Thai Ridgeback

 

     

  History 

The Thai Ridgeback Dog is an old breed which can be seen in archeological writing in Thailand which were written about 350 years ago. Mainly in the eastern part of Thailand, it was used for hunting. People also used it to escort their carts and as a watch dog. The reason why it has kept its own original type for years is poor transportation systems in the eastern part of Thailand; it had fewer chances to crossbreed with other breeds The Thai Ridgeback has a loose-skinned, muscular body. Its back is strong, firm, and covered with dense hair. Coat colors include: chestnut, black, blue, and silver. It has a ridge on its back, formed by hair growing in opposite directions which forms whorls and circles. The shoulders are strong and muscular. The head is carried high on the firm, strong, clean cut neck. The muzzle is wedge-shaped and powerful looking. The tongue should be blue or bluish gray. The ears are large, high set, triangular, pricked and inclined forward. The top of the skull is flat and slopes gently to the stop. The dark-brown eyes are almond-shaped with an alert expression. The nose is black and the tail is thicker at the base tapering to the tip. The ribs are well sprung with no hint of a barrel appearance. The hind legs are long and moderately lean and bend slightly to the stifles. The back of the neck has extra rolls of skin when the dog is alert. This is particularly noticeable in puppies.

 

                           

GENERAL APPEARANCE  Medium-sized dog with short hair forming a ridge along the back. The body is slightly longer than its height at the withers. Muscles are well developed, and its anatomical structure is suitable for activities.The Thai Ridgeback is a medium-sized pariah-type dog, with a wedge-shaped head, prick ears, and a short, smooth coat. The length of body from point of buttocks to point of sternum is about 10 percent longer than the height measured at the withers. The depth of chest is equal to the length of the foreleg. The tail is carried vertically or curved like a sickle.

 

Characteristics and TEMPERAMENT   Tough and active with excellent jumping abilities.This breed is characterized by a ridge of hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. This ridge starts at the withers and extends down the spine to the top of the pelvis bones. This breed is very active and agile, with excellent jumping and climbing abilities. They are devoted to family members but are inclined to be wary of strangers.

 

HEAD  CRANIAL REGION   The crown is flat and has a gentle slope toward the stop. Stop: Clearly defined, but moderate. Inclination is not abrupt.

FACIAL REGION * Nose: Color is black.

Nasal bridge * Straight and long.

Muzzle * Wedge-shape. Dogs with fawn coat have a black mask.

Lips * Tight

Mouth * Black marking on the tongue.

Jaw * Upper jaw is thick enough, and lower jaw is strong.

Teeth *White and strong with scissors bite.

Eyes * Middle size and almond shaped. The eye color is dark brown. In blue and silver, amber-colored eyes are permitted.

Ears * Set on either side of the crown, which is slightly broad between the two ears. Rather large triangular, inclining forward and firmly picked. Not cropped.

Neck * Strong, muscular, holding head high.

 

  

 

 

 

BODY   Back *  Strong

Loin * Strong and broad

Croup * Moderately round

Chest * Deep enough to reach the elbows. The ribs are well built, but not barrel-shaped.

Lower line * The belly is tucked up.

Tail * It has a thick base with gradual tapering toward the tip. The tip reaches hock joints. It holds up vertically or curves like a sickle tail.

Neck * The neck is moderately long, but strong and well muscled, blending into sloping shoulders. The skin on the throat may form slight, smooth, non-pendant folds.                                                      

 

 

 
Forequarters    The shoulders are moderately laid back and muscular. The scapula and the upper arm form an angle of about 110 degrees. When standing, a line dropped from the highest point of the withers would pass just behind the forelegs. The muscles of the upper leg are firm and well developed. The forelegs are straight, with strong, moderately short, very slightly sloping pasterns, and moderate bone. The shoulder blade and the upper arm are roughly equal in length. The upper arm lies close to the ribs but is still very mobile, with the elbow moving close to the body.

                                                        

 

 

 
Hindquarters    The thighs are well muscled. The rear legs are well angulated at stifle and hock joints. The hocks are well let down. Viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns should be parallel to each other; from the side, they should be perpendicular to the ground.

Feet  The feet are oval in shape, with toes well arched and tight. Pads are well developed.                                                        

 

 
Gait  Correct movement is essential in this breed. The Thai Ridgeback moves with strides of moderate length in a quick, agile trot. The forelegs and hind legs are carried straight forward, with neither elbows nor stifles turned in or out. While the dog is gaiting, the topline remains firm and appears level.

 

 

LIMBS    Front legs * The forearm straight

Hind legs * Well developed thighs and slightly bent stifles. Hocks are tough. The nails are black or light through brown.

GAIT  Stride with no pitching nor rolling of the body. Track in two parallel straight lines. When viewed from the front, the forelegs move up and down in straight lines so that the shoulder, elbow and pastern joints are approximately in line with each other. When viewed from the rear, the stifle and hip joints are approximately in line. Move in a straight pattern forward without throwing the feet in or out; thus enabling the stride to be long and drive powerful. The overall appearance of the moving dog is one of the smooth flowing and well balanced rhythm.

SKIN * Soft, tender and tight skin.

 

 

COAT Hair * Strong and smooth. The ridge is formed by the hair growing in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat, starting from slightly behind the withers and extending to the point of prominence at the hips. It should be clearly defined from other parts of the back, tapering and symmetrical.

Color * Solid color, light chestnut red (the deeper the better), pure black, blue (silver), and fawn.

 

 

SIZE    Height at the withers *
Dogs 22-25 inches (56-63.5cm)
Bitches 20-23 inches (51-58.5cm) Any bite other than scissors bite
Unbalanced ridge

DISQUALIFYING 

FAULT * Dogs without ridge *Long hair

 

 

 

Faults    Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.

 

 

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