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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, Topline, 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 wooly 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.
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 Points – 100
Serious Fault: One crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).
Disqualification: Ridgelessness
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