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 a 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. The should
be carried close to the head. MUZZLE - Should be long, deep and powerful. The lips clean, close 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 bit 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 hindlegs the muscle should be clean, well defined and hocks well down. Feet as in the 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 and on the belly or above the toes
is undersirable.
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 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: Ridgeless
SERIOUS FAULT: One crown or more than two crowns.
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.
TEMPERAMENT - Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.
SCALE OF POINTS |
General appearance, size, symmetry and balance |
|
20 |
|
Neck and Shoulders |
|
10 |
Ridge |
|
20 |
|
Body, Back, Chest, Loin |
|
10 |
Head |
|
15 |
|
Coat and Color |
|
5 |
Legs and Feet |
|
15 |
|
Tail |
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
|
100 |
|