The hair on this dog’s back grows the wrong way. This ridge starts just behind the shoulders, has exactly two opposite crowns and is the breed’s hallmark, according to the FCI standard. A dog without a ridge is disqualified. The original job sounds almost incredible today: tracking and holding lions at bay.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 3 Related breeds, Standard No. 146, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Southern Africa |
| Size (height at the withers) | desired males 63 to 69 cm, females 61 to 66 cm |
| Weight | males 36.5 kg, females 32 kg |
| Life expectancy | median 12.0 years in a UK analysis of 584,734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | short and dense, smooth and glossy, neither woolly nor silky; ridge of reverse-growing hair along the back |
| Colours in the standard | light wheaten to red wheaten; a little white on chest and toes permitted, dark muzzle and ears permitted |
Origins
According to the standard, this is the only recognised breed from southern Africa. The ancestors in the Cape Colony mixed with pioneers’ dogs and semi-domesticated indigenous dogs already carrying a ridge. Usually in pairs or threes, they tracked large game, especially lions, and held it at bay until the hunter arrived. F. R. Barnes wrote the first standard in Bulawayo in 1922; recognition followed in 1926.
Temperament
Dignified, intelligent, reserved towards strangers but without aggression or shyness, says the standard. These dogs think and like checking whether an instruction makes sense. Pressure achieves little; patience, clarity and rewards achieve much.
Exercise and activities
The standard emphasises great endurance at moderate speed. Long hikes, jogging with an adult dog, tracking or lure coursing suit them well. The hunting instinct is real; off-lead freedom in wildlife-rich areas requires a very reliable recall.
Grooming
The short, glossy coat is easy to care for. Use a rubber grooming mitt weekly and keep an eye on the nails.
Health
The ridge itself is associated with a congenital abnormality, dermoid sinus: a tube-like skin channel along the midline of the back, extending to varying depths into the tissue. In data from 12,700 German puppies born from 2001 to 2019, prevalence was 2.53 percent, with a downward trend (Distl 2022). Ask for confirmation that every puppy has been examined for it by a vet. The Ridgeback is also among breeds in which the SOD1 mutation for degenerative myelopathy has been identified (Awano et al. 2009). Testing the parents provides clarity.
Who does the Rhodesian Ridgeback suit?
Experienced, sporty people who appreciate an independent, dignified dog and see training as cooperation.
Who are they less suited to?
First-time owners expecting instant obedience, small flats without plenty of outdoor exercise and households where the dog spends long periods alone.
Read why these dogs think rather than simply obey in the detailed Rhodesian Ridgeback breed profile. The breed quiz or our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) helps you assess whether they fit your life. For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find a picture of your Ridgeback under Rhodesian Ridgeback portraits and gifts or browse all dog portraits.
Further reading
- Rhodesian Ridgeback: the dog who thinks for themselves rather than simply obeying
- The socialisation period: why “as much as possible” is the wrong advice
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog who never clocks off
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 146 Rhodesian Ridgeback (fci.be, version dated 06.06.2025); Distl O, Prevalence and segregation analysis of dermoid sinus in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, The Veterinary Journal 2022; Awano T et al., Genome-wide association analysis reveals a SOD1 mutation in canine degenerative myelopathy that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, PNAS 2009; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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