Featured Breed
The Rhodesian Ridgeback
This article is reproduced here in its entirety. It
originally appeared on the AKC Web Site in 2001
when the Rhodesian Ridgeback was the featured
breed

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  The AKC recognizes five breeds of dog that originated on the African continent. All five are sighthounds-dogs who seek and find prey with their keen eyesight. All five are strong, lithe, and very fast. Only one, however, is able to hold a raging lion-the king of the beasts-at bay for a hunter. This is the African Lion Hound, more commonly known as the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

When Europeans began their exploration of South Africa in the early 16th century, they were impressed by the hunting abilities of the dogs owned by the native Hottentot tribes. The Hottentot dog had a distinctive "ridge" on his spine-a stripe of fur growing in the opposite direction to the rest of his coat. It is thought that the ridgebacked dog had been a companion to the Hottentots for centuries, and had accompanied the tribe on its migration from the Far East to Africa.

The European settlers brought their own dogs-Mastiffs, Greyhounds, Bloodhounds, Great Danes-with them to Africa, but with the closing of the borders in 1707, their breeding stock began to dwindle. The settlers wanted to develop a hunting breed suited to the difficult climate and varied wildlife of the African veldt. By selectively crossing their own dogs with the much-admired ridged dog of the Hottentots, the settlers produced a dog met their criteria: A dog that could withstand the daytime heat and the nighttime cold; a dog that could go a day or more without water; a dog that could track prey from game birds to stags to lions; a dog that would be fierce towards intruders but gentle to family members. In short, a dog that was strong, fearless, intelligent, and devoted-the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

The Ridgeback's job in the hunt is to find game, track it silently across the open terrain, and then keep it in place (at bay) until the hunters arrived on horseback. This requires keen sight, a good nose, strong, fast feet, and a great deal of courage. The Ridgeback's abilities, however, are not limited to hunting. Farmers also used the dogs to herd their livestock, guard their property, and romp with their children.

Although popular in South Africa since its development, the breed did not gain much notice in the United States until after World War II. At that time large numbers were imported into the U.S., and the breed's qualities were brought to the public's attention by a group of devoted fanciers. The Ridgeback proved its prowess-and adaptability-by successfully hunting native prey such as mountain lions, wildcats, coyote, deer, boar, and raccoon.

More importantly, though, the Ridgeback has also proven itself to be a wonderful companion animal. Outgoing and easy-going, the Ridgeback gets along well with children and other family pets. It is a very athletic dog that loves to run, jump, and even swim, but it is also happy to take long naps in the sun. Its short coat is easy to keep clean and does not shed much. Ridgebacks are quiet dogs and generally bark only to warn their families of the appearance of visitors.

The Ridgeback is a natural watch dog and family defender. Its protective instincts, combined with its size, strength, and speed, make early and consistent obedience training a must. Because Ridgebacks are intelligent and eager to please, they usually respond very well to training and mature into calm, friendly, well-behaved pets. Ridgebacks can be trained to compete in Obedience, Agility and Tracking. They are also eligible to compete in Lure Coursing, an exciting event where the beauty and power of sighthounds finds its fullest expression.

It would be difficult, nowadays, to witness first-hand a Rhodesian Ridgeback holding a lion at bay-but for those who know the breed, it's not hard to imagine. This powerful, dignified dog carries all the pride of his history and the possibility of his heritage in his kingly gaze.

Facts about the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback became an AKC-recognized breed in 1955. That year, 142 Ridgebacks were registered. The pedigree of the first Ridgeback reads:

Tchaika of Redhouse (South Africa), (B) #H520551. By Faro ex Bergwag. Owner: Stephen Paine. Breeder: A. Uys. Whelped 9/10/1949. Wheaten.

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are versatile dogs that excel in a variety of activities. The following table shows the titles earned by Ridgebacks in the last three years: