After near extinction, Vietnam's ridgeback breed faces fresh challenges

Breeders struggling to protect its distinct traits as they strive for global recognition

- Nga Pham

At Cosian Bay Resort in Phu Quoc, southern Vietnam, guests checking into the beachfront hotel are often greeted first not by staff, but by a four-month-old puppy named Barbecue.

The frisky Phu Quoc ridgeback trots alongside new arrivals, escorts them to their rooms, and lingers just long enough to be rewarded with a scratch behind the ears.

“Barbecue should be promoted to the reception desk,” joked receptionist Nguyen Cuu Tho, 36, grinning as the pup weaved between guests. “He’s more popular than us.”

But the friendly tan-and-black pup, named for his partiality for barbecued fish, is more than a novelty.

He belongs to one of the world’s rarest dog breeds, native to Vietnam’s largest island.

Once near extinction, the beloved Phu Quoc ridgeback is making a comeback. But breeders face a tough challenge: protecting what makes the breed distinct as they strive for global recognition.

“Loyalty is one of the most distinctive and valuable traits of Phu Quoc dogs, along with other characteristics like excellent hunting ability, agility, memory and pack orientation,” said Mr Le Quoc Tuan, the owner and founder of Thanh Nga Dog Farm on the island.

Thanh Nga is one of a handful of top-tier breeders and the largest conservation centre in the country, spanning 5ha. It is home to over 300 ridgebacks. Also known as the Thanh Nga Phu Quoc Ridgeback Conservation Centre, it is dedicated to the conservation, breeding and training of the native dog breed.

Lean and athletic, the Phu Quoc ridgeback is famous for its feline-like agility and is one of the few dog breeds in the world capable of climbing trees. It makes an excellent guard dog, hunter and swimmer partly because of the webbing between its toes. The medium-sized breed weighs up to 22kg when fully grown.