| The Official Standard for the Rhodesian Ridgeback |
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog,
symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a
handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great
endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even,
dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and
affectionate to his master, reserved with strangers. The
peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on the back. The ridge must
be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly
longer than tall but well balanced. Dogs - 25 to 27 inches in
height; Bitches - 24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight:
Dogs - 85 pounds; Bitches - 70 pounds.
HEAD
Should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between
the ears and should be free from wrinkles when in repose. The
stop should be reasonably well defined. Eyes-should be
moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling
with intelligent expression, their color harmonizing with the color
of the dog. Ears-should be set rather high, of medium size,
rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They
should be carried close to the head. Muzzle-should be long,
deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws.
Nose-should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color of
the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A black nose
should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with
amber eyes. Bite-jaws level and strong with well-developed
teeth, especially the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. The
chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs
moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which
would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm
with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The tail
should be strong at the insertion and generally tapering towards
the end, free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too high
or too low and should be carried with a slight curve upwards,
never curled or gay.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting
speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs should be
perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone. The feet should be
compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads,
protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may be
removed.
HINDQUARTERS
In the hind legs, the muscles should be clean, well defined and
hocks well down. Feet as in front.
COAT
Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but
neither wooly nor silky.
COLOR
Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and
toes permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or above
the toes is undesirable.
RIDGE
The hallmark of this 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 must be regarded as the characteristic
feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined,
tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind the
shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of
the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls)
directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns
(whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third
of the ridge. Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious Fault: One
crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
GAIT
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long,
free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect
balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the
Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and endurance.
TEMPERAMENT
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
SCALE OF POINTS
General appearance, size, symmetry and balance 20
Ridge 20
Head 15
Legs and feet 15
Neck and shoulders 10
Body, back, chest, and loin 10
Coat and color 5
Tail 5
TOTAL 100
DISQUALIFICATION: Ridgelessness
Approved by The American Kennel Club on August 11, 1992 and effective
September 30, 1992
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog,
symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a
handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great
endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even,
dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and
affectionate to his master, reserved with strangers. The
peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on the back. The ridge must
be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly
longer than tall but well balanced. Dogs - 25 to 27 inches in
height; Bitches - 24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight:
Dogs - 85 pounds; Bitches - 70 pounds.
HEAD
Should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between
the ears and should be free from wrinkles when in repose. The
stop should be reasonably well defined. Eyes-should be
moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling
with intelligent expression, their color harmonizing with the color
of the dog. Ears-should be set rather high, of medium size,
rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They
should be carried close to the head. Muzzle-should be long,
deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws.
Nose-should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color of
the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A black nose
should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with
amber eyes. Bite-jaws level and strong with well-developed
teeth, especially the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. The
chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs
moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which
would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm
with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The tail
should be strong at the insertion and generally tapering towards
the end, free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too high
or too low and should be carried with a slight curve upwards,
never curled or gay.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting
speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs should be
perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone. The feet should be
compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads,
protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may be
removed.
HINDQUARTERS
In the hind legs, the muscles should be clean, well defined and
hocks well down. Feet as in front.
COAT
Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but
neither wooly nor silky.
COLOR
Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and
toes permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or above
the toes is undesirable.
RIDGE
The hallmark of this 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 must be regarded as the characteristic
feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined,
tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind the
shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of
the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls)
directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns
(whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third
of the ridge. Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious Fault: One
crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
GAIT
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long,
free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect
balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the
Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and endurance.
TEMPERAMENT
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
SCALE OF POINTS
General appearance, size, symmetry and balance 20
Ridge 20
Head 15
Legs and feet 15
Neck and shoulders 10
Body, back, chest, and loin 10
Coat and color 5
Tail 5
TOTAL 100
DISQUALIFICATION: Ridgelessness
Approved by The American Kennel Club on August 11, 1992 and effective
September 30, 1992
Hobby & Recreation Group
What a Ridgeback should look like:
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