Background:

The Rhodesian Ridgeback was developed in Rhodesia (present day Zombabwe).  It is believed to have been developed from breeding Great Danes, Mastiffs and hounds to a local dog raised by the African Bushmen.  These dogs, called 'Safari Dogs' or 'Lion dogs',  proved themselves to be fearless in the hunt and watchful around the house and companionable on the trail.  Today's Ridgebacks are also finding themselves playing the role of family friend more and more.  Though not aggressive dogs, they make good guard dogs as a few casual barks from these impressive creatures proves to be a strong deterrent to a would be bad guy!

Personality:

The Ridgeback is overall a friendly, pleasant dog.  But the key thing to keep in mind is that they are very independent minded and require consistent and continuous training from about 6 months of age to about a year to make sure that they become canine good citizens.  If you are not going to be able to spend the time training this dog, this is not the dog for you.

Physical Appearance:

Links to Breed Resources