History of the breed
Also called "The Lion Dog" the Rhodesian Ridgeback has a rich history that starts in the ancient times of Africa. It is an outstanding dog due to its abilities and origins.
It was originated in South Africa and Zimbabwe (ex Rhodesia). The hallmark of this breed is its ridge, a strip in its back with the hair turned forward. This sword shaped feature gives the dog the appearance of being permanently alert and brave. The ridge comes from the most significant ancestor of the Rhodesian Ridgeback: the Hottentot Crested Dog, or Khoi Khoi Dog. This was a half-wild african dog that the bushmen of the Khoikhoi tribe occasionally domesticated to use it to hunt lions and to protect themselves and their cattle.
The european settlers of Africa
When the first europeans settled in South Africa they brought with them their dogs, of different european breeds, specially sighthounds, shepherds, terriers, bloodhounds, mastiffs and others. The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated when these dogs crossed naturally with the Khoikhoi crested dog.
At that time, the european settlers used to travel in large convoys of huge wagons pulled by oxen, where they transported all their possesions and their families, looking for a suitable place where to stablish. They were called "voortrekkers", and this was the only way to travel through the wild african territory. They needed their dogs to hunt their daily food and to protect the convoy from the marauding wild beasts.
At the same time, the dogs must be adapted to the harsh conditions of Africa. They must be able to follow the convoy through large extensions of savanna, to work in very hot weather, to withstand long periods without food or water, and to be courageous enough as to maintain a lion at bay while the hunter prepared his gun. None of the dogs that were brought from Europe were capable of all this. They needed another type of dog.
The Khoikhoi crested dog was not elegant nor impressive at first sight, but the europeans soon noted some of its extraordinary characteristics. It was very brave and courageous, with long, thin legs, capable of high speed and resistance. It was also adapted to the climate and insects of the african veldt, with its short thick hair. It was able to cover very long distances without taking food or even water, and, most impressive of all, was capable of attacking a lion and survive. As this extraordinary indigenous dog started to breed naturally with the european dogs, the first Ridgebacks were born.
Most of the puppies were born with the ridge on their backs. They soon became very important within the european settlers. In 1875 Rev. Charles Helm introduced the dogs in Rhodesia, brought from South Africa. His missionary house in Matabeleland was well known within the explorers and hunters of those years. One day, the intrepid hunter Cornelius van Rooyen appeared in his house. He was immediately interested in Helmīs ridged dogs and took them on a hunting expedition. He was so satisfied with what he saw in that dogs, that he decided to continue with the breeding himself. His aim was to improve even more the natural hunting abilities of these dogs.
Cornelius van Rooyen was perhaps the most important person involved in the development of the Rhodesian Ridgeback. He used these dogs to hunt all kind of animals, in order to sell their products, or to hunt them alive to sell them to european zoos. As years passed, van Rooyen became very well known because of his dogs, and every hunter would do everything to obtain them. In that way, the breed soon expanded through all the southern part of Africa.
Standard
In 1922 in Bulawayo, South Rhodesia, a meeting was celebrated with all the owners and breeders of Ridgebacks of the region. They created the official standard of the breed, with the name of Rhodesian Ridgeback.
In 1924 it was officially recognized as a legitimate breed by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa. After WWII the first Ridgebacks were introduced in Europe and North America. In the sixties they reached Australia and New Zealand. The international breeding started, but today it is still considered a rare and exotic breed.
