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.
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 crowns, identical and opposite each other. The lower edges of
the crowns must not extend further down the ridge than one-third of its length. A good average width of
the ridge is 5cm (2ins).
Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.
Skull Should be of a fair length (width of head between ears, distance from occiput to
stop, stop to end of nose, should be equal), the skull flat and broad between the ears and
the head should be free from wrinkles when in repose.
Stop The stop should be reasonably well defined and not in one straight line from the
nose to the occipital bone.
Nose The nose should be black or brown. A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes,
a brown nose by amber eyes.
Muzzle The muzzle should be long, deep and powerful.
Lips The lips should be clean, closely fitting the jaws.
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.
Cheeks Cheeks should be clean.
Should be moderately well apart, round bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression,
their colour harmonising with the colour of the coat.
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.
Should be fairly long, strong and free from throatiness.
Back Powerful.
Loins Strong, muscular and slightly arched, powerful.
Chest Should not be too wide but very deep and capacious and brisket should reach to the elbow.
Forechest Should be visible when viewed from the side.
Ribs Moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel-hoops.
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 inserted too high
nor too low, and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.
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 when viewed from the front. Pastems should be strong with slight spring.
Shoulders The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed.
Feet The feet should be compact and round, with well arched toes, and tough elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.
Hindquarters In the hind legs the muscles should be clean, well defined, good turn of
stifle and strong hocks well let down.
Straight forward, free and active.
Hair should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance, but neither woolly nor silky.
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
and ears permissible. Excessive black hairs throughout the coat are highly undesirable.
The desirable heights are:
Dogs 63cm (25ins) to 69cm (27ins)
Bitches 61cm (24ins) to 66cm (26ins)
The desirable weights are:
Dogs 36.5kg (80lbs)
Bitches 32 kg (70lbs)
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree.