Sloughi Dogs

History

The Sloughi is an older breed that dates back to the 13th century. They come from the Maghreb region of the Northern Sahara. They were bred as a sight hound and were reserved only for kings and the super-rich. They can reach very high speeds whilst running which made them popular amongst wealth hunters. They were also used as guard dogs as they could spot intruders from miles away. They are genetically different from Salukis, though many consider them to be related.

Behaviour

Sloughis are a gentle, affectionate and loving breed. Happy to spend time lazing around with their family at home. They will get along well with children and other dogs if raised together. They like to spend as much time as possible alongside their owners. They can suffer separation anxiety if not used to being left alone for short periods from a young age. They are generally aloof with strangers at first, but almost never aggressive. They will sit quietly and observe from a distance. They have excellent eyesight and will give a warning bark when something attracts their attention.

This isn’t the most obedient of breeds, the Sloughi will need kind and consistent training from a young age to get the best out of them. Their sighthound background makes recall a problem and they should only be walked off-lead in a safe and secure area. They have excellent vision and will chase after anything they see (they’ll see it before you do and once they’re off you have no chance of catching them). Luckily, their love for their owners means that they will always want to have you in sight and will rarely wander off too far. They are stubborn and lazy when it comes to training, however their affection and loyalty are first class and they are a joy to have around the house.

Sloughis will need plenty of exercise and a chance to run each day in order to remain happy. They have immense stamina and make for a great jogging partner. A long daily walk will be needed in order to keep them happy and fit. Once they have had a long walk, they will happily sleep off a few hours in the comfort of their home. They will seek out soft places to sleep, so be sure to provide them with a bed otherwise they will take to the couch or your bed.

Their thin coat requires the occasional brush to remove dead hair. They rarely need bathing. They are quite clean dogs and don't tend to suffer from a doggy smell. Due to the coat being so thin with no undercoat, they will need a jacket in colder weather to keep them warm.

Health Problems

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is the only real concern within this breed, but it is slowly being bred out and is rare. They are sensitive to anaesthetics.