Which breed has a distinctive ridge of hair running along its back in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat?

The story behind the answer

Rhodesian Ridgeback is correct—the breed’s very name describes its defining feature: a ridge of hair along the spine that grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat. Developed in southern Africa (then Rhodesia/Zimbabwe), Ridgebacks were prized for tracking and holding big game, including lions. The ridge is a heritable trait and also appears in the Thai Ridgeback.

To remember: “Ridgeback = ridge on the back.” By contrast, Basenjis are known as “barkless” dogs, Pharaoh Hounds are sleek Maltese sighthounds, and Boerboels are powerful South African guardians—none have the reversed hair ridge.