FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL) SECRETARIAT GENERAL: 13, Place Albert 1er B – 6530 Thuin (Belgique)_______________________________________________________________________________
07. 08. 1998 / DE FCI - Standard No. 146 RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
FCI St. No. 146 / 07. 08. 1998
2TRANSLATION : Jochen H. Eberhardt / Official original language (EN).
ORIGIN : Southern Africa. Standard established by the Southern African Kennel Union and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF VALID OFFICIAL STANDARD : 12/10/1996 UTILIZATION : The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used for hunting game in many parts of the world but is particularly valued as a guard dog and family member.
CLASSIFICATION FCI: Group 6 Hounds, Scenthounds and Related Breeds. Section 3 Related Breeds. Without work test.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Rhodesian Ridgeback is currently the only recognized breed to have originated in southern Africa. Its ancestors can be traced back to the Cape Colony, where they interbred with both the dogs of the early pioneers and the semi-domesticated Hottentot dogs, which had a crested back. Usually hunting in groups of two or three dogs, the Rhodesian Ridgeback's original job was to track down large game, mainly lions, and to hold them with great agility until the hunter approached. The original standard, established by FRBarnes in Bulawayo, Rhodesia in 1922, was based on the Dalmatian standard and was approved by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa in 1926.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Rhodesian Ridgeback should be a well balanced, strong, muscular, agile and active dog, symmetrical in profile and extremely persistent at a moderate pace.
FCI St. No. 146 / 07. 08. 1998 3The main focus is on mobility, elegance and functional health without any tendencies towards a massive appearance. The peculiarity of the breed is the crest on the back ("ridge"), which is caused by the fact that the hair grows in the opposite direction to that on the rest of the body. The dorsal crest is the coat of arms of the breed. The crest of the back must be clearly defined, symmetrical and narrow towards the hips. It must begin just behind the shoulders and reach the hip bones. The dorsal crest must have only two vertebrae ("crowns") of the same shape and facing each other. The lower edges of the vertebrae must not go beyond the upper third of the dorsal crest. A good average value for the width of the dorsal crest is 5 cm (2'').
BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT : Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers but showing no signs of aggression or shyness.
CRANIAL REGION : Skull : Should be of medium length (width between ears, distances from occiput to forehead, from forehead to tip of nose should be equal), flat and broad between ears; in a relaxed posture no wrinkles on the head. Stop : The forehead should be fairly well marked : the profile must not be in a straight line from the occiput to the tip of the nose.
FACIAL REGION : Nose : The nose should be black or brown. A black nose should go with dark eyes, a brown nose with amber eyes.
Muzzle : The muzzle should be long, deep and strong. Lips : The lips should be tight and close to the jaws.
FCI St. No. 146 / 07. 08. 1998 4Jaws/Teeth : Strong jaws, with a perfectly fitting and complete scissor bite. This means that the upper incisors closely overlap the lower incisors and are perpendicular to the jaw. The teeth must be well developed, especially the canines or canines. Jaws : No jaws.
Eyes : Should be set moderately wide apart, round, clear and sparkling with an intelligent expression. Their color should harmonize with the coat color.
Ears : Should be set on fairly high, of medium size, fairly broad at base and tapering to a rounded point. It should be worn close to the head.
NECK : Should be fairly long, strong and without loose throat skin.
BODY : Back : Powerful. Loin : Strong, muscular and slightly arched.
Chest : Should not be too broad but very deep and roomy; the lowest point of the sternum should be at the level of the elbow point.
Forechest : Should be visible when viewed from the side.
Ribs : Moderately sprung, never barrel shaped.
TAIL : Strong at the base, gradually thinning towards the tip of the tail, not coarse. Of moderate length, set neither too high nor too low, carried slightly arched but never curled.
LIMBS FOREQUARTERS : General : Forelegs should be perfectly straight, strong and well boned, elbows close to body. When viewed from the side, the foreleg should be wider than when viewed from the front. Strong pastern joints, forefoot slightly inclined. Shoulder : The shoulders should be clearly defined, lying sloping and, muscular, suggesting great speed.
FCI St. No. 146 / 07.08.1998 5Forefeet : Round, with toes close together and well arched.
HINDQUARTERS : General appearance : The musculature of the hindquarters should be lean, the knees well bent, the pasterns short.
Hind feet : Round, with toes close together and well arched.
GAIT : Spacious, free and lively.
COAT : Hair : Should be short and dense, smooth and shiny in appearance, but not woolly or silky.
Color : Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and toes is permissible, extensive white hair here, on the belly or above the toes is undesirable. A dark muzzle and dark ears are permissible. Too many black hairs throughout the coat are extremely undesirable.
SIZE AND WEIGHT Desired height at the withers: Males: 63 cm (25'') to 69 cm (27''). Bitches : 61 cm (24'') to 66 cm (26'').
Weight : Males : 36.5 kg (80 lbs). Bitches: 32 kg (70 lbs).
FAULTS : Any deviation from the above points must be considered a fault, the evaluation of which should be strictly proportionate to the degree of the deviation and whose impact on the health and welfare of the dog should be noted.
FCI St. N° 146 / 07.08.1998 6DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: •Aggressive or overly shy dogs •Dogs clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities must be disqualified. NB •Males must have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum. • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs typical of the breed should be used for breeding
Source: SKG