Rhidgebacks

[mrose_s]

Why did they have ridges bred into them?

[Amstaffer]

Where does that ridge on their back come from?

The Rhodesian Ridgeback's ancestry includes a dog native to Southern Africa -- a tribal dog, a companion and a hunter, with a ridge of hair growing backwards down its back. European settlers brought with them their hunting dogs, they, in turn, intermingled with the native ridged dogs. The ridge factor is fairly dominant and many a big game hunter discovered these "ridged dogs" had exceptional hunting ability and temperament. The hunters began to select specifically for the ridge and thus, the breed was born.

This is a cut and paste from RRCU website. I think it began as a "sign" that the dog was a good hunter but I think today it is just the breeds trademark.

[siemens716]

It came from the wild dogs of Africa, probably hyenas or something, and it just stuck. Hunters found the ridged dogs to be braver when hunting lions....

[mrose_s]

ok, but i found out the other day that hyenas arnt actually dogs
they arnt cats or mongoose either.
they are actually in a family all their own

[GSDFan05]

Originally Posted by mrose_s

ok, but i found out the other day that hyenas arnt actually dogs
they arnt cats or mongoose either.
they are actually in a family all their own

Hey, I learned that recently too....ere you watching the Jeff Corwin show yesterday also?

[siemens716]

Well my Whiskey looks just like a Hyena sometimes....perhaps he is really a cat.

[mrose_s]

Originally Posted by GSDFan05

Hey, I learned that recently too....ere you watching the Jeff Corwin show yesterday also?

actually i was watching, LOL. And he said "you will bever see this unless you get this close to a hyena. The front legs are actually longer than the back ones" lol, made me laugh becaus ethe size difference is actually so easy to spot. lol
I am addicted to animal planet