Rhodesian Ridg Eback : Puppies, Information, Feeding & Grooming
Good points
- Affectionate
- Obedient
- Good with children
- Superior intelligence
- Sense of fun
Take heed
- No drawbacks known
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a handsome, muscular, medium-sized dog of the hound group with a short, tan-coloured coat, pendulous ears and a long, uncropped tail.
The breed is named after the line of hair, shaped like the blade of a broadsword, that grows In the reverse direction along the back with two crowns at the shoulder and the point towards the tail. This ridge is a very distinctive marking that is not found in any other breed of dog,
Although the ridge may appear to be a superficiality, created for the show ring or as a talking point, in fact it is far from recent and has come down through the centuries by way of the African Hottentot Hunting Dog.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is of a quiet temperament and rarely barks; it enjoys spending hours curled up lazily in the corner of a room, stretched out in the summer sun or basking in front of an open fireplace, Although its exploits as a hunter of African game first brought it recognition, the breed was developed as a dual-purpose dog, as a hunter and a gentle guardian of the families of the early white settlers, More and more people are discovering the tranquil temperament of this breed, its affectionate dispostiion and desire for human companionship, The Ridgeback likes nothing better than to lean against you or to sit on your feet. And if you own a diamond, this is just the dog to guard it.
Size
The desirable weight is: dog 80lb (36,3kg), bitch 70lb (31.75kg), with a permissible variation of 51b (2,3kg) above and below these weights. A mature Ridgeback should be a handsome, upstanding animal; dogs should be of a height of 25-27in (63,5-68,5cm) and bitches 24-26in (61-66cm). Minil:1um bench standard: dog 25in (63,5cm), bitch 24in (61cm),
Exercise
This large, sleepy and apparently slow-moving animal with its characteristic love of lazing, contrasts sharply with its action when alerted, In a flash, it is converted into a graceful streak of rhythmic motion. This is a pet that should have a large garden to run in and deserves a master able to give it a good walk every day,
Grooming
Regular grooming with a hound glove, coupled with correct feeding and plenty of exercise, will keep the Ridgeback in healthy and gleaming condition.
Feeding
About 20-330z (587-936g) of branded dog food complemented by biscuit should be sufficient for your Ridgeback, Or, if you prefer, 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to V2 cup of hot or cold water. And of course, like most breeds, the Ridgeback will enjoy the occasional bone.
Remember that suggested quantities are only a guide and should be increased or decreased according to the desired weight of your dog, Watch it carefully, and if it appears to be putting on undue weight, cut down on the biscuit.
Origin and history
Long before Europeans settled in southern Africa, the members of the Hottentot tribe had as a companion who accompanied them on their hunting expeditions an animal that has since been called the Hottentot Hunting Dog. The distinct characteristic of this dog is the ridge of hair growing in the reverse direction along its back, During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Dutch, Boers, Germans and Huguenots migrated to southern Africa, As these people were pioneers in a new and uncivilized country teeming with fierce wild animals, they brought with them their own European medium- and large-sized working and hunting dogs.
Probably by chance, the white settlers' dogs became crossed with the tough Hottentot Hunting Dogs, and the superior quality and vigour of their offspring were quickly recognized, the presence of the ridge identifying the most desirable dogs, This blending of the best qualitites of many European breeds with those of the Hottentot Hunting Dog formed the immediate ancestor of today's Ridgeback, which has many of the characteristics usually associated with other hounds.
SHOW STANDARD
General appearance. The Ridgeback should be a strong, muscular, active dog, symmetrical in outline and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed, Movement should be similar to the Foxhound's gait.
Colour. Light wheaten to red wheaten. Head, body, legs and tail should be of a uniform colom A little white on the chest is permissible but excessive white hairs here, on the belly or above the paws should be penalized. White toes are undesirable. Dark muzzle and ears are permissible.
Head and skull. Should be of a 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 and not in one straight line from the nose to the occiput bone, as required in a bull terrier. The nose should be black or brown in keeping 'with the colour of the dog, No other colour of nose is permissible, A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes: a brown nose by amber eyes.
Body. The shoulders are sloping, clean and muscular. The chest, which should not be too wide, is nonetheless deep and capacious, The ribs are moderately well sprung, but they never should be rounded like the hoops of a barrel. This construction would suggest a lack of speed, The back is powerful. The loins are strong, muscular and somewhat arched,
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,
Feet. The feet should be compact with well-arched toes and round, tough elastic pads protected by hair between the toes and pads.