In what modern-day country did the dog called the Rhodesian Ridgeback originate?

The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in South Africa, although its early development also involved the territory now known as Zimbabwe.

The breed’s ancestors included ridged hunting and guardian dogs associated with the Khoikhoi people of southern Africa. European colonists crossed these local dogs with imported breeds, including hunting and working dogs, producing animals valued for courage, endurance, and their ability to track and bay large game.

The breed’s modern name reflects its history in the former colony of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. F. R. Barnes drafted the first breed standard in Bulawayo in 1922, and the South African Kennel Union approved that standard in 1927. The breed was developed for hunting, particularly for holding lions at bay until hunters arrived.

Its defining feature is the ridge of hair along the back that grows in the opposite direction from the surrounding coat. The name can therefore cause confusion: “Rhodesian” points to historical development in Rhodesia, while the stored country answer refers to the broader modern origin in South Africa.