I am Evgenia Egorova, a cynologist, owner of four Rhodesian Ridgebacks. Dogs of this breed are my great love and here I will tell a story about them. 

 Rhodesian Ridgebacks are natives of Africa, and their main characteristics are inherited from distant ancestors. But the breed itself arose not so long ago and was officially recognized in the 20s of the twentieth century. The Rhodesian Ridgeback appeared during the time of the Hottentots, and was very different from the dog we see now. However, the ancestors of modern Ridgebacks also wore a mysterious crest on their back. These dogs helped to hunt large animals, and to give the legend greatness, they came up with the idea that the hunt was carried out for the king of animals — the lion. This gave rise to the second name — lion hound. The origin of the Ridge on the back — a comb of wool growing in the opposite direction — is no less legendary! It is believed that in ancient times a brave dog and a wise snake were friends. One day the snake was basking in a tree, and the dog was resting in its shade; they were slowly having a conversation. At this time, a lion appeared and roared so loudly that the snake fell from the branch onto the back of the dog, and we still see the imprint of the snake on the backs of these dogs. Thus, the courage and strength of the dog were combined with the wisdom and insightful mind of the snake. Therefore, a true Rhodesian Ridgeback has strength, courage, wisdom and agility.