Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large hound that originated in southern Africa, bred to track and hold game and to guard the homestead. Its most recognisable feature is the ridge of hair running along the spine, which grows against the direction of the rest of the coat. This ridge gives the breed its name and remains the defining mark of the breed standard.

An adult typically weighs between 32 and 39 kg and stands 61 to 69 cm at the shoulder. The coat is short, dense and a single shade of wheaten, ranging from light to red. The build is muscular and well balanced, suited to covering ground at speed over long distances.

The Ridgeback is loyal and devoted to its family, independent in its thinking and reserved with people it does not know. It is quiet indoors and rarely barks without cause, though it stays alert and doubles as a watchful guard dog. This mix of strength, intelligence and a strong will means the breed does best with an owner who offers consistent structure and early socialisation.

Who it suits

The Rhodesian Ridgeback suits an active household that can provide daily exercise and firm, fair leadership. It is a good match for owners who want a calm indoor companion that also serves as a capable guard dog. Given its size, strength and independent streak, the breed suits someone with prior dog-owning experience rather than a first-timer looking for an easy, biddable pet. A home with a secure garden and time for training and companionship will suit the breed best.

The breed's roots lie in the Cape Colony of southern Africa, where European settlers arriving from the seventeenth century onward brought hunting and guarding dogs such as mastiffs, greyhounds and assorted scenthounds. These dogs were crossed with semi-domesticated ridged dogs kept by the Khoikhoi people. The native ridged dogs passed on both the hardiness the climate demanded and the distinctive strip of reversed hair along the spine.

Farmers and hunters valued the resulting dogs for coping with heat, managing on little water and guarding property through the night. They were set to work locating and baying large game, holding it at a distance until the hunter arrived. This work gave rise to the older name African Lion Hound, although the dogs themselves did not kill lions.

In the 1870s, a number of these dogs were taken north into what was then Rhodesia, where big-game hunting was widespread, and the type was refined further for that purpose. In 1922 a group of breeders meeting in Bulawayo agreed a written standard, using the Dalmatian standard as a model for its format. The breed took the name Rhodesian Ridgeback, after the region and its signature feature.

From the 1920s the standard travelled to kennel clubs overseas, and the breed won recognition in Britain and the United States over the decades that followed. The ridge stayed the central requirement of the standard throughout, and the breed kept its dual reputation as a hunting hound and a family guard dog. In India, pedigree Rhodesian Ridgebacks are registered with the Kennel Club of India (KCI), the country's national body for pedigree registration.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large, athletic dog built for both speed and stamina. The body is slightly longer than it is tall, with a deep chest, a strong loin and clean, powerful legs. The overall look is one of balance and quiet strength rather than bulk. The head is of fair length with a flat skull, and the muzzle is long and deep.

The ridge is what sets the breed apart: a strip of hair along the spine that grows forward, against the lie of the rest of the coat. It starts just behind the shoulders and tapers towards the hips. A correct ridge is clearly defined and symmetrical, beginning with two matching crowns, or whorls, of equal size set opposite one another near the top.

Coat and colours

The coat lies short and flat against the body, giving little protection from cold but suiting a warm climate well. The accepted colour is wheaten, in any shade from light to red. Most standards allow a small amount of white on the chest and toes, while excessive white counts as a fault. Some dogs carry a dark muzzle and ears. The nose is brown or black depending on the coat shade, and eye colour follows the nose colour: darker eyes go with a black nose, and amber eyes with a brown nose.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback forms a close bond with its own family and tends to attach itself to the household as a whole. At home it is usually calm, even-tempered and quiet, and it is not a dog that barks without reason. That same quiet confidence makes it a watchful guard: it stays alert to changes around the property and will place itself between the family and anything it perceives as a threat.

Around strangers the breed is aloof rather than welcoming, and it holds back until it has weighed up a newcomer. This reserve is typical of the breed and is one reason early, wide-ranging socialisation matters. With children in its own family it is usually patient and gentle, though its size means it suits homes with older children who can manage a strong dog.

The Ridgeback is intelligent and independent, bred originally to work at a distance from the handler and make its own decisions. This can make it strong-willed, and it will test boundaries if allowed to. It is not so much stubborn as self-reliant, and it responds best to an owner who is consistent and fair. It can get along well with other dogs when raised alongside them, though some individuals, males in particular, can be assertive with dogs of the same sex. Its hunting background also gives it a strong instinct to chase smaller animals.

Grooming

The short coat is easy to look after and sheds relatively little for a dog of this size.

• Brush once a week with a rubber curry brush or grooming mitt to lift out loose hair
• Bathe only every few months, or when the dog is dirty, since the coat carries little odour
• Check and clean the ears regularly to prevent build-up
• Trim the nails every few weeks and brush the teeth several times a week

Exercise

This is an athletic breed that needs genuine physical activity every day. Without enough exercise it can turn restless and destructive.

• At least 60 to 90 minutes of activity daily for an adult
• Long walks, jogging and free running in a securely fenced area
• Activities that engage the mind, such as scent games or short training sessions
• Avoid hard, repetitive exercise for puppies until the joints have matured

Environment

The Rhodesian Ridgeback does best in a home with a secure garden and a tall, solid boundary wall or fence, since it is athletic enough to clear low barriers. It prefers warm weather and feels the cold because of its thin coat, so it needs shelter and warmth during the cooler months. Much of India's climate is hot for large parts of the year, which suits this southern African breed's short coat well. At heart it is an indoor dog and should live as part of the family rather than being left outside on its own for long spells.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback does well on a complete, balanced diet formulated for large, active breeds. Look for a food with a quality animal protein as the main ingredient and a fat level suited to its activity. Because the breed is deep-chested, measured meals through the day work better than one large meal, as this helps lower the risk of bloat. Keep the dog lean, since extra weight puts strain on the joints and the heart. Adjust the quantity to the individual dog's age, weight and activity rather than feeding by appetite alone, and keep fresh water available at all times.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about ten per cent of daily calories, and count them within the total food quantity. Good options include small pieces of plain cooked meat or a commercial low-fat training treat. Most Ridgebacks on a complete diet need no supplements, though a vet may suggest joint support for older dogs or those in heavy work. Bring in any change of diet gradually over several days to avoid an upset stomach.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a hardy breed, and most dogs enjoy good health, with a typical lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Responsible breeding and routine veterinary care lower the risk of the conditions seen in the breed. Being deep-chested, it carries a higher than average risk of bloat, so owners should know the warning signs. The points below cover the issues seen most often.

Preventive care

• Buy from a breeder who screens for hip, elbow and thyroid problems and checks puppies for dermoid sinus
• Keep vaccinations and deworming up to date
• Feed measured meals and avoid hard exercise straight after eating to lower the risk of bloat
• Keep the dog at a lean weight to protect the joints
• Book annual veterinary check-ups, and more frequent ones for senior dogs

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is clever and picks things up quickly, but it was bred to work alone and think for itself, so it will not simply obey to please its owner. It needs someone calm, consistent and clear about the rules. Harsh or heavy-handed methods tend to make the breed withdraw or dig its heels in, while fair, reward-based training earns its cooperation. Begin training and socialisation in puppyhood, exposing the dog to plenty of people, places and other animals so its natural reserve with strangers does not tip over into wariness. Keep sessions short and varied to hold its interest.

Basics

1. Set house rules and a routine from the first day home
2. Socialise the puppy widely with people, dogs and everyday situations
3. Teach name response, sit, down and a reliable recall early on
4. Work on loose-leash walking before the dog reaches its full size and strength
5. Keep daily sessions short and reward correct responses straightaway
6. Build up steady manners around distractions and other animals

Rhodesian Ridgebacks reach sexual maturity by around one year of age, but responsible breeders wait until a dog is physically and mentally mature, usually about two years, before breeding from it. Both parents should clear health screening for hip and elbow dysplasia and thyroid function, and the breeding pair should have sound temperaments true to the breed.

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days. Litters typically run to six or nine puppies, though larger litters do occur. Every puppy should be examined for dermoid sinus, the inherited defect along the spine, since it can be present from birth and may need veterinary attention. Newborn puppies depend entirely on the mother for warmth and feeding through the first weeks.

From around three weeks the puppies start to explore and should be handled gently and introduced to ordinary household sights and sounds. This early period shapes much of the adult temperament. Puppies are usually weaned by six to eight weeks and should stay with the mother and littermates until at least eight weeks so they learn normal dog behaviour. Breeding a large, strong breed like this is a serious undertaking and should be carried out only with the welfare of the parents and puppies as the first concern.

How to register a Rhodesian Ridgeback in India

Begin with the essentials: your Rhodesian Ridgeback's name, its date of birth, a clear photograph, and your mobile number, saved to a registry that levies no charge at any stage. Dog registration functions with or without a microchip, so nothing need wait for the next clinic visit.

A microchip without a registration is merely a number under the skin. File your Rhodesian Ridgeback's fifteen digit number with United Pet Club and it becomes a working address: free for life, open to every chip brand, and searchable from any clinic or shelter in the country or abroad. Microchip registration first, the free account alongside.