Rhodesian Ridgeback

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The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a strapping great dog which was used by the native warriors of Southern Africa to hunt lions.

By necessity, the Rhodesian Ridgeback had to be extremely versatile. He needed to be fast enough to chase and cut off escaping game, strong enough to pull down wounded bucks, courageous enough to hold lions at bay, and tough enough to withstand extremes in temperature, including going without water for up to twenty-four hours at a time. Added to that he needed to be a superlative watchdog to keep guard over the Boer farmers, their families and livestock.

Today's Rhodesian Ridgeback embodies all the strength, fearlessness, agility and endurance of his forebears. He is aloof with strangers, however providing he is socialised and trained from an early age, he is quiet and well behaved, very attached to his family and reliable with children. He is easy to care for, co-operative and responsive to training.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a short, sleek coat the colour of a lion, with a clearly defined ridge of hair down the back growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.

Ideal height: Dogs 63 - 67 cm
Bitches 61 -66cm
Weight 29 -36 kg

 

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