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SLOUGHI — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Training / Additional Information
Breed Description
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| Breed Registries: |
- Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Not recognized
- American Kennel Club (AKC) - Accepted for recording under the AKC's Foundation Stock Service (FSS) Program
- United Kennel Club (UKC) - Sighthounds and Pariah Dogs
- The Kennel Club [U.K.] (KC) - Hounds
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) * - No. 188
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees. |
| Origin: |
Morocco |
| Height: |
Males: 26 to 29 inches (66-72 cm)
Females: 24 to 27 inches (61-68 cm) |
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The Sloughi is an ancient North African Sighthound with its country of origin being Morocco. The breed is also known as the Arabian Sighthound and countries of origin include Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The breed was brought to Maghreb by nomadic Arabs who used the dogs to hunt gazelles, rabbits, foxes, jackals, and wild pigs. Like all Sighthounds, the Sloughi has a keen eyesight, speed and stamina allowing him to chase down his prey in open spaces. He is a graceful and noble breed, an excellent long-distance runner with great endurance.
The well socialized Sloughi is affectionate, extremely devoted and loyal to his family, gentle and playful. He is cautious with strangers and makes an excellent watchdog. The breed is also known to be intelligent, sensitive, curious and independent. They generally get along well with children and other pets. However, socialization with other pets, such as cats, is very important as the Sloughi can mistake the pet for prey. This is an active breed that requires a daily run but with regular exercise and proper integration into the family, the Sloughi makes a wonderful companion.
In appearance, the Sloughi is a typical oriental sighthound, though lacking the coat of the Afghan and the feathering of the Saluki, he has the noble head with hanging ears and a long neck. He is a medium-sized Sighthound, long-legged, with a defined bony structure and lean muscles.
The Sloughis' coat is very fine, tight and short and comes in either sand, light sand, fawn, sand with black overlay, or brindle. He may also have a black mask with or without a black mantle. His coat is an example of natural adaptation with the colours being a camouflage typical of gazelles and other desert animals. The brindle coloured dogs generally come from the mountain areas also providing a natural camouflage for hunting in their native country.
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Health Concerns:
According to the ASLA, until recently, the Sloughi had no known genetic disorders. However, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) has now been found in Sloughis in Europe and in the United States. In addition, other health consideration, though not necessarily of a hereditary nature can be of concern, including:
- Anesthetics — Like all members of the Sighthound family, the Sloughi may be sensitive to a number of anesthetics. It is very important to discuss this with your Veterinarian in advance of any required surgery. For additional information, see: Anesthesia in Sighthounds from the Saluki Club of America, as well as A Safe Method of Sighthound Anesthesia by Rodger I. Barr, DVM.
- Bloat — As with many large breeds and any deep-chested dog, the occurrence of Bloat or Gastric Torsion is a real possibility in the Sloughi. If you are not familiar with this condition, it is absolutely necessary to learn about it and know the symptoms — This is a real emergency and a life threatening condition that requires immediate Veterinary attention. See Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) — Bloat in the Health and Nutrition section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for more information and First Aid for Bloat for an article describing some of the things you can do if you are faced with this situation.
If you are considering the adoption of a Sloughi puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Training Resources:
- Training — For information on training your Sloughi, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Lure Coursing Information
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — Information on the various sports and activities you can get involved in with your Sloughi as well as a listing of non-breed specific clubs. (For Breed Clubs in Canada and around the World, Click here or select from the links at the top or bottom of this page.)
- Working Dogs — A section dedicated to the working dog. See information about some of the jobs your Saluki can do, including information on Therapy Dogs, Guide Dogs, Search and Resuce, Police K9s and much more.
- Whippets and Other Sighthounds — A very informative website dedicated to Sighthounds explaining why a Sighthound thinks and acts differently from other breeds of dogs.
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Note: We are always in need of articles for the individual breed sections.
Submissions are welcome and encouraged. Please feel free to e-mail us.
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