Sloughi

Origin & history

The Sloughi is an ancient sighthound of North Africa, long associated with Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, where it was kept by Berber and Bedouin peoples to hunt gazelle, hare, fox and jackal across desert and mountain. It was valued not as livestock but almost as a member of the family, prized for its speed, stamina and keen sight, and breeding was guarded carefully within tribes. It is a distinct breed, separate from the rough-coated Afghan Hound and the related smooth Azawakh of the Sahel further south. Numbers in its homelands fell sharply through the 20th century after periods of colonial restriction, disease and war, and the breed survives today largely thanks to dedicated breeders in North Africa and Europe. It remains uncommon worldwide, including in Australia, where it is rarely seen.

Temperament

The Sloughi is gentle, dignified and deeply loyal to its own people, while remaining reserved and often standoffish with strangers, rarely fawning over anyone outside its circle. It is a sensitive, emotionally attuned dog that bonds intensely and can be genuinely unhappy if rehomed or treated harshly, so it needs kindness and stability. Raised with children it is usually patient and tolerant, though it prefers calm to chaos and is not a rough-and-tumble playmate. It often lives peaceably with other sighthounds and dogs it knows, but the powerful prey drive makes cats and small pets a real risk unless the dog is carefully raised alongside them, and even then caution is wise. Independent and clever, it is trainable but not naturally obedient and responds only to gentle, reward-based methods. Its key needs are safe space to run, soft places to rest, early socialisation and a settled, affectionate home.

Appearance

The Sloughi is an elegant, racy sighthound of moderate size, standing roughly 61 to 72 cm at the shoulder, with bitches smaller than dogs, and weighing around 18 to 28 kg. The build is lean and athletic, showing clear bone and muscle beneath the skin without looking fragile, with a deep chest, tucked-up loin and long, fine legs. The head is long and refined with large, dark, gentle eyes that give a slightly wistful, far-off expression. The coat is short, fine and smooth, lying close to the body. Colours run through the full range of sand and fawn shades, from pale cream to rich red, often with a black mask and sometimes black brindling or a dark overlay. The whole dog gives an impression of speed held in reserve.

Suitability

The Sloughi suits a quiet, patient owner who wants a calm housemate and an athletic hunting hound in one dog, and who can provide secure space for it to gallop. It can live in an apartment if given enough real exercise, since indoors it is restful, but it must have access to a safely fenced area because off-lead freedom near roads or small animals is dangerous. Its sensitivity and reserve mean it is not the most forgiving choice for a first-time owner, and it does best where it is not left alone for long stretches. Australian conditions broadly suit the breed, as it is built for heat and copes well with warm, dry weather given shade and water, but the thin coat and lean body mean it feels cold easily and needs a warm, soft bed indoors in winter.

Health

The Sloughi is one of the healthier purebred dogs, with a fairly clean record and a typical lifespan of around 12 to 15 years. The most important breed-specific concern is progressive retinal atrophy, for which a DNA test is available, so responsible breeders test their stock and pair dogs to avoid producing affected pups. Like other sighthounds, the Sloughi has a low percentage of body fat and is sensitive to anaesthetics and some drugs, which any treating vet should be told about. Their thin skin and lean frame mean they feel the cold and need soft bedding. They can also react to certain sprays and chemicals. When buying a pup, look for a breeder who DNA-tests for retinal atrophy, is familiar with sighthound anaesthetic sensitivity, and keeps their dogs at a correct, lean working weight rather than overfed.