Arabian Greyhound: A Comprehensive Guide to the Sloughi Breed

The Sloughi is an ancient breed with a rich history, originating from North Africa. It's a sight hound, built for speed and agility.

This breed has been around for thousands of years, with evidence of its existence dating back to ancient Egypt and Rome. Its exact origins are unclear, but it's believed to have been used for hunting and companionship.

The Sloughi is a medium-sized dog, typically weighing between 35-50 pounds and standing between 23-28 inches tall at the shoulder. Its short, smooth coat requires minimal grooming.

Its athletic build and short coat make it well-suited for hot climates, where it was originally bred to hunt in the deserts of North Africa.

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The Sloughi's head is long and elegant, with a sturdy, wedge-shaped head that narrows from the cranial region to the nose.

Males stand between 26 to 29 inches at the withers, while females are 24 to 27 inches tall, with a usual weight range of 35 to 50 pounds.

A Sloughi's body should never appear rectangular, and its length is ideally 96% of its height, making them very slightly taller than they are long.

The Sloughi's tail is long and carried low, like many sighthounds, with an upward curve at the end, and its topline is essentially horizontal, blending into a gently sloping croup.

The Sloughi's head is long and elegant, with droopy ears, similar in appearance to a shorter, thicker-set Greyhound.

Their body and legs show a defined bone structure supporting strong, lean muscles.

The topline is essentially horizontal and blends into a gently sloping croup.

The tail is long and carried low, like many sighthounds, with an upward curve at the end.

Males stand between 26 to 29 inches at the withers, while females are 24 to 27 inches tall.

The usual weight range is from 35 to 50 pounds.

A Sloughi's body should never appear rectangular, nor should it be as upright as an Azawakh, nor as long in the back as many Salukis.

Their unique body proportions are a defining characteristic of the breed, and long Sloughis should not be rewarded.

The Sloughi dog's head is truly one of a kind, with a long and elegant, sturdy wedge shape that narrows from the cranial region to the nose.

This unique head shape is more substantial than many other sighthound breeds, giving the Sloughi a distinctive look.

The occiput, or the back of the head, should be apparent, but not as pronounced as that of the Afghan Hound.

This subtle detail adds to the Sloughi's overall charm and makes it a beautiful breed to behold.

The Sloughi's topline is essentially level, with a slight variation between the withers and the hip bones.

The highest point of the hip bones may be slightly higher than the withers, which should be apparent.

The Sloughi's topline is horizontal, blending into a gently sloping croup that gives the breed its distinctive silhouette.

A Sloughi's topline should be level between the withers and the hip bones, with a slight rise at the hip bones.

The overall effect is one of elegance and refinement, with the topline playing a key part in creating the breed's racy, sighthound appearance.

The Sloughi is a primitive hunting breed that bonds extremely closely with its owner or family from an early age.

They are unlikely to be exceedingly shy or aggressive, but improper socialization can lead to shyness or aggression towards other dogs.

A well-bred and well-socialized Sloughi is a stable, attentive, and exceedingly loving family member.

They can be wonderful with cats, small dogs, and other animals if introduced at an early age and learn that these other pets are not prey.

Their socialization must include not only new people, but new situations, environments, and other dogs to mature into well-adjusted adults.

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The Sloughi is a primitive hunting breed that bonds extremely closely with its owner or family from an early age. They are unlikely to be exceedingly shy or aggressive.

A well-bred and well-socialized Sloughi is a stable, attentive, and exceedingly loving family member. They have a noble and somewhat aloof attitude, which is rooted in their origins as hunters and guardians of Sahara nomads and bedouins.

The Sloughi is reserved with strangers and takes a while to warm up to new friends. They expect reserve from people they meet, and may not appreciate those who are too familiar.

Improperly socialized Sloughis can be shy and or aggressive towards other dogs. This highlights the importance of considering temperament in breeding decisions and providing puppies with appropriate socialization from an early age.

Sloughis that are accustomed to children are excellent with children. Children need to be taught to respect dogs and not to mistreat them.

They require ample daily exercise to meet their physical, emotional, and mental needs. This is not a breed that is well suited to apartment life without a planned regimen of daily exercise that includes galloping freely.

Their high prey drive makes them wonderful with cats, small dogs, and other animals if they are introduced at an early age and learn that these other pets are not prey.

The Sloughi's character is tender and intelligent, and they are sensitive to correction. They must be trained with methods that are also intelligent and sensitive.

The Sloughi's ground covering gaits are truly impressive, with long strides that cover plenty of ground. Their supple, smooth, and effortless gait is a hallmark of the breed.

A good Sloughi gait should be characterized by long strides, not short-strided or hackneyed gaits. Hackneyed action is actually considered a serious fault in the breed.

Weak pasterns and floppy pasterns are also incorrect, and can be a sign of a less-than-ideal gait.

The Arabian Greyhound requires regular exercise to maintain its physical and mental health.

This breed is built for speed and agility, so daily runs or playtime in open spaces are essential.

With proper care, an Arabian Greyhound can live up to 12-15 years.

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Maintaining a healthy body condition is crucial for your Sloughi's overall well-being. A Sloughi in good weight will have its hip bones apparent.

The skeletal structure of a Sloughi is sturdy, with a bony croup that's gently sloping. The three rearmost ribs should also be visible.

A Sloughi should never be soft in condition, and it should never appear padded. It should look and feel hard and fit in the ring.

The forechest of a Sloughi should be bony and angular, lacking "fill" and never appearing pigeon-breasted.

The Sloughi is a relatively healthy breed, but like all sighthounds, it's very sensitive to anesthesia. This means it's best to space out routine treatments like vaccinations and worming to avoid overwhelming it.

Certain genetic conditions can affect the Sloughi, including Addison's disease and irritable bowel syndrome. These conditions can be confirmed with genetic testing.

Progressive retinal atrophy is another condition that can affect the breed, but fortunately, a simple blood test is available to detect it. This is a big relief for Sloughi owners who want to catch the condition early.

The Sloughi tends to enjoy excellent health into old age, making it a great choice for owners who want a long and healthy relationship with their dog.

The Sloughi, also known as the Arabian Greyhound, has a rich history that spans thousands of years. It originated in the Maghreb region, which includes countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

The breed was developed by Berbers and Bedouins to hunt a variety of game, including rabbits, hares, and gazelles. Its ability to thrive in harsh desert environments is a testament to its adaptability.

The Sloughi's history is closely tied to its purpose as a coursing hound, capable of hunting over rocky terrain, scrub, and sandy desert. It's a proficient hunter with tremendous speed, stamina, agility, and strength.

The Sloughi dog has a rich history that spans thousands of years.

The exact origins of the breed are unknown, but artifacts suggest that smooth-coated, lop-eared sighthounds like the Sloughi have existed in North Africa for several thousand years.

The Sloughi hails from the Maghreb region, which includes Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, and a large portion of the Sahara Desert.

The breed was bred by both Berbers and Bedouins for hundreds of years, with Arab conquests of the Maghreb beginning in 647.

Historically, the Sloughi served many purposes, first and foremost as a coursing hound that could hunt a wide variety of game over varying topography.

In addition to hunting, the Sloughi also guarded the tents and livestock of its nomadic owners, and was occasionally used to herd sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels.

The Sloughi dog was originally developed to hunt a wide variety of game, including rabbit, hare, fox, jackal, hyenas, gazelle, deer, ostriches, and wild pigs.

It is a proficient hunter with tremendous speed, stamina, agility, and strength, hunting over a wide variety of harsh terrain, mostly by sight, but also using scent and sound.

The Sloughi was first introduced to the United States in 1973, yet the breed remains quite rare in this country nearly a half century later.

Today, large game is rare in its countries of origin, and in Morocco it is illegal to hunt any game with hounds.

Instead, the breed is used primarily on foxes, jackals, and wild pigs.

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Stock royalty-free images can be a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about the Arabian greyhound breed.

You can find unlimited high-resolution images of Arabian greyhound for commercial use.

The Sahara desert of Morocco is a popular location for photo shoots featuring Sloughi dogs.

The breed's beautiful and agile appearance is well-captured in images like the one of a Sloughi dog running in the sand dunes.

Two Sloughi dogs playing in the sand dunes in the Sahara desert of Morocco is a heartwarming image that showcases the breed's friendly nature.

The Atlantic ocean in Essaouira, Morocco is also a picturesque location for capturing Sloughi dogs in action, as seen in an image of two dogs running in the water.

A happy, brown Sloughi dog running in the sand dunes in the Sahara desert of Morocco is a joyful image that conveys the breed's energetic personality.

You can also find images of Sloughi dogs in more serene settings, such as sitting on the grass in summer or standing on rocks near the river.

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