Sloughi

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.

Ideal Sloughi owners will already have some sighthound experience, and be ready for the endless ‘but are you sure it’s not a Saluki/Greyhound/Lurcher’ questions as well. This is one of the rarer sighthounds and is more closely related to the Azawakh than the Saluki. Their needs however are similar, a patient and relaxed human with realistic expectations of obedience levels and training, a very secure garden and access to secure places to run, and lots of comfy places to curl up and sleep. Great for rural owners who like unusual hounds, and are either child-free or have sensible older children.

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.

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.

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 and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.

The Sloughi is a clean, manageable dog that does not like to be dirty in any way, and they will wash themselves cat-fashion if their coat becomes soiled. These shorthaired coats can be groomed using a rubber-grooming mitt. As with many fine coated sighthounds, skin can tear easily, so a quick daily groom to check legs and body for cuts and grazes is sensible. Check out our easy dog grooming tips.

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.

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.