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Short History of the Breed

The origin of the Thai Ridgeback is undocumented, but the breed was developed in eastern Thailand. The history of the breed is the subject of numerous hypotheses. It is generally considered a Pariah-type dating back to ancient times. Rock art indicated that Thai dogs had accompanied a hunter since the new stone age of the country (over 2,000 years ago).

Physical Description and Size

The Thai Ridgeback is a muscular, medium-sized pariah-type dog with a wedge-shaped head, triangular-shaped prick ears, and a very short, smooth coat. It has a pronounced ridge on its back formed by hair growing in the opposite direction that extends from behind the withers to the hips. Puppies are occasionally born ridgeless. Thai Ridgebacks have muscular thighs and a streamlined body, making them extremely agile. The tail is carried upward called a sickle or sword tail. It's forehead wrinkles with enormous expression. Like many eastern breeds, the Thai Ridgeback has retained a 'scissor jaw' where upper and lower teeth interlock when the jaw bones clamp down. The tongue can be black or have black marks. Eyes are brown or amber and almond-shaped. The ears are set low and point slightly outward. The ears stand up progressively during the puppy growth period, they are not cropped. The back is straight and level. The coat is short, hard, and straight. The weight averages 35–55lbs in females and 50-75lbs in males.

Temperament

Thai Ridgebacks are an intelligent breed. The energy level is typically medium, with most of the day spent lounging and activity periods occurring in sporadic bursts. Well bred and properly socialized Thai Ridgebacks make loyal, loving family pets. They are naturally protective of their home and family and can be aggressive or shy when not properly socialized. They are best kept by dominant owners who have a thorough understanding of dog behavior. Because of prior geographic isolation and lack of human contact, the Thai Ridgeback remains independent minded and much of the original natural instinct and drives remain intact, particularly prey drive. Due to its nature, the Thai Ridgeback is not recommended for the novice dog handler unless you seek training guidance from a professional with an understanding of primitive breeds. They have an excellent jumping ability and may seek to roam if not properly contained.

Dog Care

Grooming requirement for Thai Ridgebacks is low. Due to the length and density of the coat shedding is minimal, occurring once or twice yearly. Because this breed does not have an undercoat the hair does not usually bother people allergic to other breeds of dogs. This breed requires regular periods of exercise. Training methods should be positive reinforcement based as the breed does not respond well to heavy handed training.

Health Issues and Life Expectancy

Thai ridgebacks are a hardy, overall healthy breed with few inherent heath issues. The breed has reproduced in Thailand almost exclusively by natural selection until the very recent past. The domesticated population is small. Thai Ridgeback Dogs are prone to dermoid sinus. Modern lines of Thai Ridgeback, resulting from interpopulation crosses, may also be prone to hip dysplasia and other genetic disorders. When more data has been collected by the organizations that compile this information the extent of this will become more clear. Thai Ridgebacks have an average lifespan of 12-15 years.

Additional Resources

USA Breed Club: Thai Ridgeback Dogs of the USA
Rescue: Thai Ridgeback Rescue Network

Thai Ridgebacks on WikiFido

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