A RIDGE IS NOT HACKLES.
Do you know the difference?
Whilst out and about with a Ridgeback, what's the number one thing a Ridge owner hears from members of the public.....?
'Oh my dog must be part Rhodesian Ridgeback because when he barks, the hair on his back stand up and he also has a permanent dorsal stripe."
So what are Hackles:
Hackles are the group of hairs that stand up along a dogs neck and back caused by fear responses, dominance over another animal and also excitable behaviour to name but a few. The lifting of this hair is known as Piloerection and is linked to the Sympathetic System.
Dogs aren’t the only species that have hackles. Birds have hackles around their necks and erect their feathers when they are asserting dominance. Roosters have brightly colored hackles, or erectile plumage, to be more visually loud.
Cats have hackles along their backs and tails, and this is the typical image we see of the “Halloween” cat with arched back and fur standing up to make them look larger. We see this often when the cats are fearful or feel threatened.
So what is a Dorsal Stripe:
Dorsal stripe is where the animal coat forms a darker line along its back which is due to genetics. This can be seen in mainly animals including, dogs, cats, horses and of course donkeys.
So what is a Ridge:
The famous “ridge” on the Rhodesian ridgebacks is caused by a genetic mutation. This mutation is responsible for causing duplicate copies of three growth factor genes. The excess copies of these three genes result in the stripe of backward growing hair on a ridgeback.
All dogs have the three “growth factor genes“, but only in a single copy, which results in no backward growing hair.
It’s the abnormal genetic mutation, that causes there to be multiple copies in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and also Thai Ridgebacks.
To the surprise of many owners, not all Rhodesian ridgebacks actually have a ridge. While most do, there are many ridgebacks, that do not have the ridge gene and are therefore ridgeless.
So why and how does this happen?
A ridgeback can have either one single copy of the “ridge gene” making them what’s known as heterozygous, or two copies of the ridge gene, making them homozygous.
As long as the ridgeback has one copy, he or she will have the ridge.
● Heterozygous – One copy
● Homozygous – Two copies
When ridgeback puppies will ALWAYS have the ridge:
A ridgeback that has two copies will always pass down the ridge gene (either one or two copies) to their offspring no matter what, regardless of the other parent. This is because the ridge gene is dominant. Either way, those puppies will have a ridge.
When ridgeback puppies MIGHT NOT have the ridge:
When single copied ridgebacks are bred together, that’s where the potential for a ridgeless ridgeback comes into play. Let’s look at the scenarios:
● There’s a 50% chance of each pup having a ridge (with one copy of the ridge gene)
● There’s a 25% chance of each pup having a ridge (with two copies)
● There’s a 25% chance of each pup not having a ridge
Common scenario explained:
When a heterozygous (one copy) is bred with a homozygous (two copies), all puppies will have their ridge. But 50% of the offspring will inherit two copies, while the other 50% will inherit just one copy.
Are Rhodesian Ridgebacks Born With The Ridge?
Yes, If the ridgeback puppy has one or two copies of the ridge gene, he will have a noticeable ridge on his back right from when he’s born. It does not develop at a later stage. If the puppy does not have the ridge gene, then there will be no ridge, and they won’t “grow one” as they get older.
A ridge will not develop as the puppy grows. A puppy ridgeback will either have the ridge right from birth or not at all.
So hackles come and go depending on the situation, and even Rhodesian Ridgebacks get them. A ridge is there from birth, and unless your dog has hair growing in the opposite direction, as a permanent feature, see photo, it sadly does not have a ridge.
"It's not dog hair, it's Rhodesian Ridgeback Glitter."