Phu Quoc Ridgeback
 |
|
| Origin | Phú Quốc Island, Vietnam |
|---|---|
| Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) | |
The Phu Quoc Ridgeback is a breed of dog from Phú Quốc Island in Vietnam's southern Kiên Giang Province. The Phu Quoc Ridgeback is one of only three breeds that has a ridge of hair that runs along its back in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat (the others are Rhodesian Ridgeback and Thai Ridgeback). The Phu Quoc is the smallest of the three ridgeback breeds.
The Phu Quoc dog was included in the Larousse Dictionary and is steadily gaining notice in the Western world. In Vietnam these dogs are still considered rare and there were only 700 purebred dogs registered and recognised by the Vietnam Kennel Club. This means due to the scarcity of true examples they are not able to enter many international dog shows as they are simply considered too rare to be able to judge the breed standard.
A Phu Quoc Ridgeback won the 2013 Hanoi dog show.
Native to Vietnam, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback's history has not been well documented. Enthusiasts and few experts believe that all ridgeback breeds (including the Phu Quoc, Rhodesian, and Thai) originated in either Asia or Africa, due to their distinct ridge markings along the spine, though this has never been confirmed scientifically. It is also believed that, like the Thai ridgeback, the Phu Quoc has been used as a carting, escort, hunting, and guard dog throughout its history due to its impressive appearance and muscular physique.
According to elders on Phú Quốc Island, the dog was traditionally four main colours: spotted, black, yellow, and striped; however now the colours have become more varied. The rarest and most highly prized colours are pure black and yellow, with black eyes, black toes and a black spotted tongue. A mature dog is about 20–25 kg, with a small head, long neck, quite a long snout, thin yet long ears and dark speckles on the tongue. The body of tapering belly, straight legs and webbed feet allow Phu Quoc dogs to swim and run exceedingly well. They are also very good at climbing and can climb trees.
An important sign to recognize a true Phu Quoc dog is the sword shaped ridge on its back, together with short, thin hair. When facing competitors or running after prey, the hair on their back becomes erect, creating a ridge making the dog look brave and strong. Now, it is difficult to find purebred Phu Quoc dogs, as they have mixed with other breeds.
...
Wikipedia