The Rhodesian Ridgeback was bred by German and Dutch settlers from crossing semi-wild tribal hunting and guarding dogs of the Koisan people of Southern Africa with Mastiffs, Bloodhounds and Great Danes.

The semi-wild tribal dogs of the Khoikhoi were very intelligent and excellent hunters. They were alert and had keen eyesight with a good sense of smell. These natural hunters were very courageous, athletic and had great endurance. They also were harder to control than most dogs because of their very high intelligence which gave them an independent nature.

The Khoikhoi Crested Dog had a characteristic ridge of reverse growing hair running down the middle of their backs and cork-screw tails.

Keeping Marauding Lions at Bay

The early settlers admired the hunting skills of the Crested Dogs and crossed them with their own hunting dogs, which produced a dog that was a great companion and protector of families as well as capable of keeping the many marauding lions at bay. Lions were a danger for settlers trekking across the verdant with oxen. The natural alertness and high hunting drive of the African Lion Dog was vital to the safety of the settlers.

South Africa Stock

The first breeding stock of what were to be called African Lion Dogs were taken from the Swellenham District of South Africa to the mission at Hope Fountain (near the later to develop city of Bulawayo) in the Matabeleland providence of Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia later became Zimbabwe in 1980.

In 1879 Reverend Charles Helm took two ridged dogs, Lorna and Powder from the Swellingdam district to the mission. (We are still looking for more information of these dogs and their lineage. It is most likely that these were already African Lion Dogs.

A Rhodesian Hunter

A famous young hunter named Cornelius "Nellis" van Rooyen lived in Mangwe, 90Km. south of Hope Fountain. Nellis had a pack of hunting dogs, and admired the traits in the Reverend's dogs. Later he requested a pup from the crested dogs Helm brought with him to Matabeleland.

The Rhodesian Breed

Nellis crossed the pup with his own hunting dogs which began a popular line called "van Rooyen dogs". Later, Graham Stacey of Inszia obtained his first ridgebacks from Van Rooyen.

In 1915, Francis Richard Barnes purchased his first ridgeback 'Dingo' from Graham Stacey's Lion and Como. Later Barnes also purchased another ridgeback, "Judy" from Stacey.

Advocate: Francis Richard Barnes

Before moving to Matabeleland in 1910 Mr. Francis Richard Barnes co-founded the Salisbury Kennel Club in 1897. Mr. FR Barnes organized the setting of the standard for Rhodesian Ridgebacks in 1922, and organized the first RR show in Bulawayo. Barnes registered his dogs on 16 march 1926, adopting the Eskdale name for his kennel after his farm near Figtree.

Bigs Tracking - A Canadian Champion Ridgeback