Sloughi

Noble, dignified and aloof, the Sloughi is a sensitive breed, though they should not be nervous. Loving, affection and even silly with family, they tend to be reserved with strangers and while not a guarding breed, they will make their distrust of unwelcome strangers or suspicious persons quite clear if necessary!

Intelligent and quick witted, the Sloughi, if raised properly and carefully, will be a devoted companion. This is a sighthound who is also well equipped to use scent to find prey, so owners must take this into account and be prepared to socialise and habituate from an early age to livestock and cats - although it is wise not to trust them with unknown cats or any small furry animals.

Country of Origin: North Africa

Revered by the Bedouin tribesmen, the Sloughi’s original purpose was in coursing small game such as hare but also larger, more formidable game such as gazelle and wild pigs. Prized for their appearance and their skill, the Sloughi is tough, speedy and possesses incredible endurance over long distance.Gradually the Sloughi became known outside of Africa, initially in the Netherlands and then France, but wasn’t recognised by the UK Kennel Club until 1972 and is still a rare breed.

The Sloughi needs to have a balanced dog diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular?body condition?scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape, and remember to feed them at least twice daily in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

The adult Sloughi requires at least two hours of dog exercise per day, including free running in a secure space. This is an endurance runner, not a sprinter so, do not be fooled by their similarity to the Greyhound into thinking they will be happy with a 20-minute trundle twice a day.

Health and common concerns

The Sloughi is generally healthy and robust breed. As with many breeds there are hereditary eye disorders that can occur and so eye testing is recommended.

Space requirements

Suited to the country or rural suburban home, the Sloughi is not a dog for central city or apartment living. A large and well fenced garden is important, and access to secure places to let your Sloughi off-lead to run will be useful.

Training sloughi dogs

The Sloughi can be trained, however you will need to put in serious effort to motivate them to work for you. This can be achieved with patience, persistence, high value food rewards and the use of furry toys on ropes to replace chasing prey. This is not a breed that enjoys dog training for trainings sake, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need training or cannot be trained. Put in early and hard work on teaching a recall, and find exercise spaces that are secure and away from livestock.

Best family dog breeds

For the family that understands sighthound behaviour and sensitive natured dogs, the Sloughi can make an excellent family pet. Those with young children should consider whether a slow maturing tall, bouncy breed is sensible. Those with older children and teens who can respect a dog’s space may find the Sloughi a loyal friend and a perfect companion. While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.

Did you know?

For a long time the Sloughi was thought by many to be a smooth coated version of the Saluki, and in many books the Sloughi was wrongly named ‘Saluki’. In fact, whilst the two breeds share many similarities, the Sloughi is more closely related to the Azawakh, whilst the Saluki is more closely linked to the Afghan Hound.