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 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, Southern Rhodesia , in 1922. Based on that of the Dalmatian, the standard was approved by the South African Kennel Union in 1926. The Khoikhoi people occupied the Cape Peninsula during the mid 17th century when the Dutch began trading with the area and set up a trading station. These people had a dog which was used for hunting; described as ugly, but noted for its ferocity when acting as a guard dog. This dog measured 18 inches at the withers, with a lean but muscular frame.
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| Breed Group: | Hound Group |
| Place of Origin: | Zimbabwe |
| Also Known As: | African Lion Hound, African Lion Dog, Van Rooyen's Lion Dog |