Tuareg Sloughi

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Tuareg Sloughi is a breed of dog that originated in the Sahel region of Africa. The dogs were bred as hunting dogs, guard dogs and companions. The Tuareg Sloughi is also known to be called as Awazakh.

These dogs are loving and affectionate to their owners and people they know. They have cat-like personality. Highly intelligent and independent dogs, they are fairly easy to train. They can do fine in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised; however, a small yard will be beneficial. The dog needs mental and physical stimulation.

Color

The dog can come in various colors. Clear Sand to Dark Red, Black, Gray, Blue, Brindle, Grizzle, White, Parti-color and all shades of Brown and Chocolate.

Coat

The dog's hair is short, find, down to none on the belly while their skin is fine and tight all over the body.

Personality

The Tuareg Sloughi are extremely loyal and very affectionate to their humans. Of all the sighthound breeds, they have the sharpest temperament. They are fiercely protective of their humans and their territory. If they are properly socialized, they can be accepting, indifferent or avoidant to friendly and affectionate to these strangers. Highly independent dogs, they are also extremely intelligent. Thus, training and proper socialization should be started at a very young age.

Care

The dog?s smooth, short-haired coat is fairly easy to groom. Use a firm bristle brush to comb and brush them regularly or use a hound glove to do a once-over to keep their coat looking good. Bathing should be done only when necessary. A mild, hypoallergenic shampoo should be used when you give the dog a bath. The dog is known to be from a healthy breed that they rarely get sick although they are possibly prone to bloat, seizures, hip dysplasia, spondylosis, hypothyroidism and cardiac problems. Given proper nutrition, sufficient exercise and regular visits to the veterinarian, this dog should live up to about 12 years on the average.

Training

As the dog are extremely intelligent and are very independent, training and proper socialization should start at a very young age. They are very willing to learn and can adapt very easily that they could be trained for obedience, agility and freestyle. As a sighthound dog, they need training that is reward based and positively enforced without giving a harsh treatment or punishment as this will inevitably destroy the dog?s spirit and will cause insecurity, fear, mistrust or aggression. The dog has strong guarding and hunting instincts which will require daily exercise of both the body and the mind. As they are independent dogs, owners should be able to emphasize to them that they are the calm, confident and consistent pack leader.

Activity

The Tuareg Sloughis require their daily exercise to sufficiently drain their energy. They should be able to have regular opportunities to run off leash in an open ground making sure that the area is safe and secured. These dogs are highly active and they can run for hours, even in hot temperatures making them perfect companions for energetic runners. If they get sufficient exercise, they can do well in an apartment. They are inactive when indoors but a small yard will be good for them. The dog is sensitive to the cold but they can be fine in cold climates as long as they wear a coat or sweater outside.