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The Thai Ridgeback is a rare breed of dog. The breed was formerly unknown outside of Thailand, but is gaining notice in the western world. Very small numbers of the Thai Ridgeback exist in the U.S. The Thai Ridgeback is one of only three breeds that has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. They are also known as a TRD, Mah Thai, or Mah Thai Lang Ahn.
Appearance: The Thai Ridgeback is a muscular,
medium-sized pariah-type dog with a wedge-shaped head,
triangular-shaped prick ears, and a short, smooth coat. It has
a pronounced ridge on its back from behind the withers to the
hips. Thai Ridgebacks have muscular thighs and a streamlined
body, making them an extremely agile. The tail is carried
vertically or curved like a sickle. Its forehead wrinkles with
enormous expression.
The tongue can be black or have black marks. Eyes are dark
and almond-shaped. The ears are set low and point slightly
outward, and are never cropped. The back is straight and
level. The coat is short, hard, and straight and can be solid
colors of blue, black, red, or fawn. The Thai Ridgeback is a
clean breed who sheds very little. Shoulder height should be
22-24 inches (56-61 cm) in males and 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)
in females. The weight should be 19-24 kilograms (42-53
pounds) in males, and 17-22 kilograms (37-48 pounds) in
females.
Eight distinctive ridge patterns have been identified:
needle, feather, arrow, lute, violin, bowling pin, leaf, and
saddleback. All patterns are acceptable, but must be clearly
defined and symmetrical.
History: The origin of the Thai Ridgeback is
unknown, but the breed was developed in eastern Thailand. The
history of the breed is the subject of numerous theories. It
is generally considered a Pariah-type dating back to ancient
times. The Thai Ridgeback may have mutated from another Thai
dog of similar appearance but with no ridged back. Thai
Ridgebacks were originally used for hunting and guarding.
Descriptions of the breed can be found in written references
dating back to the 17th century. The Thai Ridgeback was used
for hunting and as a guard dog. The relationship between the
Thai Ridgeback and the Rhodesian Ridgeback is uncertain and
there is no scientific proof that they are related. The breed
is still very rare outside of Thailand.
The third existing breed of ridgeback dogs is the Phu Quoc
Dog of Vietnam, which is somewhat smaller than the Thai
Ridgeback. The Hottentot Hunting Dog, a known African
ridgeback ancestor of the modern Rhodesian Ridgeback, is now
extinct and its link, if any, to the Thai Ridgeback and the
Phu Quoc Dog is unknown. The possible genetic connection among
the three remaining breeds is being investigated through DNA
studies.
Temperament: Thai Ridgebacks are an intelligent and
obedient breed. Due to isolation and lack of human contact,
the Thai Ridgeback remains an independent and largely
undomesticated breed. They are naturally protective of their
home and family and can be aggressive with other dogs. They
have a strong hunting instinct and excellent jumping ability.
Health: Like many large dogs, the Thai Ridgeback may
be prone to hip dysplasia. They are also prone to dermoid
sinus. Inbreeding depression has not observed in the breed due to its small domesticated population for several generations in the past. Thai Ridgeback Dogs are prone to dermoid sinus. Modern line of Thai Ridgeback, resulting from interpopulation crosses, may also be prone to hip dysplasia and other genetic disorders.
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