2016 Report from the Vietnam Kennel Association's Chair of the Native Breeds Developtment Committee

Vietnam Kennel Association Report by:

Nguyễn Minh Khang

Chair, Native Dog Breeds Development Committee

January 7, 2016

Since 2007, several significant events have taken place in the movement to preserve and breed Phu Quoc dogs in Vietnam:

• 2008: The first seminar on Phu Quoc dogs was held, and the Vietnam Kennel Association (VKA) was officially established.

• 2009: An application for membership in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) was submitted, the Phu Quoc dog breed standard (2009) was approved, and the first breed competitions were organized.

• Since 2009: Two dog breed competitions have been held annually.

As of today, the conservation and development movement for the Phu Quoc dog has been active for nine years, attracting considerable interest from dog breeders in Vietnam and around the world. This is reflected in the increasing number of Phu Quoc dog clubs being established nationwide and the growing participation in breed recognition and dog shows.

Below is a statistical summary of the development of the Phu Quoc dog breed from 2009 to 2015:

Current Situation

With the rapid growth of interest in the breed, we are also facing limitations and challenges in standardizing and obtaining FCI recognition for the Phu Quoc Ridgeback. The specific issues are as follows:

Defining the Standard Appearance of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback (PQR)

Due to unregulated and spontaneous breeding, along with misunderstandings about the Phu Quoc Ridgeback’s appearance, many breeders have crossed them with other breeds (especially the Thai Ridgeback) to create dogs that fit personal preferences or show trends. Because there is no universally accepted standard for the breed, these mixed dogs have won top placements in dog shows, setting a misleading example for the breed community. As a result, the Phu Quoc Ridgeback population has developed significant variations in appearance and characteristics, along with an increasing prevalence of DSC-related health issues.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback Breeding for Commercial Purposes

The rising demand for Phu Quoc Ridgebacks has led to aggressive sourcing from Phu Quoc Island, depleting the island’s rare and pure genetic pool. Today, finding a relatively pure Phu Quoc Ridgeback on the island is increasingly difficult. To meet market demand, breeders and sellers have imported mainland dogs—often mixed with Thai Ridgebacks—back to the island to establish breeding farms. There are now numerous PQR breeding farms on Phu Quoc Island, but most lack knowledge about proper breed selection and responsible breeding. This uncontrolled practice has led to further dilution of the breed and a rise in DSC-related health issues.

Phu Quoc Ridgeback Breeding Practices

Because the breed standard remains inconsistent, newcomers often rely on the Vietnam Kennel Association’s (VKA) recognition when selecting breeding dogs. In recent years, VKA has encouraged PQR development by expanding its registration criteria. As a result, many breeders have focused solely on registering F0 dogs for easier trade, with little attention to structured breeding programs or lineage development. Currently, only one known F3 generation exists. Additionally, breeding efforts prioritize appearance over temperament, instinct, and hunting ability—traits that define the true essence of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback.

Lack of Certified Judges for Native Breeds

The absence of experienced native breed judges negatively impacts the community, limiting show opportunities and slowing breed development. While VKA has officially recognized six judges (two for native breeds, three for the Phu Quoc Ridgeback, and one for the H’mong breed), along with five apprentice judges (three for PQR and two for H’mong), the initial judge training process was rushed due to the urgent need for evaluators. The current training lacks depth, particularly in areas required by FCI standards, such as veterinary knowledge and canine anatomy.

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback Breed Standard

The Phu Quoc Ridgeback standard, published in 2009, initially provided valuable guidance for breed enthusiasts. However, as the breed has evolved, several shortcomings have become evident:

• The wording lacks precision and clarity, making some descriptions overly abstract.

• There is a lack of illustrative images.

• It fails to clearly define the unique traits that distinguish the Phu Quoc Ridgeback from other ridgeback breeds.

These shortcomings have led to inconsistencies in breed evaluation. Judges and owners each interpret the standard based on personal perspectives, leading to disagreements over what constitutes the ideal Phu Quoc Ridgeback. Consequently, the breed now exhibits significant variation in body type (thick vs. thin build, rectangular vs. square frame), coat length (long vs. short), size (small, medium, large), and coat color. This issue is evident in recent dog show winners, who vary significantly in appearance. These inconsistencies have fueled conflicts among judges and breeders, creating divisions, confusion, and loss of trust in the breed’s future direction.

Below is a summary of the notable physical variations that have emerged in the Phu Quoc Ridgeback over the years:

1. GENERAL APPEARANCE

• They have a medium size with a skeletal structure forming a square shape.

• Height at the withers to body length ratio is 1:1.

• However, the skeletal structure is often not square. Most winning dogs today have a rectangular body frame.

• Height at the withers is smaller than body length.

  
  

2. HEAD

• Slender, moderately long, and well-proportioned.

• A broad, triangular, overly large, or heavy head, or an excessively long head lacking prominent cheekbones is undesirable.

  
  

3. SKULL REGION

• The transition from the muzzle to the forehead is slightly curved.

• A straight or overly curved (abrupt) transition from the muzzle to the forehead is undesirable.

  
  

4. FACIAL REGION

• Muzzle: V-shaped, with a relatively broad base. The muzzle tapers evenly and is slightly rounded. Its length is half of the total head length.

• Lips: Neat, tight-fitting, and black.

• Teeth: Full set, well-developed, and strong. The incisors form a scissor bite.

• Eyes: Medium-sized, almond-shaped. The color ranges from black to dark brown. Amber-colored eyes are acceptable. The eyelids and eye rims must be black. The eyes should not be too deep-set, protruding, low-set, or droopy.

• Ears: Positioned on the sides of the skull, erect like a seashell, and facing forward. The ears are medium-sized, well-proportioned, not too pointed, and have little hair inside.

Undesirable Traits:

• Short or square muzzle.

• Loose, pale-colored lips.

• Missing premolars (P1, P2, P3).

• Small, round eyes.

• Eyes with uneven coloration, where the pupil and iris are clearly distinct.

• Faint or pale-colored eyelids.

• Horizontally round eyes that lack a slight upward slant.

• Ears that are overly long and pointed, positioned too close together, or leaning toward each other.

  
  

5. NECK

• Long, supple, flexible, strong, and widening towards the shoulders to keep the head raised above the spine. The skin under the neck is tight without dewlap.

• A short, thick, inflexible neck or a neck that is too long with a disproportionately small head is undesirable.

  
  

6. BODY

• Back: Straight and strong.

• Loins: Sturdy, well-developed, appearing muscular, firm, and sleek.

• Croup: Slightly sloping.

• Chest: Deep but not too broad. The ribcage is neither flat nor overly round. In adult dogs, the chest reaches the elbows of the front legs. The ribs are strong and closely spaced.

Undesirable Traits:

• Back that is not straight, arched, or sunken.

• Broad, thick back (double back).

• Loins that do not protrude.

• Flat croup with no slope.

• Chest too deep but with a narrow ribcage.

• Lack of emphasis on evaluating the rib structure.

  
  

7. TAIL

• Short, arched like a bow, and highly flexible. The tail length does not reach the hock. The tail naturally extends from the spine and, when raised, should not curve over the back. The base is thick and gradually tapers to the tip.

Undesirable Traits:

• Stiff, dry, close-coated, and inflexible tail (similar to a Thai Ridgeback tail).

• Flat croup with an abrupt upward tail set immediately after the croup.

• Tail does not extend naturally from the spine but instead curves sharply upward.

  
  

8. FRONT LEGS

• Shoulders: Well-defined and sloping.

• Feet: Relatively long, oval-shaped, with thick pads.

• Nails: Black. In yellow-colored dogs, nails may be brown and should match the coat color.

Undesirable Traits:

• Shoulders that are not well-defined or sloping.

• Excessively wide shoulder blade joints, affecting stance and movement.

• Compact, round feet similar to a tangerine, with short white nails.

• Thick, cylindrical legs that lack definition in their components.

• Front legs that are too long.

  
  

9. HIND LEGS

• Hock Joint: Strong, with a moderately angled bend.

Undesirable Traits:

• Straight hock joints.

• Hind legs that are excessively long.

  
  

10. MOVEMENT

• The gait should be light, smooth, yet firm. At a moderate pace, the paws should move in two parallel lines on the ground, without turning inward or outward. When viewed from the front, the front and hind legs should move up and down along a straight line, with the shoulders, elbows, and wrist joints working in harmony. When viewed from the rear, the hock joints and hip joints should also align. This coordinated movement makes the stride appear long, smooth, yet powerful. The overall movement should be rhythmic and balanced. At a trot, the dog should keep its head raised and tail carried high above the back.

Undesirable Traits:

• Heavy, ungraceful gait.

• A swaying body while running, indicating an unstable frame due to a non-square skeletal structure.

• Inability to trot properly due to overly wide shoulder blades and insufficient shoulder slope.

  
  

11. SKIN

• Relatively thin and firm, closely fitting the muscles. No loose skin around the neck.

Undesirable Traits:

• Thick, loose skin that does not conform to the muscles, especially in dogs with slightly longer coats.

• Thin skin but with excess subcutaneous fat and overly close-fitting fur, which is not characteristic of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback.

  
  

12. COAT

• Short, coarse hair that lies close to the body. Hair length should be less than 2 cm. Velvet-like fur is not acceptable.

Undesirable Traits:

• Coat that is either too short or too long.

• Soft fur texture.

  
  

13. RIDGE

• The ridge consists of a strip of hair growing in the opposite direction along the spine. The ridge color is darker and clearly visible on the back. The shape of the ridge may vary, but it must be symmetrical along the spine and not wider than the width of the back. The ridge should extend more than half the length of the back.

• The ridge contains whorls (circular hair patterns) at the top of the reversed hair strip. Additional whorls along the ridge are acceptable if symmetrical.

Undesirable Traits:

• A faint ridge, short hair without a prominent color difference.

• A ridge completely lacking whorls at the top or along the length of the ridge.

  
  

14. HEIGHT

• Males: 50–55 cm at the withers.

• Females: 48–52 cm at the withers.

• A deviation of up to 2 cm above or below the standard is acceptable.

Undesirable Traits:

• Height exceeding the standard range.

Conclusion and Recommendations

With the factors affecting the morphology of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback mentioned above, immediate measures and actions must be taken to address these issues. Standardizing the appearance of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback is a mandatory requirement as we prepare for the upcoming temporary recognition registration with the FCI. To ensure effective implementation, I propose the following actions:

For Breed Recognition Assessment:

• The organization of breed recognition assessment shows shall only be conducted at the national level by VKA (which may be combined with Dog Shows organized by Phu Quoc Ridgeback Clubs upon request).

• The evaluation of a Phu Quoc Ridgeback for breed recognition shall be conducted by three judges. A dog must receive approval from at least two judges to pass.

• The regulation allowing F1 Phu Quoc Ridgebacks to participate in dog shows and receive an official pedigree certificate upon obtaining a minimum "average" rating from at least one judge, as stated in the regulations on Vietnamese dog breeds issued by VKA on August 20, 2012, shall be suspended.

• To obtain an official pedigree certificate, F1 Phu Quoc Ridgebacks must participate in the breed recognition assessment show and be evaluated under the same process as F0 dogs.

• F2 Phu Quoc Ridgebacks must also undergo the breed recognition assessment show and be evaluated using the same process as F0 dogs.

• Judges invited for evaluations must strictly follow the current Breed Standard Committee regulations and take into account the changes highlighted in the Report on the Development of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback from 2009 to 2015.

  
  

For Dog Show Organization:

• Judges must ensure that awarded dogs meet VKA's specified criteria and avoid selecting dogs with morphological variations identified in the Report on the Development of the Phu Quoc Ridgeback from 2009 to 2015. The judging results will be monitored by the VKA Executive Committee.

• It is encouraged to invite international judges, especially FCI judges, to evaluate Phu Quoc Ridgebacks in dog shows to enhance the breed’s international visibility.

  
  

For the Phu Quoc Ridgeback Breed Standard:

• The VKA Executive Committee will plan, assign tasks, and conduct a review and revision of the Breed Standard to ensure that it is specific, clear, accurate, and aligned with FCI regulations.

• While the revision is in progress, the existing Breed Standard will remain in effect.

  
  

For the Training and Development of Local Judges:

• To ensure a sufficient number of judges for the upcoming breed recognition assessment system, the VKA Executive Committee will issue a special decision to promote remaining trainee judges to official judges for the Phu Quoc Ridgeback breed.

• Official judges granted this special promotion must strictly adhere to VKA's judging regulations, meet the requirements set by the Head of the Local Breed Development Group, and remain under the supervision of the VKA Executive Committee. Any violations will be subject to penalties, including the revocation of judging rights.

• The VKA Executive Committee will review and revise the current Judge Training Regulations to align with FCI requirements and Vietnam's current situation.

• FCI judges and experts will be invited to conduct training sessions to enhance the knowledge of local judges.

  
  

We respectfully request that the VKA Leadership review the above matters.

Ho Chi Minh City, January 7, 2016

Report Author

Chair of the Native Dog Breeds Development Committee

Nguyen Minh Khang