Let's talk Sloughis
Tall, lean, elegant and very, very fast… another word often used to describe the ancient Sloughi breed is ‘noble’. Part of the sighthound group of dogs, Sloughis originated in North Africa where they were hunters and protectors for nomadic tribes of the Sahara. Their nobility, along with a certain independence, is offset by an equally inherent family-oriented devotion. Sloughis are affectionate with their humans, forming strong bonds. Once trained, the breed is known to be gentle with children, their regal reserve fitting in well with smaller people. Sloughis are rare so patience might be needed if you feel this might be the breed for you.
Official name: Sloughi
Other names: Arabian Greyhound, Berber Greyhound, Sloughi Mughrabi
Origins: North Africa
| Drooling tendencies |  |
Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| *Energy Level | Moderate | *Friendly pet? | |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
*Can stay alone? | |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behavior. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs).
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
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66 - 72 cm
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15 - 23 kg
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61 - 68 cm
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15 - 23 kg
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| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 months to 12 months |
| Adult age | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age | From 10 years |
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Get to know the Sloughi
All you need to know about the breed
Sleek and dignified, the Sloughi - pronounced “sloo-ghee”- is an ancient and highly rare breed of sighthound. They originate from North Africa, primarily from Morocco, but also Algeria and Tunisia where nomadic tribes trusted these masters of speed, able to run for miles on hot sand, to both hunt fast-moving gazelle and wild hares for them and keep them company in the still vastness of the Sahara.
A gorgeously doe-eyed, winsome dog, the Sloughi is tall with long legs and naturally lean with short, smooth hair. Reserved and gentle, they are wary around strangers and can take a while to warm up. On the other hand, Sloughis are completely dedicated to their humans, terrific with children once trained. Guard dogs? Not so much. Too sensitive.
An active dog that can run up to speeds of 42 mph (upwards of 67 kph) and keep it up for long periods of time, Sloughis need an athletic owner (runners welcome) as well as the space to get all that energy out. The trick is to be sure that your Sloughi, originally bred to hunt independently, doesn’t follow their prey drive. Early training and off-leash time in enclosed spaces can help. Once that is accomplished, Sloughis are more than content to snuggle up calmly at home.
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2 facts about Sloughis
1. Something in common
The Sloughi bears more than a slight resemblance to the Saluki breed. Both long-legged sighthounds accompanying nomadic tribes… while they are absolutely different breeds, their names are identical in Arabic (and Maghreb). It is in the English transliteration that the names of the two breeds were changed slightly. They most likely share ancestors as well.
2. Home on the range
At ease covering large swathes of desert at high speeds over a sustained amount of time, a Sloughi needs to be able to let off steam when exercising each day. It is for this reason the breed is not recommended for those with smaller urban apartments. They don’t need extreme amounts of exercise (between one and three hours daily), just room to really open up.
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History of the breed
Unchanged for centuries, the Sloughi was traditionally bred to hunt in the unforgiving Sahara desert by Berber and Bedouin tribes in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and parts of Libya. This is just their known history. Prehistoric rock paintings have been found in Algeria showing representations of African sighthound-like, slender, drop-eared dogs. Ancient Egyptian artefacts also show these types of dogs as well, the Sloughi’s ancestors illustrated as trusted members of the Pharaoh's family.
As with many breeds, the Sloughi breed population took a hit around the beginning of the 20th century. Political changes, a rabies epidemic… and worst of all, a French law passed during the French occupation forbidding hunting with sighthounds that led to Sloughis and other such dogs being killed when spotted.
Luckily, in the 1960s and 70s devoted breeders got involved and worked hard to build back up the Sloughi’s numbers. However, this is still an extremely rare breed. Breeders and devotees of this gentle, affectionate dog in North Africa, Europe and the US still conscientiously work to ensure their survival.
The Sloughi was accepted into the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1998 and received full recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) at the beginning of 2016, when they became eligible to compete in the AKC Hound Group.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Sloughis
1. Coat
Short-haired, smooth fine coat.
2. Head
Long elegant head with drop ears.
3. Body
Body and legs show defined bony structure and strong, lean muscles.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Sloughi
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Caring for your Sloughi
Grooming, training and exercise tips
With their short, smooth coats, Sloughi dogs are a relatively easy-care breed. Grooming just means a brush-through once a week to remove loose hairs and redistribute natural oils. Visits to the groomers can be on a need-to-go basis. Brush their teeth as often as possible (daily if you can), trim their nails to prevent cracking, and clean their eyes and ears to avoid infection. The Sloughi will need regular, even vigorous exercise on a daily basis. They don’t need hours of movement but they need a safe space to stretch their long limbs. Don’t forget that this was originally a hunting breed, so any off-leash runs – a mandatory for speedy sighthounds - need to be in an enclosed area. If your Sloughi catches a whiff of something interesting, a cat for example, they’ll be off in a heartbeat. As a timid, reserved dog, Sloughis need gentle commands and discipline during training. Their sensitive nature is never more evident than when their favourite human is telling them what to do. As with all breeds, socialising the Sloughi early in life is best so they can develop in the most optimum way.
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All about Sloughis
Sloughis are timid and reserved, for sure, especially around those they don’t know. Aloof? Yes, probably, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means they take time to warm up. As with humans, not all dogs have the same character. That keeps things interesting!
The Sloughi is known to be a gentle, affectionate breed that, once they feel secure, is completely devoted to their human families, children included (once trained, of course). Children need to be trained to treat dogs with respect as well. And no dog should be left unattended with children, especially small kids; a tall or strong dog could inadvertently knock over a child.
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Read more on this topic
How your dog's nutrition needs change with age
How to adopt a dog
Things to consider before getting a dog
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/