Sloughi hunde

History

The Sloughi dates back to the 13th century and is believed to have originated in the Maghreb region of the northern Sahara. It was bred as a sighthound and was only owned by kings and the super rich. Used as a hunting dog with a super fast running ability and also as a guard dog as it was able to spot intruders from miles away. It's make up is genetically different from Salukis, even though many believe them to be related.

Behaviour

Sloughis are gentle, affectionate and happy to spend time lazing around with their family. They are good with children and other dogs/cats if raised with them and really like to spend as much time around their owners as possible. 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 and those they don't know well, but rarely aggressive. They will sit quietly and observe from a distance. They have excellent eye sight and will give a warning bark when something attracts their attention.

Not the most obedient of breeds, the Sloughi needs kind, consistent training from a young age. Their sighthound background means recall can be a challenge and they should be walked in a safe area away from traffic. Their speed is impressive and if they spot something, they will race off and you stand no chance of catching up with them! The good news is that they like to keep you in their sight and will rarely wander off. Experience of other hound breeds will help with training and plenty of patience; they are stubborn and can be lazy when it comes to training. However, their affection and loyalty is first class and they make a wonderful dog to have around the house.

Sloughis need plenty of exercise and the chance to run, this is what they enjoy most. They have immense stamina and make good jogging partners. A long daily walk and run is vital to keep them physically fit and mentally stimulated. Once they have had a long walk, they will happily sleep for the rest of the day, providing they have a soft comfortable bed to sleep in. They dislike hard floors and will end up on your sofa or bed if theirs isn't comfortable enough! A quiet spot with plenty of bedding, but within sight of the rest of the family is ideal.

Their thin coat requires the occasional brush to remove dead hair, but they rarely need a bath. 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.

The only real health concern is Progressive Retinal Atrophy which is slowly being bred out of the breed. Like many sighthounds, they are sensitive to anaesthetics.