Koenigplatz Kennel - Rhodesian Ridgebacks
In November 1955 the American Kennel Club admitted the Rhodesian Ridgeback to its Stud Book as the 112th breed to be accorded AKC registration facilities. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is shown in the Hound Group (Group 2). Since this recognition of the Rhodesian Ridgeback by the American Kennel Club, intense and greater interest has developed in the breed in this country.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback, sometimes referred to as the African Lion Hound, is a native of South Africa. The breed was bred in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) by the Boer farmers to fill their specific need for a serviceable hunting dog in the wilds. The breed's long history dates back to early in the 16th century when the first European men explored the interior on the Cape of Good Hope and found with the Hottentot tribes a domesticated dog with the hair on his spine being turned forward. This is the condition which we now refer to as the "ridge." The only other known dog which has the peculiarity of such a ridge is found on the island of Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Siam. It has never been definitely determined whether the peculiarity of this ridge originated in South Africa or on the island of Phu Quoc, but the evidence available seems to indicate that it originated in South Africa and that specimens of dogs with ridges were transported from South Africa to the island of Phu Quoc.
It is not known where the Hottentots first obtained these dogs. It is common knowledge that the Hottentot had pronounced Asiatic features and that his ancestors probably hailed from the East. If this is so, it may be assumed that the ridged dog accompanied him on his peregrination until he finally reached Africa.
The first known Rhodesian Ridgebacks in the US were important by the famous actor Dogulas Fairbanks. Today the Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of the fastest growing dogs breed in the America. It is very popular with athletes, active families.
Sources: AKC, US Rhodesian Ridgeback Club, and Wikapedia