Size, Proportion, Substance : A mature Ridgeback should be symmetrical in outline, slightly  longer than tall but well balanced. Dogs--25 to 27 inches in height; Bitches--24 to 26 inches in height. Desirable weight:
Dogs--85 pounds; Bitches--70 pounds.

 Head: Should be of fair length, the skull flat and rather broad between the ears and should be free from wrinkles when in repose. The stop should be reasonably well defined. Eyes--should be moderately well apart and should be round, bright and sparkling with intelligent expression, their color  harmonizing with the color of the dog. Ears--should be set rather high, of medium size, rather wide at the base and  tapering to a rounded point. They should be carried close to the head. Muzzle--should be long, deep and powerful. The lips clean, closely fitting the jaws. Nose--should be black, brown or liver, in keeping with the color of the dog. No other colored  nose is permissible. A black nose should be accompanied by dark eyes, a brown or liver nose with amber eyes. Bite--jaws level and strong with well-developed teeth, especially the  canines or holders. Scissors bite preferred.

Neck, Topline, Body : The neck should be fairly strong and free from throatiness. The chest should not be too wide, but very deep and capacious, ribs moderately well sprung, never rounded like  barrel hoops (which would indicate want of speed). The back is powerful and firm with strong loins which are muscular and  slightly arched. The tail should be strong at the insertion and generally tapering towards the end, free from coarseness. It  should not be inserted too high or too low and should be  carried with a slight curve upwards, never curled or gay.

Forequarters :  The shoulders should be sloping, clean and muscular,  denoting speed. Elbows close to the body. The forelegs  should be perfectly straight, strong and heavy in bone. The  feet should be compact with well-arched toes, round, tough, elastic pads, protected by hair between the toes and pads.  Dewclaws may be removed.

Hindquarters : In the hindlegs the muscles should be clean, well defined and  hocks well down. Feet as in front.

Coat: Should be short and dense, sleek and glossy in appearance  but neither woolly nor silky.

Color: Light wheaten to red wheaten. A little white on the chest and  toes permissible but excessive white there, on the belly or above the toes is undesirable.

Ridge:  The hallmark of this breed is the ridge on the back which is  formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. The ridge must be regarded as the characteristic  feature of the breed. The ridge should be clearly defined, tapering and symmetrical. It should start immediately behind  the shoulders and continue to a point between the prominence  of the hips and should contain two identical crowns (whorls) directly opposite each other. The lower edge of the crowns  (whorls) should not extend further down the ridge than one third of the ridge. Disqualification: Ridgelessness. Serious  Fault: One crown (whorl) or more than two crowns (whorls).

Gait:  At the trot, the back is held level and the stride is efficient, long, free and unrestricted. Reach and drive expressing a  perfect balance between power and elegance. At the chase, the Ridgeback demonstrates great coursing ability and  endurance.

Temperament : Dignified and even tempered. Reserved with strangers.

                         Scale of Points

                          General appearance, size, symmetry and
                          balance -                   20
                          Ridge -                        20
                    Head -                        15
                          Legs and Feet -       15
                          Neck and Shoulders -            10
                          Body, Back, Chest and Loin -     10
                          Coat and Color -     5
                          Tail -                      5
                          TOTAL -                 100
 
 

                      DISQUALIFICATION -      Ridgelessness

                         Approved August 11, 1992
                         Effective September 30, 1992