Breed Standard, ANKA.

Utilisation

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used to hunt game in many parts of the world, but is especially prized as a watch-dog and a family pet.

General Appearance

The Rhodesian Ridgeback should represent a well balanced, strong, muscular, agile and active dog, symmetrical in outline and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed.  The emphasis is on agility, elegance and soundness with no tendency towards massiveness.  The peculiarity of the breed is the ridge on the back, which is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.

Characteristics

The ridge is the escutcheon of the breed.  the ridge must be clearly defined, symmetrical and tapering towards the haunch.  It must start immediately behind the shoulders and continue to the hip (haunches) bones.  The ridge must contain only two crown, identical and opposite each other.  The lower edges of the crowns must not exceed further down the ridge than one-third of its length.  A good average width of the ridge is 5cm.

Temperament

Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.

Head and skull

Cranial Region: Skull- should be of fair length (width of head between ears, distance occiput to stop, stop to end of nose, should be equal), flat and broad between the ears; the head should be free from wrinkles when in repose. Stop - Should be reasonably well defined and not in one straight line from the nose to the occipital bone.  Racial Region - Nose - should be black or brown.  A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown nose by amber eyes.  Muzzle - Should be long, deep and powerful.  Lips - Should be clean, closely fitting to jaws.  Cheeks - Should be clean.

Eyes

Should be moderately well apart, round, bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression their colour harmonising with the colour of the coat.

Ears

Should be set rather high, of medium size, rather wide at base and gradually tapering to a rounded point.  They should be carried close to the head.

Mouth

Jaws strong with a perfect and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.  The teeth must be well developed, especially the canines or holders.

Neck

Should be fairly long, strong and free from throatiness.

Forequarters

The forelegs should be perfectly straight, strong and well boned, with the elbows close to the body.  When viewed from the side, the forelegs should be wider than viewed from the front.  Pasterns should be strong with slight spring.  Shoulders - should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed.

Body

Back - Powerful.  Loins - Strong, muscular and slightly arched.  Chest - Should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious; the brisket should reach to the elbow.  Forechest - Should be visible when viewed from the side.  Ribs - Moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel-hoops.

Hindquarters

In the hind legs the muscles should be clean and well defined with good turn of stifle and strong hocks well let down.

Feet

Should be compact and round with well arched toes and tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.

Tail

Should be strong at the root and gradually tapering towards the end, free from coarseness.  It should be of moderate length.  It should not be attached too high nor too low and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.

Gait/Movement

Straight forward, free and active.

Coat

Hair should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but neither woolly nor silky.

Colour

Light wheaten to red wheaten.  A little white on the chest and toes is permissible, but excessive white hairs here, on belly or above toes is undesirable.  A dark muzzle is permissible.  Excessive black hairs throughout the coat are highly undesirable. 

Size

Desirable height; Dogs 63cm (25ins) to 69cm (27 ins).  Bitches 61 cm (24 ins) to 66cm (26 ins).  Weight - desirable weights are; Dogs 36.5 kg, Bitches 32 kg.

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be in exact proportions to its degree.

Note

Males should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Taken from A.N.K.A, Hound Group.