The Sloughi, also known as the Ancient North African Sight Hound, is a breed that is native to the country of North Africa, more specifically to the regions of Libya, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These dogs are a type of hound and their original purpose was the hunting of desert fox, gazelles large and small, desert hare, hyena, ostrich, and jackal. Some say that the Sloughi is the only dog that will take on the jackal at all! Today, however, they are used primarily for the hunting of the fox and hare, as well protecting herds from the jackal. The Sloughi is an exceptionally treasured breed to the North African people for their amazing ability to hunt and capture their prey, and also for the protection that they offer for the herds. The term "sighthound" is completely accurate in the case of this breed. They have unbelievable eyesight and will instinctively give chase to anything that they see move from the time that they are young pups.
This breed is not yet eligible for registry with the American Kennel Club, but they are eligible for international registry with the F.C.I., as well as many other United States kennel clubs. They are accepted in the "Sighthounds, lop eared" category. While registry may hold little importance to the hunter or average family, it is important for the breeder or those who are interested in competing with the dogs. It will give the dog far greater value in these areas. Due to the fact that the A.K.C. has not yet accepted the Sloughi, it is still considered a rare breed in the U.S.A.
According to breed standards, the Sloughi should be between 24 to 30 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers, with males almost always being taller than females. They should be well-proportioned and muscled in appearance, but not look heavy in build. The ears are triangular, and held in the downward, flop position. The eyes are can be various shades of brown and look rather sad or pensive when the dog is at rest. Many Sloughis have black lining the eyes. The tail is thin and curved at the end.
The coat of the Sloughi is short in length and tight against the body. They were bred for life in the desert and therefore, should not be kept out in the cold for long. They will not like damp, chilly climates if they are expected to be outside in it. The accepted colors of the Sloughi are sand, red, fawn, brindle, and black, often with a mask on the face. They are light shedders and their grooming is fairly easy, but must be maintained regularly. They need a thorough brushing once a week or so with a stiff brush to ensure that there is no matting, nothing stuck in the fur, and to remove loose hairs. This will also keep the coat looking shiny and healthy.
The Sloughi is a breed that will need a moderate amount of exercise in order to burn off the energy that they have. A brisk walk or jog daily should do the trick and after that, the dog will usually be happy to lay down somewhere and relax a good deal of the day away. The high level of intelligence that the breed possesses means that they should have plenty of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom. If they do not have enough, they will be prone to wandering or destructiveness.
They become very attached to their families and are extremely loyal to their human owners, willing to protect the ones that they love at any cost. With the family that they love, the Sloughi is affectionate and gentle, able to get along well with children and other household pets. With new people, however, they are typically very reserved, even nervous, and can take quite a while to warm up to the newcomer. A Sloughi should be very well-socialized from the time that he or she is young in order to quell their natural fears and shyness. Even with proper socialization, they are often still leery of strangers. If a new person is entering the home, it is recommended that the Sloughi be allowed to approach them first, rather than the human trying to initiate contact.
Sloughi have very intelligent minds and they are quite curious. Training should be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are firm, stable, and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly, especially regarding the natural hunting instincts that they have, but also regarding their position and the expectations of them in the family. Do keep in mind that this is a rather sensitive breed and unless the dog is trying to become "alpha" over the human, a harsh hand or tone of voice is not recommended.