The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a unique dog. He is the only breed to hail from South Africa. Cornelius van Rooyen, a big-game hunter, developed the Rhodesian Ridgeback to hunt lions in the late 1800s. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of only two breeds to have a ridge of hair along his backbone from shoulder to hip that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of his coat. He takes his name from this distinctive feature and the country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

The Rhodesian Ridgeback stands up to 27 inches at the shoulder and has a short, sleek wheaten-colored coat that requires minimal grooming. This is a powerful and muscular dog with great endurance tenacity, and speed.