Sloughi

The Sloughi is an ancient sighthound of North Africa. It originates in Morocco and is also found in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. It was bred to course game, and it doubled as a watchdog for the nomads who kept it.

History

The Sloughi has lived in North Africa for centuries. Its name is another way of saying the Arabic word saluki, and the two breeds look and behave alike and probably share an ancestor. Neolithic rock paintings in Algeria, and tomb paintings and hieroglyphics in Egypt, show slender dogs with drooping ears, which hints at how old the type may be.

The dogs were traditionally used on hare, fox, jackal, gazelle and other antelope, deer and ground birds. They were valued for their speed, agility and stamina over long distances. Sloughis still hunt in North Africa and serve as family guard dogs. Where they are worked, their looks can vary from one place to the next.

The breed is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The American Kennel Club recognized it on January 1, 2016, in its Hound Group.

Appearance

The Sloughi resembles a shorter, more thickset Greyhound. The head is long and elegant, with drooping ears. The bone structure shows clearly under strong, lean muscle. The back is more or less level and runs into a gently sloping croup. The tail is long and carried low, with an upward curve at the tip. The eyes are dark, with a gentle and rather melancholy expression.

Males stand 66 to 72 cm (26 to 28 in) and weigh 22 to 28 kg (49 to 62 lb). Females stand 61 to 68 cm (24 to 27 in) and weigh 18 to 24 kg (40 to 53 lb). It is a robust dog as well as a racy one.

Temperament

The Sloughi bonds very closely with its owner or family from an early age. Its manner is noble and somewhat aloof. It is reserved with strangers, takes time to warm to new people and may not care for those who are too familiar. Unlike most sighthounds it is highly alert and territorial, which made it prized by the Berbers as a watchdog.

A well-bred, well-socialized Sloughi is stable, attentive and loving. One that has not been socialized can be shy or aggressive toward other dogs. Sloughis used to children are very good with them.

The prey drive is extremely strong. Sloughis can live with cats and small dogs if they meet them young and learn that they are not prey. They are intelligent and sensitive to correction, and heavy-handed training does them harm.

Care and health

The Sloughi needs plenty of exercise every day, including the chance to gallop freely. It does not suit apartment life without that.

Only a few genetic conditions have been confirmed in the breed: Addison’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and progressive retinal atrophy, for which there is a genetic test. Like all sighthounds, the Sloughi is very sensitive to anesthesia, and it can be sensitive to vaccines, wormers and other drugs. The breed tends to stay in excellent health into old age.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.