Where did they come from?

The African Lion Hound, as the Rhodesian Ridgeback has been called over the years, began life in South Africa. It was bred by Boer farmers who required a hardy all-terrain dog for hunting in the beautiful "wilds" of this country.

Dutch, Germans and Huguenots (probably to flee persecution) emigrated to South Africa during the 16th and 17th centuries taking with them Bloodhounds, Great Danes, Greyhounds and Mastiffs (along with, I'm sure, a few of more dubious heritage). During most of the 18th century European migration came to a halt and nature was allowed to take its course. Also living in South Africa at this time were the Hottentots. These people were indigenous to the area and owned a hunting dog. This hunting dog had a ridge of hair on its back caused by the hair growing in a forward direction. The sophisticated pure-breds fraternising with the native dogs raised a few eyebrows I'm sure, but we can all be grateful as they did their bit and contributed quite a lot to the look and character of our present day Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Now life in those days was hard, no electricity, phones, supermarkets, and (gasps) no internet. The Boer farmer needed a dog that could flush out small game, pull down a wounded deer, guard his property from wild animals and the local peeping Tom, put up with very poor living conditions (blistering heat and sub-zero temperatures), and could go for up to a day without food. Faced with all these adverse conditions he also had to be good-natured with the family too!!!

Now what they really needed was Robodog, but as that was at least a couple of hundred years away, the poor settler (as if he didn't have enough to do already) got down to the job of breeding the perfect dog. It took time, patience and of course selective breeding (doesn't it always?) and he came up with the African Veldt. Or what you and I usually call - The Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Time passed by, and in 1877 Reverend Helm introduced two of these dogs into Rhodesia. The big game hunters of the day, Selons, Upcher and Van Rooyen to name but a few, were extremely impressed with their ability to help them in hunting lions on horseback. They continued to breed these fine animals mainly for their outstanding hunting abilities, but today what is most known about Them is of course their totally unique trademark - the ridge of hair.