The hallmark feature of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is  – wait for it – the ridge!!

Most readers know that a Ridgeback not having a ridge (namely, ridgelessness) probably isn’t a good thing. In fact, it’s a disqualification according to the AKC breed standard. But did you know that where a ridge is also matters?

A Rhodesian’s ridge should begin right behind his shoulders. and it should continue, as the RR Illustrated Standard writes, “to a point between the prominence of the hips…” The Ridgeback in the image above has an appropriate length of ridge, but our crude line drawing shows where it shouldn’t be.

Images of Rhodesian Ridgeback/Adobe Stock photo; Detail of Ridge/Deposit Stock Photo