Sloughi
The sleek and agile Sloughi is a reserved and graceful hunting dog. They are loving and gentle with their people, but they seem reserved around people they don’t know. Although calm in their home, they are active in the wild and have a high prey drive.
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Sloughi Traits
General Appearance
This graceful breed is a medium-large dog with a short, smooth coat and a muscular body built for speed and hunting.
Coat and Coloring
The smooth Sloughi coat consists of short, fine hair that’s any shade of light sand to mahogany red fawn. They may have brindle and black markings (like a black mask or black mantle), but the breed standard doesn’t include any large white markings.
Distinctive Physical Traits
The Sloughi is known for its agile and streamlined, muscular physique, built for endurance over long distances. They are sleek and robust while retaining an elegance that’s unique to the breed.
Sloughi Temperament
The primitive Sloughi is a hunting dog that bonds loyally to its people. They are an attentive and loving breed, although they can be wary of strangers.
They have a strong prey drive, so they always need to be leashed or in a secure area when outside. This dignified breed makes an excellent companion pet, as long as they are properly trained and socialized early.
The Sloughi can be great with kids, as long as the kids aren’t overly rambunctious.
Sloughi History
Not much is known about the exact origins of the Sloughi, but experts do know that hounds similar to the Sloughi acted as hunting companions of nobility from Egyptian nobles to nomadic chieftains.
Eventually, Berbers and Bedouin tribes bred the sighthound in North Africa, likely for their ability to handle the vast terrain with ease while hunting.
The first Sloughi arrived in the United States in 1973, followed quickly by two additional Sloughi imported from Germany in 1979.
From there, the Sloughi has grown in the United States, as fans began to take note of their excellent companionship and great hunt skills.
Sloughi Care
Nutrition
Your Sloughi will do well with any age appropriate, high-quality dog food that’s suited to their particular lifestage and any additional health concerns.
As with any dog, it’s important to monitor the amount of food and treats that you give your Sloughi, especially since some dogs are prone to gaining weight as they age. Your veterinarian is always a good source to help provide you with appropriate nutrition and feeding guidelines.
Grooming
The Sloughi has a short and fine coat that’s easy to care for. Brushing it once a week with a brush or hound glove will help keep it healthy and shiny.
All dogs require regular dental care, including at-home teeth brushing and professional dental cleanings, and Sloughi is no exception. Maintaining good dental hygiene is important for their overall long-term health.
Exercise
The Sloughi can be relaxed and calm while in the home, but as an active hunting breed, they require a lot of daily exercise to remain happy and healthy.
They are fast runners and enjoy running in enclosed areas. They also excel at dog sports like lure coursing.
Training
The Sloughi can, at times, be shy, and they respond best to positive, reward-based training.
Although they can be aloof and independent, the breed is also very intelligent. It can be trained, and early and proper training and socialization is important, especially when introducing Sloughi puppies to new people and scenarios.
Sloughi Genetic Health Conditions
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Rod-Cone Dysplasia 1a
Rod-Cone Dysplasia (rcd1a) is an eye disorder affecting the development of retinal photoreceptors at the back of the eye, resulting in vision loss.
Knowing if your Sloughi is a carrier or at-risk for these conditions can help you and your veterinarian plan for your pup’s lifelong care. With Wisdom Panel™ Premium, you can get results for over 200 genetic health tests.
Breed Group
Middle Eastern and African
While this ancient group shares many of the characteristics of the Hound Group, their origins, as the name would suggest, are concentrated in Africa and the Middle East unlike the hound group that has no true geographic center.
