Standard

ORIGIN: Southern Africa. Standard supplied by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Kennel Club.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 10.12.1996.
UTILIZATION: The Rhodesian Ridgeback is still used to hunt game in many parts of the world, but is especially prized as watch-dog and family pet.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds. Section 3 Related breeds. Without working trial.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT: Dignified, intelligent, aloof with strangers, but showing no aggression or shyness.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION: Skull : Should be of a hair length (width of head between ears, distance from occiput to stop, stop to end of nose, should be equal), flat and broad between the ears; 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.
FACIAL REGION: 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. Jaws/Teeth : 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. Eyes : Should be moderately well apart, round, bright and sparkling, with intelligent expression, their colour harmonising with the colour of the coat. Ears : 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.
NECK: Should be fairly long, strong and free from throatiness.
BODY:
Back: Powerful Loins: Strong, muscular and slightly arched. Chest : Should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious; the 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 form coarseness. It should be of moderate length. It should not be attached too high nor too low, and should be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled.

RIDGE:

COLOUR: 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.
SIZE AND WEIGHT: Height at withers : Dogs : 63-69 cm (25” -27”). Bitches : 61-66 cm (24” -26”). Weight : Dogs : 36,5 kg (80 lbs). Bitches : 32 kg (70 lbs).
FAULTS: 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.
N.B: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.