ORIGIN : Thailand.

                  Patronage : Nihon

UTILIZATION : Hunting dog.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 30.07.1997

FCI'S CLASSIFICATION :   Group 5       Spitz and  primitive                          types.

                                               Section 7      Primitive Type-Hunting                    Dogs.

                                               Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL  SUMMARY :  The Thai  Ridgeback Dog  is an old  breed which can be seen  in the archeological writing  in Thailand which was written about 35O years  ago.  Mainly in the  eastern part of Thailand, it was used for hunting. And people also used it to escort their carts and as a watch  dog. The reason why  it has kept its own original type for years  is  poor  transportation systems  in  the  eastern part  of Thailand; it had fewer chances to crossbreed with other breeds.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium-sized  dog with short hair forming a ridge along the  back.  The  body is  slightly  longer  than its  height  at withers.  Muscles are well  developed, and its anatomical  structure is suitable for activities.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

Length of body  : size (height at the withers) = 11 : 1O

Height of chest : size (height at the withers) =   5 : 1O

Length of the muzzle : length of the head      =   2 :   3

BEHAVIOUR /  TEMPERAMENT  : Tough  and active  with excellent  jumping ability.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : The  crown is flat and  has a gentle slope toward the stop.

Stop : Clearly defined, but moderate. Inclination is not abrupt.

FACIAL REGION :    

Nose : Colour is black.

Nasal bridge : Straight and long.

Muzzle : Wedge-shaped.Dogs with fawn coat have a black mask.

Lips : Tight.

Mouth : Black marking on the tongue.

Jaw : Upper jaw is thick enough and lower jaw is strong.

Teeth : White and strong with scissors bite.

Eyes : Middle size and almond shaped.  The  eye colour is                     dark brown.  In  blues and silvers, amber-coloured eyes are permitted.

Ears : Set on either side of the crown, which is slightly broad between the two ears.  Rather large, triangular, inclining  forward  and  firmly  pricked. Not cropped.

NECK : Strong, muscular, holding head high.

BODY

Back : Strong.

Loin : Strong and broad.

Croup : Moderately round.

Chest : Deep enough to reach the elbows.  The  rib is well                    built, but it is not barrel-shaped.

Lower line : The belly is tucked up.

TAIL : It has a thick base with gradual tapering toward the tip.  The tip reaches hock joints.  It holds up vertically or curves like sickle tail.

LIMBS

FRONTLEGS :  The forearm straight.

HINDLEGS : Well developed thighs and well bent stifles. Hocks                     are tough.  The  nails  are black or light through brown.

GAIT : Stride with  no pitching nor rolling  of the body. Track in two

parallel straight lines. When viewed from the front, the forelegs move

up and  down  in  straight lines  so  that the  shoulder-, elbow-  and

pastern joints are approximately  in line with each other. When viewed from the rear,  the stifle- an hip  joints are approximately in  line.  Move in  a straight  pattern forward without  throwing the feet in  or out; thus  enabling  the stride  to be  long and  drive powerful.  The

overall appearance of the moving dog is one of smooth flowing and well balanced rhythm.

SKIN : Soft, tender and tight skin.

COAT

HAIR : Short and  smooth. The ridge on the top region is  formed by the hair  growing in the opposite  direction to  the rest  of the  coat.    It should be clearly defined from other parts of the back.  There are various shapes of ridge, but a symmetrical one is preferred.

COLOUR : Solid colour  : light chestnut red  (the deeper, the better),

pure black, fawn and blue.

SIZE : Ideal height at the withers : Dogs    22-24 inches (56-61 cm)

                                                    Bitches 20-22 inches (51-56 cm).

There is a tolerance of one-half inch (1-2cm).

FAULTS : Any departure  from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and  the seriousness with which  the fault should be  regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

·       Any bite other than scissors bite.

·       Unbalanced ridge.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

·       Dogs without ridge

·       Long hair.

N.B.: Male animals should  have two apparently normal  testicles fully descended into the scrotum.