Sloughi: temperament, price, health, and breeders

The Sloughi has been bred for hundreds of years in North Africa, notably by Bedouins and nomadic tribes who made use of its abilities as a sight hunter. The breed has mainly been maintained in Morocco, the country holding the standard, even if it is also found in Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The Sloughi was definitively recognized by the FCI in 1934 and its official standard currently in force was published in 1998.

The Sloughi is a medium-sized sighthound with a lean, fine and harmonious silhouette, built for speed and endurance. Its elegant body has a fine bone structure, a long and arched neck, a short almost straight back, a chest reaching down to the elbows and a well tucked-up belly. Its head is elongated and wedge-shaped, with a slight stop, dark eyes full of gentleness, triangular drop ears and a fine tail carried curved at rest. Its coat is very short, close and extremely fine.

The Sloughi is a sensitive, well-balanced and rather reserved dog, which develops a deep attachment to its owner. It appreciates the calm of the home and willingly seeks the closeness of its family, while retaining a degree of independence typical of sighthounds. A sight hunter at heart, it can also show a certain protective vigilance, a trait relatively rare among sighthounds.

On a daily basis, the Sloughi needs space, freedom of movement and long regular outings to express its energy. It is more fulfilled in a house with a large, well-fenced garden than in a cramped home. Indoors, it likes comfort and knows how to settle down, but it remains an athletic dog that copes poorly with a sedentary lifestyle and boredom.

The Sloughi’s training must start early, especially recall, because its natural ability to cover ground can lead it to take off quickly on a visual track. It is a very sensitive dog that must never be handled roughly. Consistent, gentle and patient handling, combined with encouragement and rewards, gives better results than a harsh approach.

The Sloughi remains a relatively rare breed, which limits the supply and often requires patience to find a reputable breeder. The purchase price depends mainly on the quality of the breeding, the selection work, the availability of puppies, and compliance with the standard.

The Sloughi is a robust, enduring and resilient dog when it benefits from good care, an appropriate diet and a lifestyle consistent with its athletic nature. It does not present a large number of specific health problems, but certain sensitivities deserve real vigilance, notably for the eyes, anesthesia and the risk of gastric torsion.

The Sloughi needs a balanced and highly digestible diet, adapted to its age, its size and above all to its level of activity. As it is a sporty and lean dog, the quality of protein and energy intake matters more than a simply large ration.

The Sloughi is among the great historical sighthounds of North Africa. Morocco is the country holding its official standard, which highlights the close link between the breed and this region. Another notable characteristic, it can show more pronounced guarding abilities than many other sighthounds.