The Rhodesian Ridgeback originated in Southern Africa where the early European settlers mated their imported sporting breeds with the small, fierce hunting dogs owned by the Hottentots in order to produce a guard/hunting dog ideally suited to local conditions. The Hottentot Hunting Dog had a ridge of hair along its spine running in a reverse direction to the rest of the coat and this particular characteristic became a feature of the cross matings between the European breeds and the native dogs.
These “Ridgebacks” were used as functional all-purpose guard and hunting dogs, and it was found that they surpassed any other breed when hunting lions. During the late 19th century the reputation of “Ridgebacks” in this field became established through the exploits of a famous big game hunter in Rhodesia named Cornelius Van Rooyen, who had a pack of these ridged dogs. Van Rooyen’s dogs were very similar to today’s Rhodesian Ridgeback.