About the Breed
Originating in South Africa, where amongst the early European settlers it was equally important to have a family companion and guard dog as it was to have a hunting dog, the Rhodesian Ridgeback as one of the last breeds to evolve under natural conditions of particular needs in a particular environment.
Deep chested and muscular the Rhodesian Ridgeback is fairly fast and possesses tremendous endurance, with their large padded feet; they could run all day over the rough terrain of their native country.
They enjoy lazing in the sun and will, on a cold night place themselves so close to the wood heater, open fire or camp fire they risk singeing their fur.
Though they very much enjoy lazing and sleeping, when alerted, they can in one smooth motion become a grace of speed and elegance quickly overcoming game or alerting you to visitors. Not a barker generally speaking, the ridgeback will not bark indiscriminately but only when wishing to draw your attention to something, it’s always wise to investigate. They will then stop, unless they believe you are still unaware of the problem.
Immensely intelligent and eager to please, the ridgeback can easily be trained and its presence is becoming more popular in the obedience ring. Though they are a gentle natured dog they can also be strong willed and respond best to gentle and loving training and do not do well under consistently harsh treatment.
History;
Before European settlement, the members of the native South African Hottentot tribe had a companion and hunting dog long since called the Hottentot Hunting Dog. Although this breed is no longer found in Africa, studies of well preserved remains prove this was a dog with a pointed muzzle, pricked ears, a long bushy tail, long limbs and a red gold coat. This dog is believed to have descended from a jackal-like animal and differed in ancestry from any of our present day dogs. A distinct characteristic of the Hottentot Hunting Dog was a line of hair growing in the opposite direction along its back, a ridge. This dog was obviously an important ancestor of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the Dutch Boers, Germans and Huguenots who migrated to South Africa each brought with them common European breeds of dogs relative to that period, these dogs became crossed with the Hottentot Hunting Dog and the superior qualities of these offspring were well recognized, the presence of the ridge became a way of identifying these dogs and was thus preserved.
Although the Hottentot Hunting Dog is extinct in Africa there are dogs with ridges found in Cambodia and on the island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand, both are believed to be descendants of the Hottentot Hunting Dog, considered to have been transplanted on the trade routes of seafaring merchants and slave traders.
A Rev. Charles Helm brought two ridged dogs from South Africa to Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe) in 1875, the offspring of these dogs was used to form a pack of hunting dogs owned by Cornelius Von Rooyen, who started off as an ivory hunter then completed his life as a hunter guide and collector of African wildlife for zoos. A “Lion Dog” bred by Cornelius Von Rooyen was highly prized and their reputation became widespread, an old photograph of him in his old age showed his dogs to be very much like the ridgebacks we know today.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback club of Africa was founded in 1922 to encourage the breeding and establish a standard for the breed. The original standard written at that time has undergone no major changes, it was accepted by the South African Kennel Union as a distinct breed in 1924, originally put in the gun dog group, then transferred to the sporting group in 1949. (Now are placed in the hound group).
Hunter Guard and Companion;
An avid and keen hunter, the Rhodesian Ridgeback was famous in early Africa as a fearless but wary hunter used for hunting lions. They could not of course attack and kill a lion but either in packs or individually could maneuver and feint to hold the lion at bay until the hunter arrived, this ability earned the name “Lion Dog” before being renamed Rhodesian Ridgeback officially in 1922. Their endurance and a natural zest for hunting also enabled them to follow and bring down wounded game. The ridgeback posses extremely acute distance vision, essential in the open terrain of Africa where they would often follow game a great distance. Though considered sight hunters they also have a keen sense of smell and can follow the trial of an animal with ease. There have also been reports of their excellence in treeing leopards and in South America, hunting Jaguars, In Canada they have been used to hunt deer, bear, mountain lion, lynx, bobcat, wild pigs and to retrieve waterfowl. They are a silent hunter and give voice only when game is cornered or treed unless barking has been learned from other breeds.
An equally important quality breed into the early Rhodesian Ridgeback was guard dog for the hunter and his family, it was essential to have a dog that would protect the family from the native wildlife and from prowlers, as well, sleep by the side of the man when he was away from the house and protect him. The ridgeback has been successfully used in trailing humans in Canada over the summer months, by police in many countries around the world , as guard dogs in their own country as well as family guard dogs around the world. Ridgebacks are also used as guards in the great African diamond mines.
The gentle temperament, affectionate nature, and desire for human companionship and attention make them an ideal pet for families with children. Though he is unexcelled as a companion to a single person, his loyalty, love and affection extends to the entire family. This degree of devotion and loyalty is not found so highly developed in any other members of the hound group, but is generally a trait found in Working dogs. Truly lovable they are a dog that will sit on you rather then next to you given the chance, just to be closer.
Contact Details
James and Kylie EastleyPremaydena, TAS, Australia
Phone : 0409330687
Email : kylieeastley@msn.com