Breeding suitability guide — Rhodesian Ridgeback
For breeders: which tests, which thresholds, which mating rules apply
1. Mandatory tests for parents
AKC Parent Club: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States / Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD) requires these tests for breeding approval — they must be on file for every breeding animal.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elbow Dysplasia (ED) | X-ray | ED 0–1 | Polygenic | AKC Parent Club: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States |
| Hip dysplasia (HD) | X-ray | HD A–B | Polygenic | AKC Parent Club: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United States |
| Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) | DNA test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD) |
| Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (Rhodesian Ridgeback) (JME) | DNA test | clear or carrier (carriers only with a clear partner) | Autosomal recessive | Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD) |
| Hemophilia B (HEMB) | — | clear | X-linked | Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD) |
2. Mating rules
When one parent has a borderline result, the other parent must meet specific criteria.
Elbow Dysplasia (ED)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
AKC Parent Club: Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the United StatesDegenerative Myelopathy (DM)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD)Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (Rhodesian Ridgeback) (JME)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Deutschland e.V. (RRCD)Congenital blindness
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Congenital deafness (CHSD)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
Adult-onset deafness (AOD)
See the mating rule in your club's regulation.
3. Recommended additional tests
Sensible additions for line planning.
| Test / condition | Scoring scheme | Passing result | Inheritance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleft palate | Physical examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Congenital blindness | Physical examination | clear | Complex | — |
| Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) | X-ray | — | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) (CDA) | Skin test | clear or carrier | Complex | — |
| Dermoid sinus (DS) | Physical examination | clear | Complex | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Congenital deafness (CHSD) | Physical examination | hearing in both ears | Complex | — |
| Adult-onset deafness (AOD) | DNA test | clear or carrier | Autosomal recessive | — |
| Cerebellar abiotrophy (CA) | DNA test | clear | Autosomal recessive | CIDD (Univ. PEI) |
| Primary hypothyroidism | — | normal | Complex | AI-Vet |
4. HonestDog verification
- Upload a legible certificate (PDF or photo) per test in the breeder dashboard
- Certificate must show date, examining vet, and FCI/VDH logo
- Certificates older than 36 months are flagged as stale
- We extract the results from each upload using AI and check them for consistency with the dog's profile — the profile tile then shows 'verified'