Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed by settlers in southern Africa from European breeds crossed with the ridged dogs of the Khoikhoi, to hunt lion and guard the homestead. The…
About the Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed by settlers in southern Africa from European breeds crossed with the ridged dogs of the Khoikhoi, to hunt lion and guard the homestead. The ridge of hair growing backwards along the spine is the breed's namesake and its most closely guarded feature.
This is a large, powerful, athletic hound, dogs standing about 63 to 69 cm, in wheaten shades from light to red. Ridgebacks are quiet, clean and strongly bonded to their own people, and can be aloof or watchful with strangers; a stud of open, confident temperament is worth a long journey. The ridge itself has a consequence for breeding: dermoid sinus, a tube-like skin defect along the spine, is linked to the ridge and every puppy should be checked for it at birth.
Screening to ask about starts with hips and elbows under the BVA/KC schemes. The breed has a DNA test for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, which a careful stud owner will have used, and degenerative myelopathy testing is also available. Ask about hypothyroidism and about the incidence of dermoid sinus in previous litters.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Good Practice — the Royal Kennel Club’s minimum before breeding
The tests the Royal Kennel Club says breeders should, at a minimum, complete before breeding.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — JME (Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| Hip score (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Total of both hips, 0–106. Lower is better. |
| Elbow grading (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Grade 0–3. The dog is graded on the worse of the two elbows. |
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — DM (Degenerative Myelopathy, SOD1 risk test) | DNA test | Laboratory | SOD1 risk test: clear, carrier or at risk (affected). |
Breed club schemes listed in the Health Standard
Run by the breed club, not the Royal Kennel Club, which does not record their results. The Standard lists them as schemes to be aware of.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dermoid sinus check (breed club scheme) | Other | Breed club | Vet’s check for a dermoid sinus. |
Breed hip median
Breed median 7 (BVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme breed statistics 2025 — 5 years, 479 dogs scored). Lower is better. Source · How hip scores work
At stud now
Rhodesian Ridgeback stud dogs
No Rhodesian Ridgeback studs are listed right now
When a Rhodesian Ridgeback on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
Rhodesian Ridgeback litters
No Rhodesian Ridgeback litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
