Today a dog is not just a dog. The American Kennel Club distinguishes all canines into groups, further singling them out into breeds. This process is call breed profiling. Breed profiles include history, appearance, size, proportion, substance, coat, color, gait, and temperament. These subtle differences help to distinguish a dog’s formal classification.
Many breeds are visually similar and are often confused. This month’s breeds of confusion are the Hungarian Vizsla and the Rhodesian Ridgeback. While both dogs share a similar silhouette and color, each has distinguishing traits that are unique to the breed. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look a their toplines (the area from the withers to the tail base).
The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a distinctive oblong cowlick that stretches the topline of the dog. This is the major identifying characteristic for this breed. Other differences are less obvious.
The Vizsla comes to us from Hungary. Bred for hunting, it came close to extinction during the world wars. The breed survives today due to the commitment of a handful of dedicated breeders. First imported to the United States in the 1950s and admitted to the AKC in 1954, it now resides in the sporting group. These dogs are natural hunters endowed with a keen sense of smell and above average ability to take to training. They are gentle, sensitive, and affectionate. They are natural protectors of their owners and require a lot of exercise. They make an overall fun-loving pet for older children and adults.
The Rhodesian Ridgeback was derived from South Africa and originally bred for big game hunting as far back as the 1830s. The modern version was accepted by the AKC in 1992. The Ridgeback loves to run and has a very strong prey drive. This instinct is the main reason why an owner of this breed should fence in the yard. Anything this sight hound sees is fair game, and they will pursue it with tenacity. The breed is strong willed and can often run its owner if not kept in check. They, too, are natural protectors and like being both a hunter and a house dog.
Author: Michelle Toth
Michelle "Shell" Toth is a lifelong resident of Geauga County and is the owner of Shell's Dog Design in Newbury. She is a member of the International Professional Groomers, Inc. and has 30 years of experience in the pet care industry. Shell's Dog Design is committed to responsible pet care solutions and has a pet style for every lifestyle.