  the rhodesian ridgeback is a dog breed developed in southern africa. its european forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the cape colony of southern africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the khoikhoi. in the earlier parts of its history, the rhodesian ridgeback has also been known as van rooyen's lion dog, the african lion hound or african lion dogâsimba inja in ndebele, shumba imbwa in shonaâbecause of its ability to keep a lion at bay while awaiting its master to make the kill. the original breed standard was drafted by f.r. barnes, in bulawayo, southern rhodesia (now zimbabwe), in 1922. based on that of the dalmatian, the standard was approved by the south african kennel union in 1927. == history == thumb|right|painting of a rhodesian ridgeback, by carl friedrich schulz (1796â1866) thumb|right|rhodesian ridgeback the khoikhoi people who occupied the cape peninsula when the dutch began trading with the area during the mid 17th century, had a hunting dog which was described as ugly, but noted for its ferocity when acting as a guard dog. this dog measured approximately  at the withers, with a lean but muscular frame. the ears have been described both as erect and hanging, but the most distinctive feature was the length of hair growing in the reverse direction along its back. within 53 years of the dutch settlement, the europeans were using these local dogs themselves.fox (2003): p. 6 by the 1860s, european settlers had brought a variety of dog breeds to this area of africa, including great danes, bloodhounds, greyhounds,and terriers. these breeds were bred with the indigenous african dogs, including the dog of the khoikhoi people, which resulted in the boer hunting dogs, a forerunner to the modern rhodesian ridgeback. reverend cha
Dog_breeds Dog_breeds_originating_in_Africa Hounds Ridgeback_dogs Scent_hounds Sighthounds