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General Appearance
The Ridgeback represents a strong, muscular and active dog, symmetrical and
balanced in outline. A mature Ridgeback is a handsome, upstanding and athletic
dog, capable of great endurance with a fair (good) amount of speed. Of even,
dignified temperament, the Ridgeback is devoted and affectionate to his master,
reserved with strangers. The peculiarity of this breed is the ridge on
the back. The ridge must be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed.
Size, Proportion, Substance
A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly longer than tall
but well balanced. Dogs--25 to 27 inches in height; Bitches--24 to 26 inches in
height. Desirable weight: Dogs--85 pounds; Bitches--70 pounds.
Head
Should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between the ears and
should be free from wrinkles when in repose. The stop should be reasonably well
defined. 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. Ears--should be set rather high, of medium size,
rather wide at the base and tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried
close to the head. Muzzle--should be long, deep and powerful. The lips
clean, closely fitting the jaws. Nose--should be black, brown or liver,
in keeping with the color of the dog. No other colored nose is permissible. A
black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with amber
eyes. Bite--jaws level and strong with well-developed teeth, especially
the canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.
Neck, Top line, Body
The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. 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 is
powerful and firm with strong loins which are muscular and slightly arched. The
tail should be strong at the insertion and generally tapering towards the end,
free from coarseness. It should not be inserted too high or too low and should
be carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled or gay.
Forequarters
The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular, denoting speed. Elbows
close to the body. The forelegs should be perfectly straight, strong and heavy
in bone. The feet should be compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic
pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
In the
hind legs the muscles should be clean, well defined and hocks well down.
Feet as in front.
Coat
Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance but neither woolly nor
silky.
Color
Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and toes permissible
but excessive white there, on the belly or above the toes is undesirable.
Ridge
The hallmark of this breed is the ridge on the back which is formed by
the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. The ridge
must be regarded as the characteristic feature of the breed. The ridge should be
clearly defined, tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind
the shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of the hips and
should contain two identical crowns (whorls) directly opposite each other. The
lower edge of the crowns (whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than
one third of the ridge. Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious Fault: One
crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
Gait
At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long, free and
unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a perfect balance between power and
elegance. At the chase, the Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and
endurance.
Temperament
Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
Scale of Points
| General appearance, size, symmetry and
balance |
20 |
| Ridge |
20 |
| Head |
15 |
| Legs and Feet |
15 |
| Neck and Shoulders |
10 |
| Body, Back, Chest and Loin |
10 |
| Coat and Color |
5 |
| Tail |
5 |
| TOTAL |
100 |
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