AKC Breed Standards
The width of the ridge is unimportant.
Faulty, undesirable ridges:
Faulty, undesirable ridges:
GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog,
symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a
handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great
endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even, dignified
temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his
master, reserved with strangers. The peculiarity of this breed is
the ridge on the back. The ridge must be regarded as the
characteristic feature of the breed.
Elaboration: A Ridgeback represents the perfect balance
between power and elegance. The power should come from
soundness and conditioning, not from excessive size. The
elegance comes from style, presence and carriage. The
Ridgeback should give a clean appearance with body lines
blending smoothly. A male should be masculine, not coarse or
cumbersome. A bitch should be feminine but strong, not weak
or delicate.
The Ridgeback is an athletic dog, clean-muscled, upstanding,
well balanced and smooth in outline, a dog intended to hold
large and dangerous game at bay. He is agile, quick, light on
his feet and intelligent enough to stay out of harm's way, brave
enough to defend his master.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly
longer than tall but well balanced.
Dogs - 25 to 27 inches in height;
Bitches - 24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight: Dogs - 85
pounds; Bitches - 70 pounds.
Elaboration: Desirable weight should be a guideline.
Appropriate weight should correspond with the height and bone
structure of the dog/bitch. A heavier-boned animal may weigh
more, a finer-boned animal less than the 85/70 pound ideal as
described in the Standard. A mature Ridgeback should be
slightly longer than tall. The back should be strong and firm. The
length should be carried in the rib area, allowing for ample room
for heart and lungs. The well-coupled loin is neither too long nor
too short, but well balanced with the rest of the dog. A long
loined dog may be fast, but he lacks the ability to stop, turn and
maneuver which is required by the Standard. Overall balance
and symmetry is most important.
HEAD
Should be of 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. Eyes-should be
moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling
with intelligent expression, their color harmonizing with the color
of the dog. Ears-should be set rather high, of medium size,
rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They
should be carried close to the head. Muzzle-should be long,
deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws.
Nose-should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color
of the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A black nose
should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with
amber eyes. Bite-jaws level and strong with well-developed
teeth, especially the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
Elaboration: The head must be in proportion with the rest of the
body. The back-skull is flat, never domed, free from wrinkles
when in repose. When the ears are brought forward in an alert
position, the skin is furrowed with expressive wrinkles on the
back-skull between the ears and above and between the eyes.
The planes of the back-skull and muzzle are parallel and equal
in length. Cheeks are clean and flat, not rounded or bulging.
The head should never give a wedge shaped impression.
Eyes: The eyes should be spaced moderately well apart,
rounded, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, not
small, recessed nor sunken. The color should harmonize with
the pigmentation of the dog. Black-nosed (pigmented) dogs
should have a brown to dark brown eye. Liver or brown-nosed
dogs should have an amber-colored eye, with preference given
to the darker shades of brown or amber. Yellow eyes on a
black-nosed dog are undesirable.
Ears: When the ears are brought forward to attention, they are
raised even with the top of the head. The ears should hang
close to the head and cheek, flaring outward to frame the head.
Muzzle: The muzzle is long, deep and powerful and finishes up
fairly full in width, strong in under jaw. Depth of muzzle should
be in the muzzle itself, not in the leather of the lips alone.
Bite: Scissors bite is preferred, but a level bite will occasionally
be found and is acceptable. Emphasis must be placed on the
development and proper position of the canines.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. The
chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs
moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which
would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm
with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The
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, never curled or gay.
Elaboration: Neck, Chest and Body: The neck should be fairly
long and elegantly arched. Throatiness or a ewe neck should
be penalized accordingly to the severity. A chest that is too wide o
r too narrow is inefficient and hinders speed and diminishes
endurance. The brisket on a mature dog should reach well to
the elbow.
Topline and Tail: The topline flows smoothly from the top of the
head down the neck and over the shoulders. The point above
the shoulders is the highest point of the back-line, never lower
than the loin or hindquarters, standing or moving. The back is
firm, standing or moving- neither swayed nor roached. The loins
are strong. The arch of the loin should not be exaggerated. The
croup is neither flat nor steep but blends smoothly and finishes
out with the tail set neither too high not too low. Standing, the tail
may fall between the hocks or may be tucked towards the
abdomen. A kink or dud joint is considered undesirable, as is a
tight curl.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular,
denoting speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs should
be perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone. The feet should
be compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads,
protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Elaboration: Shoulders: The shoulder blades should be long,
well laid back and sloping, upper arm is of equal length and
placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers.
Forelegs: The bone of the front legs should have plenty of
substance, more so when viewed from the side than from the
front. The pasterns should be strong and slightly sloping.
Feet: The feet should be well knuckled up with thick pads. Flat,
thin-padded and splayed feet are incorrect.
HINDQUARTERS
In the hind legs, the muscles should be clean, well defined and
hocks well down. Feet as in front.
Elaboration: The strong, elastic muscles of the hind legs should
be carry well into the inner and lower thighs. The stifles are
moderately well bent. Hocks should be well let down and
straight from hock to pad. Rear angulation should balance and
compliment the front. The muscling should be clean and well
defined, denoting speed and agility.
COAT
Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but
neither woolly nor silky.
Elaboration: Puppies usually have heavier coats than adults.
More densely coated dogs may exhibit pellet- like molting
patterns throughout the coat which should not be penalized.
COLOR
Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and
toes permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or
above the toes is undesirable.
Elaboration: A Ridgeback hair is banded, lighter at the base,
darker at the tip. The color may range from light wheaten (buff)
through various shades of gold to red wheaten; all shades are
acceptable. Lighter wheaten highlights are usually noted over
the shoulder blades. Clear-faced dogs or dogs with black on
the muzzle, ear and around the eyes are equally acceptable.
However, these black points should not continue as a solid
mask over the eyes. Ridgebacks with black pigmentation may
have black hair interspersed throughout the coat; dark brown
hair may be seen on a liver/brown-nosed dog. If the amount of
black or dark brown is excessive, it is undesirable. Our
standard does not condemn white. Some white is permissible
and excessive white is not desirable. Small socks and white on
the chest on an otherwise type, sound dog should not eliminate
him from consideration. The scale of points allows 5 points out
of 100 to Coat and Color. Emphasis should be placed on the
general conformation. To quote from Maj.T.C.Hawley's definitive
work The Rhodesian Ridgeback, "We must, at all costs, avoid a
fetish that white is taboo."
RIDGE
The hallmark of this 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 must be regarded as the characteristic
feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined,
tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind the
shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of
the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls)
directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns
(whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third
of the ridge.
Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious Fault: One crown
(whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
Elaboration: The Standard is very precise regarding the ridge.
The ridge is located on the dog's back. Any variation in length of
ridge or placement of crowns (whorls) is incorrect and is to be
considered a fault. The amount of variation and the severity of
the fault is up to the individual assessing the dog. The width of
the ridge is immaterial. Occasionally there will be a parting of
hair at the top of the ridge. This is not to be considered a fault
unless it contains a complete crown (whirl). Please note
illustrations. A ridgeless dog is to be disqualified.
These ridges may be commonly seen in the ring and are
acceptable (click picture to enlarge):
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog,
symmetrical and balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a
handsome, upstanding and athletic dog, capable of great
endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even, dignified
temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his
master, reserved with strangers. The peculiarity of this breed is
the ridge on the back. The ridge must be regarded as the
characteristic feature of the breed.
Elaboration: A Ridgeback represents the perfect balance
between power and elegance. The power should come from
soundness and conditioning, not from excessive size. The
elegance comes from style, presence and carriage. The
Ridgeback should give a clean appearance with body lines
blending smoothly. A male should be masculine, not coarse or
cumbersome. A bitch should be feminine but strong, not weak
or delicate.
The Ridgeback is an athletic dog, clean-muscled, upstanding,
well balanced and smooth in outline, a dog intended to hold
large and dangerous game at bay. He is agile, quick, light on
his feet and intelligent enough to stay out of harm's way, brave
enough to defend his master.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly
longer than tall but well balanced.
Dogs - 25 to 27 inches in height;
Bitches - 24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight: Dogs - 85
pounds; Bitches - 70 pounds.
Elaboration: Desirable weight should be a guideline.
Appropriate weight should correspond with the height and bone
structure of the dog/bitch. A heavier-boned animal may weigh
more, a finer-boned animal less than the 85/70 pound ideal as
described in the Standard. A mature Ridgeback should be
slightly longer than tall. The back should be strong and firm. The
length should be carried in the rib area, allowing for ample room
for heart and lungs. The well-coupled loin is neither too long nor
too short, but well balanced with the rest of the dog. A long
loined dog may be fast, but he lacks the ability to stop, turn and
maneuver which is required by the Standard. Overall balance
and symmetry is most important.
HEAD
Should be of 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. Eyes-should be
moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling
with intelligent expression, their color harmonizing with the color
of the dog. Ears-should be set rather high, of medium size,
rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They
should be carried close to the head. Muzzle-should be long,
deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws.
Nose-should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color
of the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A black nose
should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with
amber eyes. Bite-jaws level and strong with well-developed
teeth, especially the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
Elaboration: The head must be in proportion with the rest of the
body. The back-skull is flat, never domed, free from wrinkles
when in repose. When the ears are brought forward in an alert
position, the skin is furrowed with expressive wrinkles on the
back-skull between the ears and above and between the eyes.
The planes of the back-skull and muzzle are parallel and equal
in length. Cheeks are clean and flat, not rounded or bulging.
The head should never give a wedge shaped impression.
Eyes: The eyes should be spaced moderately well apart,
rounded, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, not
small, recessed nor sunken. The color should harmonize with
the pigmentation of the dog. Black-nosed (pigmented) dogs
should have a brown to dark brown eye. Liver or brown-nosed
dogs should have an amber-colored eye, with preference given
to the darker shades of brown or amber. Yellow eyes on a
black-nosed dog are undesirable.
Ears: When the ears are brought forward to attention, they are
raised even with the top of the head. The ears should hang
close to the head and cheek, flaring outward to frame the head.
Muzzle: The muzzle is long, deep and powerful and finishes up
fairly full in width, strong in under jaw. Depth of muzzle should
be in the muzzle itself, not in the leather of the lips alone.
Bite: Scissors bite is preferred, but a level bite will occasionally
be found and is acceptable. Emphasis must be placed on the
development and proper position of the canines.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. The
chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs
moderately well sprung, never rounded like barrel hoops (which
would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm
with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The
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, never curled or gay.
Elaboration: Neck, Chest and Body: The neck should be fairly
long and elegantly arched. Throatiness or a ewe neck should
be penalized accordingly to the severity. A chest that is too wide o
r too narrow is inefficient and hinders speed and diminishes
endurance. The brisket on a mature dog should reach well to
the elbow.
Topline and Tail: The topline flows smoothly from the top of the
head down the neck and over the shoulders. The point above
the shoulders is the highest point of the back-line, never lower
than the loin or hindquarters, standing or moving. The back is
firm, standing or moving- neither swayed nor roached. The loins
are strong. The arch of the loin should not be exaggerated. The
croup is neither flat nor steep but blends smoothly and finishes
out with the tail set neither too high not too low. Standing, the tail
may fall between the hocks or may be tucked towards the
abdomen. A kink or dud joint is considered undesirable, as is a
tight curl.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular,
denoting speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs should
be perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone. The feet should
be compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads,
protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may
be removed.
Elaboration: Shoulders: The shoulder blades should be long,
well laid back and sloping, upper arm is of equal length and
placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers.
Forelegs: The bone of the front legs should have plenty of
substance, more so when viewed from the side than from the
front. The pasterns should be strong and slightly sloping.
Feet: The feet should be well knuckled up with thick pads. Flat,
thin-padded and splayed feet are incorrect.
HINDQUARTERS
In the hind legs, the muscles should be clean, well defined and
hocks well down. Feet as in front.
Elaboration: The strong, elastic muscles of the hind legs should
be carry well into the inner and lower thighs. The stifles are
moderately well bent. Hocks should be well let down and
straight from hock to pad. Rear angulation should balance and
compliment the front. The muscling should be clean and well
defined, denoting speed and agility.
COAT
Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but
neither woolly nor silky.
Elaboration: Puppies usually have heavier coats than adults.
More densely coated dogs may exhibit pellet- like molting
patterns throughout the coat which should not be penalized.
COLOR
Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and
toes permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or
above the toes is undesirable.
Elaboration: A Ridgeback hair is banded, lighter at the base,
darker at the tip. The color may range from light wheaten (buff)
through various shades of gold to red wheaten; all shades are
acceptable. Lighter wheaten highlights are usually noted over
the shoulder blades. Clear-faced dogs or dogs with black on
the muzzle, ear and around the eyes are equally acceptable.
However, these black points should not continue as a solid
mask over the eyes. Ridgebacks with black pigmentation may
have black hair interspersed throughout the coat; dark brown
hair may be seen on a liver/brown-nosed dog. If the amount of
black or dark brown is excessive, it is undesirable. Our
standard does not condemn white. Some white is permissible
and excessive white is not desirable. Small socks and white on
the chest on an otherwise type, sound dog should not eliminate
him from consideration. The scale of points allows 5 points out
of 100 to Coat and Color. Emphasis should be placed on the
general conformation. To quote from Maj.T.C.Hawley's definitive
work The Rhodesian Ridgeback, "We must, at all costs, avoid a
fetish that white is taboo."
RIDGE
The hallmark of this 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 must be regarded as the characteristic
feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined,
tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind the
shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of
the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls)
directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns
(whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third
of the ridge.
Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious Fault: One crown
(whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
Elaboration: The Standard is very precise regarding the ridge.
The ridge is located on the dog's back. Any variation in length of
ridge or placement of crowns (whorls) is incorrect and is to be
considered a fault. The amount of variation and the severity of
the fault is up to the individual assessing the dog. The width of
the ridge is immaterial. Occasionally there will be a parting of
hair at the top of the ridge. This is not to be considered a fault
unless it contains a complete crown (whirl). Please note
illustrations. A ridgeless dog is to be disqualified.
These ridges may be commonly seen in the ring and are
acceptable (click picture to enlarge):
Know What You Are Buying
| Click here for common terminology you will find in this reading. |
| Free Stacked |
This puppy is healthy and confident. This is what the ideal RR
puppy should look like.
puppy should look like.
 | Ridge of correct length | |
| Sparkling eye, intelligent | |
| Firm and straight legs | |
| Closed paws | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| General Appearance, Size, Symmetry and Balance 20 | |
| Ridge 20 | |
| Head 15 | |
| Legs and Feet 15 | |
| Neck and Shoulders 10 | |
| Body, Back, Chest and Loin 10 | |
| Coat and Color 5 | |
| Tail 5 | |
| TOTAL 100 | |
GAIT
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long,
free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect
balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the
Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and endurance.
Elaboration: The trot should be effortless and flowing, covering
the maximum amount of ground with the least amount of effort.
As speed increases, the legs angle inward toward a center line
beneath the body. The head is carried slightly above the level of
the back, the back-line remains level and firm, never high in the
rear or loin. The tail blends smoothly, carried slightly above the
level of the back, never gay nor curled. At all speeds the gait is
effortless, rhythmic and smooth, denoting efficiency, presence
and style.
TEMPERAMENT
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
Elaboration: Stable, fearless, intelligent, reserved with
strangers, yet accepting of his master's judgment. In the show
ring, a reserved attitude should not be confused with shyness.
Unnecessary aggression is not to be tolerated.
GETTING CHAMPIONSHIP
When a dog shows he must accumulate a certain number of
points to reach his championship. Your dog must obtain
70%of available points to receive a point score. The number of
CH points your dog receives is based on the number of dogs
competing. So remember the more dogs in the event the faster
yours will get their title.
SCALE OF POINTS
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long,
free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect
balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the
Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and endurance.
Elaboration: The trot should be effortless and flowing, covering
the maximum amount of ground with the least amount of effort.
As speed increases, the legs angle inward toward a center line
beneath the body. The head is carried slightly above the level of
the back, the back-line remains level and firm, never high in the
rear or loin. The tail blends smoothly, carried slightly above the
level of the back, never gay nor curled. At all speeds the gait is
effortless, rhythmic and smooth, denoting efficiency, presence
and style.
TEMPERAMENT
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
Elaboration: Stable, fearless, intelligent, reserved with
strangers, yet accepting of his master's judgment. In the show
ring, a reserved attitude should not be confused with shyness.
Unnecessary aggression is not to be tolerated.
GETTING CHAMPIONSHIP
When a dog shows he must accumulate a certain number of
points to reach his championship. Your dog must obtain
70%of available points to receive a point score. The number of
CH points your dog receives is based on the number of dogs
competing. So remember the more dogs in the event the faster
yours will get their title.
SCALE OF POINTS
Disqualifications:
Ridgelessness and being altered
Approved by The American Kennel Club on August 11, 1992
and effective September 30, 1992.
Ridgelessness and being altered
Approved by The American Kennel Club on August 11, 1992
and effective September 30, 1992.
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