Sloughi

Breed Profile

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.

Health Issues

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 Borzoi is 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 And Your Saluki from the Saluki Club of America.
• Bloat — As with any deep-chested dog, the occurrence of Bloat or Gastric Torsion is a real possibility in the Borzoi. 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 Bloatfor 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 General Information page.)

Additional Health Resources:

• Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• ASLA Health
• Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
• AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
• Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
• Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
• HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
• Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.

Breed Standards

• AKC Breed Standard
• UKC Breed Standard
• The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard
• FCI Breed Standard No. 188

Grooming Information

• Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.

Training Resources

• Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.

Additional Information

• Lure Coursing
• Whippets and Other Sighthounds — A very informative website dedicated to Sighthounds explaining why a Sighthound thinks and acts differently from other breeds of dogs.
• Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
• Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.