Why Does a Rhodesian Ridgeback Have a Ridge?

The distinctive ridge on a Rhodesian Ridgeback's back is one of the breed's most recognizable features. This unique characteristic is a result of the breed's history as a hunting dog in Africa.

The ridge is made up of a row of hair that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of the dog's coat, forming a distinctive ridge or stripe running along the dog's back. This unusual feature is a result of genetic variation.

The ridge is a key identifying feature of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, and it's what sets them apart from other breeds.

The origins of the ridge are a fascinating topic, and it's a great question to explore. The exact origin of the ridge is unknown, but a plausible theory is that tribes living along the west coast had a lively trade with Asian sea-faring people.

Some believe that the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Thai Ridgeback are both related through an ancestor from the island of Phu Quoc, as both breeds share two genetic traits - ridges and the dermoid sinus. This theory suggests that the dogs interbred with trader's dogs, resulting in the distinctive ridge.

A mutation on dog chromosome 18 is linked to the breed-defining dorsal hair ridge. This mutation involves a duplicated region of 133,400 base pairs.

The same mutation has been found in Thai Ridgebacks, not just in Rhodesian Ridgeback genetics! This suggests that the ridge is a common trait among these breeds.

The ridge mutation R is dominant over the wild-type ridgeless allele r. This means that a dog only needs one copy of the R allele to have a ridge.

A Rhodesian Ridgeback's ridge is a distinctive feature that starts just behind the shoulder blades and continues to the hip bone, with no gaps in between. Ideally, the ridge should be about 5 cm or 2 inches wide.

The ridge should be symmetrical, with two identical hair whorls opposite each other, known as "crowns." These circular swirls of hair occur when the fur in one crown rotates counter-clockwise and the fur in the other swirls clockwise.

A "fan" or "box" at the top of the ridge, just above the crowns, is also a characteristic feature, covered in backward-growing hair.

For your interest: Rhodesian Ridgeback Hair Standing up

The ridge is a distinctive feature of the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. It starts just behind the shoulder blades and continues to a point between the hip bone.

A ridge is considered a serious fault if it's short or partial. Ideally, it should be symmetrical with not more or less than two identical hair whorls opposite each other.

These hair whorls, called "crowns", typically occur when the fur in the left crown rotates counter-clockwise and the hair in the right crown swirls clockwise. The crowns should not extend further down the ridge than one-third of its length.

The top of the ridge has a slightly broadened area covered in backward-growing hair, known as the "fan" or "box." This area can be roundish, flat, or elongated, as long as it's symmetrical.

In Thai Ridgebacks, the breed standard is more relaxed, requiring only that the ridge be symmetrical and not too wide. Whorls at the top of the ridge are acceptable in this breed.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a strong and athletic hound breed. It's known for its distinctive ridge, a strip of hair running along its back in the opposite direction of its coat.

This breed originated from South African farmers who bred purebred dogs to create a tough hunting dog. They focused on breeding the ridged dogs to each other to preserve and maximize their important qualities.

Today, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is disqualified from competing in the show ring if it doesn't have a ridge. But its cosmetic anomaly doesn't prevent it from competing in other sports like agility, obedience, and lure coursing.

The ideal ridge of a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog has three components: a box between the shoulders, two symmetrical crowns, and a tail tapering towards the hips. The ridge starts immediately behind the shoulders and continues to a point between the prominence of the hips.

It's believed that the ridge may have originated in Asian or African landraces, such as the Cambodian Razorback or the Hottentot Khoi dog. These breeds are thought to be involved in the creation of the modern Rhodesian Ridgeback.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a muscular, high-endurance breed that's impressive in motion. Watching it in action at a lure coursing trial can be thrilling, bringing out its hunting instincts without harming any prey animals.

Intriguing read: Lion Hunting Dogs Breeds

The distinctive ridge on a Rhodesian Ridgeback's back is a result of their unique ancestry. It's a trait that was originally bred into the dogs by South African farmers.

The ridge was a sign of intelligence and tenacity, as the ridged dogs were the ones that came back from the hunt. This is according to Barbara Rupert, an AKC judge of hound breeds.

Today, the ridge is purely aesthetic, but it's still a crucial part of the breed's identity. In fact, a Ridgeback without a ridge is disqualified from competing in the show ring.

The ridge is linked to a mutation on dog chromosome 18, specifically a duplication of a large DNA segment with 133,400 base pairs. This mutation affects three fibroblast growth factors (FGF).

The same mutation has been found in Thai Ridgebacks, not just in Rhodesian Ridgeback genetics. This shows that the ridge is an autosomal dominant trait, meaning a dog only needs one copy of the R allele to produce a ridge.

However, this also means that breeders have to be careful not to mate two carriers, as this can result in ridgeless puppies. And what's worse, these puppies can't enter the show ring or be used for breeding.

Despite its importance, the ridge trait only has near-complete penetrance. This means that some heterozygous dogs (R/r) might actually be ridgeless, and for unknown reasons, this can happen in up to 8% of cases.

Related reading: Cute Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies

The ridge on a Rhodesian Ridgeback's back is a result of their ancestry, specifically the intermingling of European hunting dogs with native ridged dogs from Southern Africa. This unique trait has been selectively bred for its exceptional hunting ability and temperament.

The ridge is caused by a mutation on dog chromosome 18, where a large DNA segment has been duplicated, affecting three fibroblast growth factors (FGF) genes. This mutation is responsible for the development of the ridge, and it's an autosomal dominant trait, meaning a dog only needs one copy of the mutated gene to express the ridge.

The ridge is a dominant trait, but it's not 100% penetrant, which means that some dogs with the mutated gene may not express the ridge. In fact, up to 4-8% of heterozygous dogs (R/r) may be ridgeless, making it challenging for breeders to identify carriers.

Here's a breakdown of the possible genotypes and their effects on the ridge:

This table illustrates the possible outcomes of different matings, highlighting the importance of genetic testing to identify carriers and prevent the production of ridgeless puppies.

Before genetic testing for the ridge trait was possible, breeders had to rely on pedigree analysis to spot carriers of the ridge mutation. This process was not always accurate, which led to a small number of ridgeless puppies being born each year.

A small percentage of dogs with one copy of the ridge mutation (R/r) do not express a ridge, which made it even harder for breeders to identify carriers. This is why genetic testing was a game-changer for ridgeback breeders.

Genetic testing has made it possible to identify dogs with the ridge mutation (R) and those without it (r). This is especially important for breeders who want to avoid mating two carriers (R/r x R/r) and producing ridgeless puppies.

Here's a simplified breakdown of the possible outcomes of different matings:

As you can see, the outcome of each mating is determined by the genotype of the parents. This table should help breeders plan their matings and avoid producing ridgeless puppies.

You might be wondering, who actually needs a ridge? The answer is, anyone who wants to create a stable and secure roof. A ridge is the highest point of a roof, where the two sloping sides meet.

The ridge is a critical component of a roof, as it helps to distribute the weight of the roof evenly and provides additional support. In fact, a well-designed ridge can help to prevent the roof from sagging or collapsing.

Ridge beams are typically made of sturdy materials like wood or steel, and are designed to withstand heavy loads and harsh weather conditions. This is especially important in areas prone to high winds or heavy snowfall.

A well-maintained ridge can last for decades, but it requires regular inspections and repairs to ensure its integrity.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a strong, athletic hound with a unique feature - its ridge. This ridge is purely aesthetic today, but it's a result of selective breeding by South African farmers who wanted to create a tough hunting dog.

The ridge is a result of a causal mutation that was found in all dog breeds with this feature, making it likely that it came from a common ancestor. This mutation is responsible for the distinctive whorls or crowns on the ridge.

In the show ring, a Ridgeback without a ridge is disqualified from competing. But this cosmetic anomaly doesn't prevent them from excelling in other sports like agility, obedience, and lure coursing.

The ideal ridge of a Rhodesian Ridgeback has three components: a box between the shoulders, two symmetrical crowns, and a tail tapering towards the hips. The crowns should be directly opposite each other and not extend further down the ridge than one third of it.

The ridge should start immediately behind the shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence of the hips.