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The Thai Ridgeback Dog, also known as a TRD, Mah Thai, or
Mah Thai Lang Ahn, is the national dog of Thailand and has been known as Thailand's domesticated dog for centuries.
This Spitz Primitive Hunting Dog may be one of the oldest dog breeds known to man. According to rock art found
in a cave in the Uthai-Tanee province dating over 3,000 years ago, drawings indicate a TRD-caliber dog accompanying hunters
in their daily life. During this time the TRD played a relatively large role in the lives of the people, from being
their companions to protecting their families, as well as ridding the villages of rodents and hunting for larger prey.
Direct ancestry to the TRD has also been given to the Dingo family (Canus lupus), who is predominantly located throughout
Australia, Thailand, and in scattered groups across Southeast Asia. Even though we have little written history behind
the origins of the TRD, we have genetically tracked the first TRD to Eastern Thailand. Based on genetic research, it
is believed that the Thai Ridgeback Dog and the Phu Quoc Dog (from Vietnam), two of the three ridged-back dogs in the world,
are descended from a now extinct ridged-back dog called the Funan Ridgeback Dog from the Funan area of the region. Due
to the TRDs seclusion, it has been able to avoid cross-breeding, hence maintaining its original appearance. The TRD
has also somehow managed to avoid large genetic problems associated with seclusion and inbreeding. This is contributed
strongly to the natural selection process. Currently the TRD runs the streets of Thailand breeding naturally.
Selective breeding is done in order to maintain the purity of the breed and is tracked through the Dog Association of Thailand
(1975), and the Kennel Club of Thailand (KCTH, formerly DAT). A number of other international clubs and associations
that track the TRD also are the Japanese Kennel Club, Asian Kennel Union, Asian Dog Organization (1987,) Breed No. 338 by
the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI 1993), the United Kennel Club (UKC), the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA),
and as a companion breed with the American Kennel Club, Foundation Stock Services (2008.) There are a number of additional
registries not listed here. A number of registries do not take all dogs, nor do they register dogs that do not already
have a registration from a previous registry.
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