Canis lupus familiaris
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Featured photorhodesian-ridgeback.jpgThe Rhodesian Ridgeback is a southern African big-game hunting dog with the defining reverse-grown spinal ridge. The Rhodesian Ridgeback descends from the ridge-backed hunting dogs of the indigenous Khoikhoi people of southern Africa, crossed with European breeds (Mastiff, Great Dane, Bloodhound, Greyhound, terriers) by Boer settlers.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- Southern Africa (Zimbabwe / South Africa)
- Origin period
- Late 19th century
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Light Wheaten, Red Wheaten
- Average lifespan
- 10-12 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1955 · FCI 1955 · UKC 1958 · Group 6 — Scent Hounds and Related Breeds (Section 3: Related Breeds)
Origin
The Khoikhoi people of southern Africa kept a ridge-backed hunting dog for centuries before European contact. Boer settlers in the Cape Colony crossed these indigenous dogs with imported European breeds (Mastiff, Great Dane, Bloodhound, Greyhound, terriers) over the 17th-19th centuries, producing a dog that was used by big-game hunters in 19th-century Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe and Zambia) to hold lions at bay until the hunter arrived. The modern breed was standardized in 1922 in Bulawayo by Francis Barnes, who based the standard on the Dalmatian. The South African Kennel Union recognized the breed in 1924, the Kennel Club (UK) in 1955, and the AKC in 1955.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1955, the United Kennel Club followed in 1958, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 146) in 1955. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 6 — Scent Hounds and Related Breeds (Section 3: Related Breeds).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a strong, muscular, agile, athletic hound, symmetrical in outline, capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed. The breed's defining feature is the ridge — a clearly defined symmetrical line of hair growing in the opposite direction along the spine, starting immediately behind the shoulders and continuing to the hip bones. The short, dense, sleek, glossy coat is recognized in light wheaten and red wheaten, with a small amount of white on the chest and toes permitted. Males stand 63-69 cm at the withers, females 61-66 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Rhodesian Ridgeback's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Rhodesian Ridgeback in the Hound Group. The Hound Group gathers breeds developed for the hunt, broadly split into scent hounds (Bloodhound, Beagle, Coonhounds) and sight hounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Borzoi). The breed's foundation working role was as a southern African big-game hunting dog with the defining reverse-grown spinal ridge.
When was the Rhodesian Ridgeback officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1955; the United Kennel Club followed in 1958; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 146) in 1955.
What is the average lifespan of a Rhodesian Ridgeback?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Rhodesian Ridgeback's average lifespan in the 10-12 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
