|
| |
BREED HISTORY
The foundation stock of the Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed by the first white
settlers in South Africa to fill their specific needs for a serviceable hunting
dog in the wild. The Dutch, German, and Huguenots who migrated to South Africa
in the 16th and 17th centuries brought with them Danes, Mastiffs, Greyhounds,
Salukis, Bloodhounds, and other breeds.
However, for more than 100 years in 1707, European immigration was closed. Consequently, the importation of additional dogs of these or other breeds became
hard to come by and their value was high. The settlers needed a dog that could
flush a few partridge, pull down a wounded stag, or guard the farm from
marauding animals and prowlers at night. They also needed a dog that could
withstand the rigors of the African bush, hold up under drastic changes in
temperature, from the heat of the day to nights below freezing, and go a full 24
hours or more without water if need be. They required a short-haired dog that
would not be eaten alive by ticks. In addition, the settler needed a companion
that would stay by him while he slept in the bush and that would be devoted to
his wife and children.
Out of necessity, therefore, these settlers developed by selective breeding
between dogs which they had brought with them from home countries and the
half-wild dog of the native tribes, a distinct breed of the South African
veldt, which has come to be known as the Rhodesian Ridgeback.
~~~~
For additional reading on this history and origins of the Rhodesian Ridgeback
breed, return to the previous page and click on "Suggested Reading."
|
