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SOUTH AFRICAN KENNEL UNIONK.U.S.A.THE ORIGINAL STANDARDThe Rhodesian Ridgeback (Lion Dog) Club of 1922The peculiarly of this breed is the ridge on the back which is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. This ridge, which must be regarded as the escutcheon of the breed is broad behind the shoulders, and tapers off towards the end of the tail. It should be clearly defined and start immediately behind the shoulders, and continue up to or over the loin. In shape, it resembles a fiddle with the strings toward the tail. A dog without a ridge is not recognized as belonging to this breed. In General Appearance the Ridgeback should represent a strong, muscular and active dog. Symmetrical in outline, and capable of great endurance with a fair amount of speed.The Head should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between the ears, and should be free from wrinkle. The stop should be defined and not in one straight line from the nose of the occipital bone as required in a Bull Terrier.The Muzzle should be long, deep and powerful, jaws level and strong, with well developed teeth, especially the canines or holders. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws.The 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.The Ears should be set rather high, of medium size, rather wide at the base, and gradually tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried close to the head.The Nose should be black, but a lighter color is admissible if it is keeping with the color of the dog. A spotted nose is incorrect, but not a disqualification.Neck and Shoulders The neck should be fairly long, strong and entirely free from throatiness. The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed.Body, Back, Chest and Lions 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 powerful, and loin strong, muscular and slightly arched.Legs and Feet. The fore legs should be perfectly straight, strong, and heavy in bone; elbows close to the body. Forefeet round, compact, with well arched toes, round tough elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads. In the hind legs the muscles should be clean, though well defined, and hocks well let down.The Tail should not be too strong; strong at the insertion, and gradually tapering towards the end. Free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too low down, but carried with a slight curve upwards, and never curled. A short tail is a blemish, but not a disqualification.The Coat should be short, hard, dense and fine, sleek and glossy in appearance, but neither wooly nor silky.Colors. Brindles, fawns, sables, whole colors, or mixed with white.Size. Up to 28 inches       Weight. Up to 80lbs

United Kennel Club

The United Kennel Club (UKC)was founded in 1898 by Chauncey Z. Bennett and currently owned by Wayne R. Cavanaugh. The United Kennel Club is the second oldest and second largest all-breed dog registry in the United States. It registers over 250,000 dogs annually. The performance programs of U.K.C. include Conformation Shows, Obedience Trials, Agility Trials, Coonhound Field Trials, Water Races, Nite Hunts and Bench Shows, hunting tests for the retrieving breeds, beagle events including Hunts and Bench Shows, and, for Cur and Feist Squirrel and Coon Events, and Bench Shows.

Currently, the United Kennel Club recognizes over 300 breeds of dogs categorized into 8 groups: Companion Breeds, Guardian Dogs, Gun Dogs, Herding Dogs, Northern Breeds, Scenthounds, Sighthounds And Pariahs, Terriers.
Currently, the United Kennel Club recognizes over 300 breeds of dogs categorized into 8 groups: Companion Breeds, Guardian Dogs, Gun Dogs, Herding Dogs, Northern Breeds, Scenthounds, Sighthounds And Pariahs, Terriers. RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
Official U.K.C. Breed Standard
Copyright 1992, United Kennel Club, Inc.

History                                                          
The origin of the Rhodesian Ridgeback traces back to the hunting dogs used on big game such as lions, cheetahs and baboons by the nomadic African tribes. The Hottentot tribe brought them to southern Africa. The breed went through several transformations before becoming the dog we know today. In 1922, the first Rhodesian Ridgeback Club was formed for the specific purpose of drawing up a breed standard. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was officially recognized by the South African Kennel Union in 1924. It was not until after World War II that the first specimens of the breed were brought to the United States. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1980.
General Appearance and Characteristics The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding dog; symmetrical in outline. It presents the appearance of strength and agility; and the capability of great endurance accompanied by a fair amount of speed.
The distinctive characteristic peculiar to the breed is a ridge on the back that is formed by the hair growing in an opposite direction from the rest of the coat. The ridge is clearly defined, tapering and symmetrical. It begins immediately behind the shoulders and continues to a point located between the prominences of the hips. It should contain two identical crowns opposite each other, the lower edges of which do not extend farther down the ridge than one-third of the length of the ridge.
Head and Skull                                                          
The head is of a fair length. The flat skull is rather broad between the ears. It is free from wrinkles when in repose. The stop is reasonably well defined. The muzzle is long, deep and powerful. The clean lips fit the jaws closely. Faults: Heavy head; round skull; short, snipey muzzle; bulging cheeks. TEETH - A full complement of strong, well-developed, white teeth meet in a scissors bite. The canine teeth are especially well developed. Even bites are acceptable but not desirable. Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite. EYES - The round eyes are set moderately well apart. They are bright, sparkling and have an intelligent expression. Eye color is in harmony with that of the color of the dog. A black nosed dog has dark eyes; a brown-nosed dog has amber eyes. NOSE - The nose has black or brown pigment, in harmony with the color of the dog. No other colored noses are acceptable. EARS - The medium-sized ears are set rather high and carried close to the head. They are rather wide at the base and taper to a rounded point.
Neck                                                          
The fairly long, clean neck is fairly strong and flexible.
Forequarters                                                          
The sloping shoulders are clean and muscular, indicating the ability for speed. FORELEGS - The heavily boned, strong forelegs are perfectly straight. The elbows are close to the body.
Body                                                          
The back is powerful. The strong, muscular loins are slightly arched. The very deep, roomy chest is not too wide. The brisket reaches down to the elbows. Body length, measured from the shoulders to the hindquarters, is slightly longer than the height, measured from the withers to the ground. The ribs are moderately well sprung. Faults: Too long or too short in the back; roach back; sway back; round ribs.
Hindquarters                                                          
HIND LEGS - The muscles in the hind legs are clean and well defined. The hocks are well let down.
Feet                                                          
The round, compact feet have well-arched toes and round, tough, elastic pads. The feet are protected by hair between the toes and the pads. Serious fault: Hare feet.
Tail                                                          
The tail is strong at the root and tapers gradually toward the tip. It is free from coarseness. It is carried with a slight upward curve. Faults: Curled tail; set too high or too low.
Coat                                                          
The short, dense coat is sleek and glossy. It is never woolly or silky.
Color                                                          
Acceptable colors include the range from light wheaten to red wheaten. The head, body, legs and tail are uniform in color. Dark muzzles and ears are acceptable, but black ears are not desirable. A small amount of white on the chest and on the toes is acceptable. Excessive white and any white on the belly or above the toes is not acceptable. Disqualification: Albinism.
Height and Weight                                                          
Height is measured at the withers. The height ranges for mature dogs are: males, 25 to 27 inches; bitches, 24 to 26 inches. The desirable weights for mature dogs are: males, 75 pounds; bitches, 65 pounds.
Gait                                                          
Movement is straightforward, free and active.
Disqualifications                                                          
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Overshot or undershot bite. Albinism.
 
   
 
 
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