Sloughi

Sloughi

The Sloughi was a very valuable dog to the North African tribespeople, and was bred with as much care as the Arabian horse.

History:

Lop-eared sight hounds that resemble the Sloughi have been found depicted in carvings from thousands of years BC. It is not known whether these dogs were identical to any of the present lop-eared sight hounds, but it is likely that these were the progenitors of all of them.

In countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya, where the Sloughi originated, they were treated as members of the family. They were used for hunting jackals, wild boar and gazelle, and they exceled at coursing hare. Due to political upheaval in the north of Africa, hunting with sight hounds was made illegal, and many dogs were shot on sight. This, coupled with a parvo epidemic, drastically reduced the number of Sloughi. The Sloughi is still not very common, and breeders are working carefully and conscientiously to restore the breed without losing any of its abilities.

Physical characteristics:

The tall, leggy Sloughi resembles a smooth-coated Saluki. It comes in two types, the Desert type, and the heavier Mountain type. Both types have a mournful or wistful expression. This breed is heavily muscled and extremely fast and powerful. From the refined narrow head to the deep chest and sloping hindquarters, the Sloughi is every inch a dog built for speed. The coat is very short and fine, but not soft. It can be any shade of sable or brown as well as brindle, black, and white, all with tan points.

Behavior:

The Sloughi moves with a very elegant grace and has an aloof air about it. However, this dog can be very sociable with other dogs and humans alike. Although traditionally kept as a working dog, the Sloughi can make a trustworthy and loyal companion. However, the Sloughi can become shy in some circumstances, and intending owners are advised to make sure that the dog is not fearful, as this can result in aggressive behavior. The Sloughi is a good watch-dog but can become extremely agitated if it is tied up. A dog for the enthusiast.