Rhodesian Ridgeback - F.R. Barnes & Van Rooyen.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is dog breed developed in Southern Africa where it was used (amongst other things) to hunt lion. This is most likely why this dog is known for its bravery. 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 Hottentots (Khoi - khoi).

In the earlier parts of its history, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has also been known as Van Rooyen's Lion Dogs, the African Lion Hound or African Lion Dog—Simba Inja in Ndebele, Shumba Imbwa in Shona—because of their ability to distract a lion while awaiting their master to make the kill.

The original breed standard was drafted by F.R. Barnes, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (today known as Zimbabwe), in 1922. Based on that of the Dalmatian, the standard was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926.

The breed's history dates back to early in the 18th century, when the first European settlers found dogs domesticated by Khoi-khoi tribes with the hair on the spine turned forward. In the late 19th century, big game hunters needed a hunting dog that was tough, resistant to disease, and intelligent enough to avoid crocodiles and snakes, but brave and fast enough to face a lion. Also important was a tick-repellent smooth coat and tight paw pads to protect against thorns and rough terrain. Cornelius Van Rooyen of Plumtree, Rhodesia was the main person behind the development of the breed.

The history of the breed is disputed. It is commonly accepted that Van Rooyen used two ridged, rough-coated bitches from the Swellendam district brought to him by the Rev. Charles Helm in 1879. Van Rooyen crossed these bitches with members of his pack, noting that their ridged progeny excelled at lion hunting.

The breed took a further step in its formalization in 1922 just prior to the formation of the independent crown colony of Southern Rhodesia, when a group gathered at a farm in Bulawayo to set out the basic standard for ridged dogs that included the selection of the red wheaten to become the 'son of Africa'

The Breed Standard is loosely based on that of a slightly enlarged Dalmatian and was first registered by the South African Kennel Club, SAKU (now KUSA) in 1924. At that time KUSA was the only Kennel Club in the territory. Ridgebacks were first brought to the United States by Col. Morris DePass and his wife Maj. Ruth DePass who raised the breed in Kiln, Mississippi. The breed was admitted into the American Kennel Club in 1955 as a member of the Hound Group. The first ridgebacks in Britain were shown by Mrs Edward Foljambe in 1928.

As hunters, Ridgebacks were sent out in packs of two or more (usually twenty) to track down, then corner and wear down a lion by taunting and goading it into confusion, a tactic known as keeping the lion "at bay". The dogs, working in revolving groups, kept the lion at bay until the hunter arrived to dispatch the occupied lion with a well placed rifle shot from relatively close range. However, because of the very vicious reaction from the lion, this hunting method was a sort of suicide for the dogs and was used rarely.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Rhodesian ridgeback
• lion dog
• african lion hound
• Van Rooyen's dog
• Bulawayo
• Dalmatian
• Cornelius van Rooyen
• Francis Richard Barnes
• History
• rare breed
• Africanis
• Africanis dog
• zulu dog
• Bantu dog

[gu81singh]

you telling me this dog can kill a lion ? lol i dont think so 

[AberdareMarozi]

@gu81singh

No dog breed can kill a bigcat.

[AberdareMarozi]

Hi piespokladowy, thank you ;)

[HPGirl2000]

Lol everyone is like "omg I have one there so elegant and smart" and I'm like " I have one he's dumb and bad mannered, yet I still love him!"

[TheRRforever]

These are AMAZING dogs, powerful, elegant, very intelligent, absolutely beautiful. I have two of them,a conformation champion male and a puppy female, they are so devote and full of love, they can change your life (that's what they did to our family) and NO, THEY WEREN'T SUPPOSE TO KILL THE LIONS just to keep them at bay until the hunter came.

[AzulDiamond93]

who gives a fuck if they can kill lions or not!! noboy lives in africa so dont worry abt it!! smh i want one of these and a great dane to protect my kid when i have one! :)

[captainblackpatchful]

it was bred to hunt cats but they only bark and chase the lion and contain it until untel comes

[33Silkee]

If you read the about the breed then you would know that this breed was breed in south africa to hunt bigcats. Read up on it.

[sml411]

@sml411 - They found the dogs either too aggressive like the Airedale and many terriers that would close on the lion which is always fatal. Or dogs that wanted no part in hunting a lion. So this breed after natural culling of the line came to be. Crazy enough to do the job and smart enough to survive. Harassing the lion until it planted itself waiting for the hunter to arrive. Smaller or less dangerous game the dogs will either bring the game to the hunter or move it toward the hunter.

[sml411]

DOGS DON'T KILL LIONS. The poster states it in the narrative, read it. I disagree with his last statement and would like to know his source. This dog was breed to big game hunt staying with the hunter and horse all day. Also, it was left to guard the home when the hunter was away. Protecting family and livestock from roaming baboons, hyenas, lions etc. J.A. Hunter writes about hunters clearing out the dog pounds looking for hunting dogs and suffering massive losses in the process

[pepster77]

These dogs DO kill lions. One of these dogs can track, hunt and kill entire lion prides with more than one big male lions in them. They also will kill crocodiles or swim in the ocean to kill sharks and eat whales if they wants to.

[turnbacktime]

@gu81singh yes, in packs.

[Durzahh]

@gu81singh it can.. but u need 2 others, so 3 in total i think can kill them.. :D