Rhodesian Ridgeback Rhodesian Ridgeback

The most obvious characteristic of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the ridge that runs down his back; the ridge is a line of hair that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a brave and powerful dog with great stamina, and best owned by an experienced dog handler. They are excellent hunters and guardians and have been used as both a sighthound and a scenthound. They do very well in the heat and are able to go without food or water for many hours.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a product of Zimbabwe, Rhodesia in Africa. He is mix of dogs brought over by settlers and the local Hottentot Hunting Dog, which was known to have a ridge on its back. He was originally used for trailing big game, in particular the lion. Contrary to popular myth, the Rhodesian Ridgeback did not actually attack the lions. He was used to track, chase and harass the lion, holding him at bay until the hunter arrived to shoot it.

By the 1920's there were many ridged dogs in Africa, so a meeting was held in 1922 to create a standard for the breed, bringing together the most desirable of the traits. The dog arrived in England in 1930 and in the United States shortly thereafter. It's popularity grew, and today it is one of the most popular of the hounds.