This stunner is a Thai Ridgeback, also known as a Mah Thai Lang Ahn. The breed has a unique characteristic – a ridge of hair on its back that runs in the opposite direction of its coat – and it shared this trait with only three other breeds: The Phu Quoc Ridgeback, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Cambodian Razorback dog. It’s possible that the Mha Kon Klab can also be included in this special fraternity, but we’re still researching the breed.

Rock art strongly suggests that these Thai dogs accompanied hunters over 2000 years ago during the new stone age, and some cynologists believe it to be one of the world’s first dog breeds. It’s also among the purest. Isolation of Thai villages kept the dogs  very pure and free of outside influence which resulted in a very uniform appearance for the breed.

Outside of Thailand, the breed is quite rare. An estimate of breed numbers inside the United States puts the population at only about 300 dogs. Still, the breed is recognized by the FCI,  was accepted by the United Kennel Club in 1996, and it’s currently listed on the AKC’s FSS list.  When it gains full AKC recognition, it’ll become part of the Hound Group, but the American Thai Ridgeback Association says that the Thai Ridgeback is considered a Spitz, or Primitive dog. 

These dogs are wicked fast learners, great watchdogs, and extremely athletic. Some sources suggest they’re not a breed for inexperienced owners. 

Image from Wikimedia by Plum’s Jewel shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.