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Dark fawn Phu Quoc Ridgeback with black mask stands in a VKA conformation ring in Vietnam

PHU QUOC RIDGEBACK
Breed Standard
Date Revised: April 7th, 2024

GENERAL APPEARANCE

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback is a medium-sized dog with a square-built body. The body is well-built for speed and endurance. The Phu Quoc Ridgeback is clean, powerful, and muscular with a ridge on the back.

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BEHAVIOR /TEMPERAMENT 

Dignified and regal. Loyal and loving to their owners. Not aggressive. Aloof with strangers, but friendly. Alert, but adaptable to new surroundings and situations. Laidback, but capable of great intensity for active pursuits.

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​IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

- Length of body / height at withers = 1 : 1

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Fawn Vietnamese Ridgeback sniffs the ground while walking through a field
Two Phu Quoc Ridgebacks stand attentively waiting in a grassy field to compete in a chasing sport

CRANIAL REGION

Head: Medium in size and narrow; in balance with the body.

Skull: Almost flat when seen from above, slightly arched in profile.

Forehead: Wrinkles appear when the dog is alert or attentive. 

Stop: Defined but moderate.

 

FACIAL REGION

Nose: Black preferred; liver allowed in chocolate. 

Muzzle: Straight nasal bridge. Wedge-shaped muzzle. Length of muzzle is slightly shorter than the length of skull.

Lips: Black. Tight and well-fitted.

Tongue: Black pigmented tongue with full black preferred.

Jaws/Teeth: Upper and lower jaws are strong. Complete dentition. Scissor bite.

Eyes: Expressive eyes. Of medium size, almond shaped. The eye color varies from dark-brown to amber, eye-rims are black.

Ears: Firmly pricked ears, of medium size. Upright and direct to the front. Ears are tapered on the inner and outer side.

Brindle urajiro Phu Quoc Ridgeback shows its side profile, mouth agape
Kiwi the Phu Quoc Ridgeback looks into the camera in her home in Hawaii

BODY 

​Neck: Long, lean, and slightly arched to hold the head in high. Strong with a clean throat line. Without dewlap.

Back: Straight. Length in proportion to their height. 

Loin: Of medium breadth. Strong and muscular.

Croup: Slightly sloping.  

Chest: Deep, not quite reaching to the elbow. The ribs are well sprung, neither barrel-ribs nor flat-ribs. Forechest slightly protruding.

Belly: Well tucked.

Tail: Tail is of medium length, arched like a sickle, not curled over nor touching the back. Carried upright and tapers towards the tip.

Ridge: The shape of the ridge may be varied. Symmetrical through the spine and covering a length of at least â…” of the back is preferred. If applicable, the crown or crowns are symmetric and typically located on the top of the ridge. Multiple crowns on the ridge are accepted if they are symmetric through the spine. An inferior ridged dog should not be placed over a superior ridgeless dog or vice versa. Ridged is to be preferred over ridgeless if all else is equal.

Blondie the Phu Quoc Ridgeback stands at attention showing off her side profile

FOREQUARTERS

Forearms: Straight and parallel when seen from the front or profile. When seen from front, the position of the front legs is moderately close together. 
Shoulders: Muscular and well laid-back. Open angle where the shoulder meets the upper arm.
Pastern: Straight when seen from front and very slightly slanting to the ground when seen from profile. 
Front feet: Cat or oval-shaped feet and of moderate length. Nails are black, brown, or a combination.
 

 

​HINDQUARTERS

Thigh: Strong, well-developed and muscular with moderately bent stifles.
Hocks: Straight and parallel; in balance with the length of thigh.  
Hind feet: Cat or oval-shaped and of moderate length. Nails are black, brown, or a combination. Dewclaws may or may not be present.

Brindle Phu Quoc Ridgeback standing in front of a lake looking head on into the camera from a distance
Brindle urajiro Vietnamese Ridgeback gaiting outdoors

GAIT / MOVEMENT

The movement of a Phu Quoc Ridgeback should be tireless, free-flowing, harmonious, and regal. At the trot, the forelegs and rear legs are moving in parallel straight lines and in line with the body, neither turning in nor turning out. When seen from the front, the shoulders, upper arms, elbows, forearms and pasterns move in one straight line. When seen from behind, the upper and lower thighs, stifles, hocks, and rear pasterns are also in line. There should be a smooth, slight sway of the hindquarters from side to side. The feet should not turn inward or outward. Long strides appear effortless as the proud head is held high. Overall the dog should have a well-balanced flow with a smooth rhythm.

COAT

Color: Black. Fawn, from pale yellow to deep red. Brindle. Black and tan, brindling allowed on tan points. Countershading and/or black mask is accepted on fawn and brindle. 
Skin: Fairly fine and tight to the body.

 

SIZE 

Height at wither is 45 cm (17.7 in) to 60 cm (23.6 in)  in males and 40 cm (15.7 in) to 55 cm (21.6in) in females.

 

WEIGHT

Weight about 14 kg to 20 kg (30 to 45 lbs) in males and about 12 kg to 18 kg (25 to 40 lbs) in females. The weight should be balanced with the height.

Two Phu Quoc Ridgebacks greeting in a field in Hawaii

OTHER

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

 

​FAULTS 

Any departure from the described points is considered a fault. The seriousness in which the fault is regarded shall be in proportion to the degree it affects the health and welfare of the dog.

  • Incomplete ridge

  • No spots on the tongue 

  • Brown/Chocolate in color

  • Light eyes

 

​ELIMINATING FAULTS

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.
- Aggressive or overly shy
- Dermoid sinus
- Lack of pigment in nose, lips or eye rims
- Showing haw. Blue or bi-coloured eyes
- Solid white coat, Piebald coat/white patches, or merle
- Evidence of crossing with Thai Ridgeback or other any other breed 
- Monorchid or cryptorchid

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