting dog with a high need for stimulating activity. Daily vigorous exercise should be provided. This dog must not be off-leash when not confined: its hunting instincts are very strong and can lead it to run off, or into traffic after prey. The coat is easy to care for. An occasional brushing or wipe down with a damp cloth, is all that is needed. The Rhodesian Ridgeback, as a deep-chested dog, should be monitored for bloat (GDV), which is an emergency condition that can be fatal. The dog should not be allowed to gulp its food too quickly, and should not be exercised immediately after eating. The Rhodesian is very affectionate with family, and aloof to strangers both human and canine. It is an excellent watchdog and guard dog by nature, and the owner should be mindful of this trait when introducing new dogs or human visitors. The Rhodesian is a strong-willed dog, and requires early and consistent obedience training by a strong, dog-savvy leader. A well-trained, well exercised Rhodesian is a valuable hunting dog, a decent lure courser, and a superb watch dog. A Rhodesian Ridgeback that has not received adequate early socialization and training can be a problem dog given to destructive behavior and even aggression toward other dogs and strangers. The owner will enjoy involving the Rhodesian Ridgeback in lure coursing competitions, and hunting and tracking trials.

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