The Rhodesian Ridgeback is part of the sixth group in this classification: Hounds – Blood search dogs and related breeds. These dogs are specialized in different hunting disciplines using different working techniques depending on the section. Our main interested party refers to section 3: related breeds. Generally speaking, they are all dogs that are very focused on smell, which allows them to follow trails. However, a consequence of this is that they can also easily get lost because of this sense of smell. These are dogs that have a voice, an organ they use to notify their master when they have retrieved game.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback comes from the cross between a massive dog and a hunting dog. More precisely, its ancestor would be a dog once used by the Hottentots crossed with dogs imported by the first settlers from Europe in the 17th century such as the Mastiffs, the Mastiffs and the Bloodhound. While it was used for hunting wild animals in Africa, it has now become a versatile dog. Developed by the Boers, the standard of this breed, whose name ("Ridge-back") refers to its crest dorsal formed by a spike (hair in the opposite direction all along the spine) and coming from a selection established by the settlers, was fixed in 1922 in former Rhodesia. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is rather rare here although it is very popular in the United States and Canada where it participates in bear hunting.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the large breed category with a size ranging from 63.5 to 68.5 cm for the male and 61 to 66 cm for the female with a weight of around 35 kg. It is a harmonious, strong, muscular dog, with a clear and active gait. The body of this breed is powerful, ending in a strong neck without dewlap. His chest is not too broad, well descended and ample. Its ribs are moderately arched, its back powerful, its loins strong and muscular. Its limbs are solid, made up of strong bones and compact feet with well-arched toes. The Rhodesian Ridgeback's tail is strong at birth and tapers towards the tip. He wears it with a slight upward curve. His head is a good length. Its skull is flat, rather broad and free of wrinkles when resting. Its muzzle is long and powerful. It has strong jaws covered by well-jointed lips. Its nose is black or brown depending on the color of its coat. Its round eyes are a color in harmony with that of the dog's coat. Its ears are set quite high, of medium size, ending in a rounded point and worn against its head. The Rhodesian Ridgeback's coat ranges from light wheaten to red wheaten. The head, trunk, limbs and tail should be solid in color. Only a few spots of white on the chest and on the toes are allowed. Its hair is short, dense, smooth, neither woolly nor silky. The dorsal crest, a physical specificity of this breed, is clearly defined starting from the back of the shoulders to the hip, tapering towards the rump.

According to recent studies carried out in the United Kingdom, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is an overall healthy dog. However, like many breeds, it is prone to certain hereditary genetic diseases such as hip dysplasia, dermoid sinus, myotonia congenita and hypothyroidism. Hip dysplasia is a hereditary malformation of the hip joint. the hip causing pain, inflammation, osteoarthritis and, ultimately, paralysis. An x-ray can detect this condition and anti-inflammatory treatment can relieve the pain. That said, surgery remains the only option to repair this anomaly. Dermoid sinus is a congenital skin condition. An abnormality in the embryonic stage causes the formation of tubules connecting the skin to the spinal cord. The sinuses are generally located at the level of the dorsal crest and cause swelling and cysts depending on the depth of these tubules. In the most serious cases, there may also be neurological complications such as secondary meningeal infections or myelitis. Myotonia congenita is a malformation of muscle development characterized by a longer than normal muscle relaxation time after contraction. . The animal's gait then presents several particularities: stiff, spread limbs and hypertrophied muscles. Finally, hypothyroidism is a defect in the production of thyroid hormones. These are involved in many key metabolic reactions in dogs (as in humans, for that matter). The symptoms in animals are: fatigue, weight gain, decrease in body temperature, increased susceptibility to infections, etc. Regarding maintenance, brushing twice a week is sufficient.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a deterrent dog. He likes to hunt; it is a breed that hunts alone with its master. It shows the prey to it and stops in front of it. It is a well-balanced dog, strong, muscular, agile, active and at the same time very harmonious both from the point of view of its physique and from the point of view of his character. He is pleasant and friendly, very loyal and kind to his family. He is an excellent playmate for children because he is also extremely patient. Despite everything, he remains quite reserved and even suspicious of strangers, which also makes him a good guardian. He does not know fear but is not aggressive; He much prefers dissuasion to put intruders to flight. This is a dog that is not at all made for city life because he needs a lot of daily exercise. On the other hand, it does not fear outdoor life and is very resistant to bad weather. His strong temperament requires a firm and rigorous education. The master must demonstrate sufficient authority to be respected. His socialization must be early and perfect.