The Complete Guide to Rhodesian Ridgeback Colors

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a stunning breed, and one of the things that makes them truly unique is their distinctive coat colors. There are two main colors recognized by kennel clubs: wheaten and black.

Wheaten is a light tan color that can range from a creamy white to a darker golden hue. This color is a result of a specific genetic combination that affects the production of the pigment phaeomelanin.

The wheaten color is often accompanied by a slight reddish tint, especially on the ears, face, and legs. This subtle warmth adds to the breed's charm and makes them look even more regal.

Black Rhodesian Ridgebacks, on the other hand, have a glossy, black coat that's almost velvety in texture. This color is the result of a genetic absence of the pigment eumelanin.

A unique perspective: Red Wheaten Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a distinctive breed with a rich history. They originated in Southern Africa, specifically in what is now Zimbabwe.

Their name comes from their unique ridge of hair running along their back in the opposite direction of their coat. This characteristic is a result of their ancestry as a hunting dog.

The breed's history is closely tied to their role as a hunting companion and guardian. They were bred to track and hunt lions, among other large game.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback's distinctive feature is its dorsal stripe of hair that grows in the opposite direction than the rest of its coat.

This area of backward-growing hair is called a ridge, and it can vary in shape, length, or width.

An ideal ridge starts just behind the shoulder blades and continues without gaps all the way to a point between the hip bone.

The width of the ridge should be about 5 cm or 2 inches, with the point between the shoulders being the widest part.

The ridge should be symmetrical with two identical hair whorls opposite each other, known as crowns.

These crowns typically occur when the fur in the left crown rotates counter-clockwise and the hair in the right crown swirls clockwise.

A slightly broadened area covered in backward-growing hair, called a fan or box, sits just above the crowns.

This fan or box can be roundish, flat, or elongated, as long as it's symmetrical and not too long.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is part of a small group of dog breeds that feature a distinctive ridge of hair running along their back in the opposite direction of their coat.

The ridge may have originated in Asian or African landraces, such as the Cambodian Razorback or the Hottentot Khoi dog, which is believed to be involved in the creation of the modern Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Only a few dog breeds have this unique feature, suggesting that the causal mutation that causes the ridge likely came from a common ancestor.

This mutation is present in all breeds with a ridge, making it a defining characteristic of these dogs.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback comes in a variety of colors, but only two are recognized by kennel clubs: wheaten and black.

Wheaten is the most common color, characterized by a golden or light tan coat with a black mask.

Black is a solid black coat with no mask, but it's worth noting that some Ridgebacks may have a small amount of wheaten on their chest or paws.

Recommended read: Wheaten Cairn Terrier

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a breed that comes in three main colors.

The first allowable color is a wheaten coat, which can range from a light cream to a dark golden brown.

A wheaten coat is a result of the Ridgeback's genetic makeup, which includes a specific combination of genes that determine the production of the pigment eumelanin.

The second allowable color is a red coat, which is a deep, rich red color.

Red coats are often associated with the breed's history, as they were originally bred for hunting and the red color helped them blend in with their surroundings.

The third allowable color is a fawn coat, which is a light brown color.

Fawn coats are often considered the most common of the three allowable colors for the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed.

Readers also liked: Boston Terrier Fawn

Brindle Rhodesian Ridgebacks can occur rarely and result from agouti genes interacting with other coat color and pattern genes.

Brindle is a striking and very varied coat color that is red and black with a striped pattern.

The first Rhodesian Ridgebacks imported to the UK were primarily brindle in color, likely due to the initial breeding of native African ridged dogs with brindle breeds.

Brindle is now incredibly rare in the Ridgeback world, but it was once common.

Dark wheaten Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very rare and appear almost black, but they actually have the agouti variation in the hair shaft that other wheaten Ridgebacks have.

This color variation is so dark on the dark wheaten that they look like a deep chocolate-brown to deep black.

True albinism is a rare genetic abnormality that causes a complete lack of melanin in a dog's body, and it's incredibly uncommon.

Albino Ridgebacks are born with white fur, pink or red eyes, and pink skin, and they often have vision problems and other health issues.

Recommended read: Most Rare Dog Colors

Black and tan is a rare color in the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, but it's beginning to resurface.

Only about one in 400 Ridgeback puppies born are black and tan, making them a valuable asset to the breed.

The black and tan color results from a variation of the agouti gene that causes wheaten coloring, which is a common color in the breed.

Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders estimate that black and tan puppies often produce typical wheaten color puppies.