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- From: Fritzsch@Creighton.edu (Bernd Fritzsch)
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- =======
- There are many FAQ's available for this group. For a complete
- listing of these, get the "Complete List of RPD FAQs". This article
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- This article is Copyright 1997 by the Author(s) listed below.
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- than the URL listed above without the permission of the Author(s).
- This article may not be sold for profit nor incorporated in other
- documents without he Author(s)'s permission and is provided "as is"
- without express or implied warranty.
- ==========
-
-
- The Sloughi
- Ancient North African Sighthound
-
- Author
-
- Dominique Crapon de Caprona, Ph.D., Shi'Rayan Sloughis. For further
- information contact Fritzsch@Creighton.edu
-
- Copyright 1996 by Dominique Crapon de Caprona, Ph.D.
-
- Revisions:
- * May 1997: article with further comparisons between sighthound
- breeds added.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Table of Contents
-
- * Frequently Asked Questions
- * Origins and History
- * General Appearance
- * Temperament
- * The Sloughi is often confused with other smooth Sighthounds
- * References
- * Resources
-
- Frequently Asked Questions
-
- _What kind of dog is a Sloughi?_
-
- The Sloughi belongs to the FCI Group 10 of Sighthounds (which also
- includes the Afghan, Azawakh, Borzoi, Chart Polski, Galgo Espanol,
- Greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Italian Greyhound, Magyar Agar, Saluki,
- Scottish Deerhound, and Whippet). More precisely it belongs to the
- "sub-population" of lop-eared Sighthounds (together with the
- Afghan, Azawakh, Saluki).
-
- Although it has been recognized since 1935 internationally by the
- FCI, and is recognized in the USA by most Kennel Clubs, the AKC is
- the only club that has not yet done so and the Sloughi is therefore
- considered to be a "rare breed" in the USA.
-
- True Sighthounds, Sloughis have excellent vision: they chase on
- sight anything that moves, however far away. Puppies are already
- interested by moving objects, even if it is a leaf in the wind. A
- long distance runner with strong stamina, the Sloughi is a
- tremendous hunter in open spaces. Although the breed hunts mainly
- by sight, it also relies on scent to do so.
-
- _Where does the Sloughi come from? What were they originally used for?_
-
- The Sloughi comes from North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and
- Libya. It is the hound of the Berber and Bedouin. In older times
- Sloughis were used to hunt fennec (desert fox), desert hare,
- gazelle, large mountain gazelle, ostrich, hyena, and jackal.
-
- Today, it is mainly used to hunt desert fox and hare, rarely
- gazelle, and to protect herds from jackals. In Tunisia, it is said
- that only Sloughis, and crossbreeds that have Sloughi blood, will
- tackle the jackal.
-
- Like the Saluki, Afghan hound and Azawakh in their respective
- societies, the Sloughi is highly treasured by its North African
- owner.
-
- _How are Sloughis with people, children and other pets?_
-
- Sloughis are alert watch dogs. With people they do not know,
- Sloughis are usually aloof and cautious. They take time to warm up
- to strangers allowed to enter the house, and it is best to let the
- Sloughi approach the stranger at its own pace, after it had time to
- observe this person, rather than to force an acquaintance on
- him/her. Bedouins treasure this attitude and have bred their dogs
- accordingly. Just as Sloughis are protective of their household, so
- are often bitches with their whelps. It is best to present puppies
- to their potential new owner in absence of their dam.
-
- Sloughis which have been raised in kennel situations, with little
- socializing, are typically very shy, nervous, freeze when
- confronted with new situations, and may snap because they are
- scared. However they can be made to adjust, one step at a time, and
- with a lot of patience. Well socialized Sloughis can also be scared
- occasionally, the difference being that they adjust much more
- quickly to the new situation than non-socialized ones, and that
- they often rely on their trust to their owner to do so.
-
- With its owner, the Sloughi is gentle, affectionate, subtle and
- very loyal. Some Sloughis do not change owners with ease, having
- developed for once and for all a bond with one particular person.
- Such bonds exist also between Sloughis. Sloughis get along well
- with children taught to respect them, and with other pets (dogs,
- cats, parrots).
-
- Precautions are as follows: do not leave a Sloughi (or any other
- dog) with young children for long period of time unattended,
- children can abuse Sloughis without realizing it, and the dog might
- want at some point to defend itself. A Sloughi which is raised with
- cats will be great in the house with them, but may mistake them for
- game outside, particularly if the cat runs away; some cats attack
- dogs, and can inflict damage to their eyes and face with their
- claws. Similar precautions apply to Sloughis and parrots (the beak
- of large parrots can turn into a dangerous weapon).
-
- Sloughis are intelligent, and have a great need of freedom. They
- can however be well trained if disciplined fairly, consistently and
- gently, as they are sensitive to anger. Dominant animals need a
- firm hand.
-
- _How much exercise does a Sloughi need? Are they sensitive to cold?_
-
- A Sloughi, particularly young dogs, needs a daily run. They are
- good jogging partners. Once a Sloughi has had its exercise, it
- spends most of its time resting in the most comfortable spot,
- observing the household from a distance.
-
- Regular exercise and being an integrated part of the family are
- prerequisites for a well adjusted Sloughi. Sloughis are intelligent
- and curious. They love to travel and be taken to different places
- with their owner. It is not a good idea to leave a Sloughi to its
- own devices in the yard. A bored Sloughi will typically look for
- its own entertainment, not necessarily close to the house.
-
- The Sloughi is a hound of the desert. It is unhappy in wet and cold
- surroundings. Although the breed develops a denser coat in winter,
- this is not a breed one should leave outside for extended periods
- of time in cold weather. Sloughis usually enjoy a quick race in the
- snow, before coming back inside to warm up. They love to doze in
- front of the fire-place, or snuggle under the bed blankets.
-
- _Should one crate Sloughis?_
-
- Sloughis typically need a lot of space around them. They tense up
- when in a crate for extended periods of time, and do not like it.
- Crates should be used only when house-training, for short periods
- of time for the dog's own protection, or when traveling. Although
- the theory is that a crate mimics a den, no canid stays locked up
- in its den for hours, and there is no reason why a dog should put
- up with endless hours of crating. Most people who have Sloughis
- crate them only when traveling by plane. Some owners use crates to
- give a Sloughi his own private place to relax, but the door remains
- open most of the time, and the dog can go in and out as he pleases.
- If the Sloughi has to be crated, the crate should be as large as
- possible and padded with a mattress or blanket for the Sloughi to
- lie on.
-
- At shows or coursing events, the best is to keep Sloughis in large
- secure play-pens or on leash. The Sloughi is a watch dog, and even
- the gentlest of Sloughis may become territorial in its play pen and
- defend the area in which he is being kept (play-pen or car). As a
- precaution, always wait for the owner to be there before
- approaching, on your own or with your kids.
-
- _Are there any special medical problems in the breed? _
-
- There are today no genetic diseases that are widespread in the
- breed, mainly because breeders in Europe cultivated a large gene
- pool.
-
- Genetic deficiencies such as deficient immune system, balance
- problems, and hemophilia, occur in inbred lines.
-
- Isolated cases of myocitic condition (atrophy of the jaw muscles)
- have been reported. Older animals commonly become arthritic. Cancer
- may affect some individuals. No case of torsion, or hip dysplasia,
- is known to the author.
-
- Like other Sighthounds, the Sloughi is sensitive to anesthetics.
-
- Under proper conditions the life span of a Sloughi is 12-16 years.
-
- Although small injuries can make them scream, Sloughis are often
- extremely stoic to more serious pain and do not moan or complain
- unless it becomes excruciating. As a result it is sometimes
- difficult to realize in time that they are seriously ill or
- suffering, and to determine the cause.
-
- A well socialized Sloughi, with a calm and confident owner, is not
- a problem for a Veterinarian to treat.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Origins and History
-
- The exact origins of the Sloughi date too far back to be completely
- known and remain speculative. Representations of African
- Sighthound-like dogs date back to the 8th-7th millennium BC, and
- Ancient Egypt's artifacts tell us how valuable straight-eared and
- lop-eared smooth Sighthounds were in those days. The lop-eared smooth
- Egyptian Sighthound originated possibly from Asia but was also part of
- tributes to the Pharaohs from Nubia (South of Egypt). This ancient
- hound resembles today's Sloughi, Azawakh, smooth Saluki, and smooth
- Afghan, and it is impossible without any genetic study to know whether
- it was identical with any of these breeds or a breed of its own, or
- whether it was the ancestor of all lop-eared Sighthound breeds.
-
- In its countries of origin (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya), the
- Sloughi is the only dog treated as family and allowed into the tent.
- For the Arab it is a noble animal compared to the other impure local
- dogs or "kelb". This is illustrated by such expressions as "Aada machi
- Kelb; aada Sloughi" or "this is not a dog, this is a Sloughi". In
- these countries, the Sloughi is the only canine bred and selected with
- the same care as an Arabian horse. A Bedouin would go without his own
- blanket to provide his Sloughi with warmth in the cold desert nights.
- Puppies were often breast fed by Bedouin women to help nursing
- bitches. A lost Sloughi was mourned like family. Sloughis were often
- decorated with jewelry and amulets. Their legs are sometimes ritually
- branded by their owner, and the ears are cropped up to prevent them
- from being torn to pieces when hunting jackals.
-
- Political upheavals disrupted highly sophisticated breeding by leading
- families. Because of a law introduced during French occupation which
- prohibited hunting with sighthounds and resulted in the shooting of
- these dogs on sight, and epidemic rabies, the Sloughi population was
- decimated. In spite of efforts in Europe and North Africa, the Sloughi
- is still not very common and its breeders have an important
- responsibility in the conservation of this ancient breed.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- General Appearance
-
- The Sloughi is smooth, lop-eared, tall, leggy and racy, has a noble,
- somewhat melancholic, gentle and sad expression.
-
- Structure
-
- The Sloughi is squarish, somewhat higher than long. The top-line
- descends along the neck and straightens along the back. The withers
- are hardly visible and the top-line is almost straight from the base
- of the neck. There is a slight curve over the loin. The croup is bony,
- the brisket is deep but does not reach the elbow. The underline is
- first straight (long sternum) then rising sharply to a well tucked up
- loin. The ribs are flat then slightly rounded to the back, for this
- reason the Sloughi, seen from the front, is more narrow than
- round-ribbed breeds. The musculature is very lean and dry. Sloughis in
- perfect condition have flat, long and tight muscles, one can see their
- hip-bones and their spine-bones in the loin region, as well as the
- last free-floating ribs.
-
- Shoulders are long and oblique, forearms bony and muscular, wrists
- supple and strong. Thighs are flat and muscular, seconds thighs long
- and well muscled, hock strong and well bent, pastern strong without
- dew claws. Angulation in front and rear is moderate, feet are oval and
- webbed between the toes. In many lightly built Sloughis the feet have
- the shape of a hare-foot. Nails are black or pigmented.
-
- The tail is in line with the croup, curved at the end and held low, it
- should be thin and long enough to reach the hock.
-
- The "desert type" Sloughis are more lightly built than "mountain type"
- Sloughis. Dogs, larger than bitches, usually look more strongly built
- and powerful than Salukis and Azawakhs, particularly the "mountain
- type" dogs. Bitches should be feminine, graceful and more refined than
- the dogs.
-
- Size
-
- Dogs 25 to 29 inches (66 to 72 cm) at the withers, 30 inches (75 cm)
- common in "mountain type" dogs.
-
- Bitches 24 to 27 inches (61 to 68 cm)
-
- Ideally, for a male of 28 inches (70 cm), the length of the body
- should be 26-27 inches (67-68 cm). For a bitch of 26 inches (65 cm)
- the length of the body should be 24-25 inches (62-63 cm)
-
- Coat
-
- The coat is very short, dense and soft, the skin is fine and tight
-
- The coat colors of the Sloughi blend with the North African
- environment: in the desert mainly the color of sand, often with a
- black mask, in rocky or mountainous grassy areas, black mantel or
- often brindle, an advantage to approach prey undetected. Other coat
- colors are all shades from sand to red/fawn with or without black
- markings (black mask, black ears, brindle, black mantel, dark
- overlay). Red fawn with or without mask, and brindle on red with black
- mantel (the darkest coat) are few. Black brindle and red-brindle are
- rare. A small white patch on the chest and few white hairs at the tips
- of the toes are tolerated.
-
- Head
-
- The head in profile is long, refined, but rather strong compared to
- other Sighthounds. Seen from above it forms an elongated triangle from
- the broad skull to the tip of the nose. The stop and brows are barely
- pronounced, the muzzle roughly as long as the skull.
-
- The ears are triangular, moderate in size, and rounded at the tip.
- They hang flat on each side. They can fold in action or when the dog
- is nervous.
-
- The eyes are amber (topaz) to dark brown, often lined with black, and
- give the dog an often melancholy, sad and distant look. They are
- well-set in their sockets, in some cases not totally open as a result
- of slightly oblique eye-lids.
-
- The teeth should be strong and white, none should be missing, with a
- scissors or level bite. Some Sloughis have additional pre-molars 1.
-
- Movement
-
- Trot: the Sloughi has an effortless and floating gait. There is no
- exaggeration in extension, the front paw does not reach beyond the tip
- of the nose. There is no exaggeration in drive, as a result of the
- moderate rear angulation. The head is held at a moderate angle to the
- body.
-
- Gallop: Double suspension. Because of its squarish structure and more
- level top-line the Sloughi does not flex its back as much as the
- Greyhound.
-
- Faults
-
- Light eyes (light amber); heavy head and body; stop too pronounced;
- bad proportions; bad topline; rounded ribs; not enough tuck; croup too
- oblique, insufficient or too narrow; tail too short, too furnished or
- badly carried; coat hard and coarse.
-
- Disqualifications
-
- Ears erect, or with tips drooping forward, ears too long, rose ear.
-
- Coat half long, feathering on legs or tail
-
- Extensive white markings, white socks, color not in accordance with
- the standard.
-
- Overshot or undershot.
-
- Males should have 2 apparently normal testicles fully descended into
- the scrotum
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Temperament
-
- Sloughis are fast and highly efficient hunters. True Sighthounds, they
- have excellent vision: they chase on sight anything that moves,
- however far away. The Sloughi is always on the alert for moving
- objects. Most of the play among Sloughis consists in chasing each
- other. On a walk with a Sloughi off leash, the owner has to learn to
- locate a possible chase object before his dog does, in order to call
- him back in time to prevent the chase (for example when the
- "interesting" object is across a road and cars are driving by).
-
- A well socialized Sloughi is affectionate, gentle, subtle and very
- loyal to its owner. Sloughis, which have bonded to a particular
- person, do not change ownership easily. With people they do not know,
- Sloughis are aloof and cautious, they usually do not like to be
- touched by strangers unless they have been introduced, gently, by
- their owner. Sloughis are intelligent, curious, and independent. They
- can be well trained if disciplined fairly and gently, as they are
- sensitive to anger. However do not expect from a Sloughi to take to
- training as a Golden Retriever or Border Collie would. Sloughis are
- reliable and alert watch dogs.
-
- They like children brought up to respect animals, and harmonize well
- with other pets, such as cats, other dogs, and parrots, when raised
- with them. They are sometimes edgy around small dogs which scurry and
- bark a lot. Because Sloughis are tall, they may inadvertently be too
- strong when playing or running around with very small dogs. Sloughis
- develop friendships with cats, however caution is necessary when cat
- and dog are outside. Sometimes a Sloughi will mistake its friend for
- game, particularly if the cat runs away: this behavior invariably
- triggers a chase.
-
- Sloughis have retained all their basic instincts. Parents of a litter
- often both defend it, as do unrelated adults. Mothers nurture their
- puppies well, bringing food to them when they stop producing milk.
- Sloughis living together establish hierarchies stabilized by subtle
- behavioral rituals. Intentions and moods are displayed by a large
- variety of subtle postures, expressions and sounds. Sloughis dig dens
- when they nurture puppies, to cool off in hot weather, or just for
- fun. They are very good jumpers.
-
- Sloughis are tough, and even when they suffer intense pain, they
- hardly show it. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to realize
- in time that a Sloughi is ill and in pain, and to determine the
- reason. They can however be very vocal after small injuries. A well
- socialized Sloughi who bonded to a calm and confident owner is not a
- problem for a veterinarian to treat, even when the treatment is not
- very pleasant. It seems to understand that it is being helped.
-
- Because of its short coat, the Sloughi is very clean, it has no
- "doggy" odor except when wet. It just loves warmth and comfort, and
- needs protection from wet and cold. Daily exercise is necessary to its
- well being.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- The Sloughi is often confused with other smooth Sighthounds
-
- _What are the differences between the Sloughi and the Greyhound?_
-
- Compared to the Greyhound, the Sloughi is built more on a square
- than a rectangle, it has more tuck, the forehead is larger, the
- ears are longer and drop on each side of the head, instead of being
- folded and pushed back as in the Greyhound. The coat colors of the
- Greyhound vary more than those of the Sloughi, with large
- quantities of white absent in the Sloughi. In well exercised
- individuals, the Greyhound looks much more muscular, the Sloughi
- leaner. Seen from above, the Greyhound is much wider than the
- Sloughi. The Sloughi is slower, averaging 28-31 miles/hour, but has
- more stamina. The racing style of the Sloughi looks more "pulled
- together" as a result of its squarish structure, the Sloughi does
- not flex its back as much as the Greyhound.
-
- _What are the difference between the Sloughi, the Saluki and the
- Azawakh?_
-
- _Geographical origin:_
- The Sloughi originates from North Africa (Morocco, Algeria,
- Tunisia, Lybia), the Azawakh from Central Africa (Mali,Cha, Niger
- Burkina-Faso), The Saluki from outside and East of Africa (Saudi
- Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey), the Afghan Hound from Afghanistan. The
- indigenous Salukis of Iran /Irak and the indigenous Tazis of
- Afghanistan as these 3 countries have common borders.
-
- _Genetic differences:_
- Inherited differences between these 4 breeds are at different
- levels
-
- 1) blood proteins
- According to the comparative studies of K.Bruchmⁿller on the blood
- proteins of various Sighthounds and other dogs, these 4 breeds have
- distinct genetic profiles. More specifically, the Sloughi and the
- Azawakh, both African Sighthounds, are the only Sighthound breeds
- to date in which an additional allele B was found on the
- Glucose-Phosphate-Isomerase (GPI) locus. This allele had been found
- otherwise in the fox, the jackal, the coyote, an Italian wolf
- population and a few dog breeds (German Shepherd, poodles, Epagneul
- papillon).
-
- The Saluki and the Afghan hound were the only Sighthound breeds
- with a third allele C on the Esterases (ES) locus, and the
- Greyhound was the only breed with only allele A, the remaining
- breeds having alleles A & B on that locus. Further, the Afghan
- hound and the Borzoi have an additional allele B on the Tetrazoli
- umoxidase (TO) locus, not seen in the Saluki. The Saluki, the
- Afghan hound and the Borzoi have an additional allele B on the
- Glucose-6-Phosphat-Dehydrogenase (G6pd) locus, whereas the Azawakh,
- Greyhound and Sloughi have only the allele A on that locus. The
- Afghan hound is the only Sighthound examined in this study in which
- only one allele B (no allele A) was found on the Postalbumin 1(Pa1)
- locus. The Greyhound and the Borzoi are the only Sighthounds in
- this study with a third allele C on the Leuciaminopeptidase (Lap)
- locus.
-
- The blood proteins of the Sloughi and Azawakh are almost identical
- whereas each other breed shows a difference on at least one locus.
- In spite of these differences, the Afghan, Azawakh, Borzoi,
- Greyhound, Saluki and Sloughi all have one thing in common: All
- show alleles A & B on the Postalbumine 3 (Pa3) locus.
-
- 2) coat texture
- Sloughis and Azawakhs are always smooth, Salukis are either smooth
- or feathered, Afghan hounds are long-haired. However, there is a
- variety of smooth Afdghans, not yet recognized by the FCI. Such
- smooths Afghan hounds offered to the French President George
- Pompidou by the king of Afghanistan. Siblings with both kind of
- coats can be found in the Saluki and the Afghan hound, not in the
- Sloughi and the Azawakh. The fact that long-coated show Afghans
- once in a while throw smooth puppies is a reminder that the breed
- still carries that characteristic in its genes.
-
- 3) coat color
- These 4 breeds have been bred in distinct coloration patterns (for
- the sake of consistency I refer here to the FCI standards for these
- 4 breeds): The Sloughi is always solid with no extensive white
- markings (a white patch on the chest and few white hair at the tip
- of the toes are overlooked). There are no parti-colored Sloughis,
- i.e no extensive "irish" or "piebald". Colors are all shades of
- light sand to red with or without black mask, black ears, brindle,
- dark overlay and black mantel. The typical colors are
- sand/brindle/black mask or sand black mask. The Saluki is found in
- any color except brindle, the black mask is very rare and not found
- on sand (creme) coats. The Saluki can be parti-colored or white or
- grizzle. Although the brindle is not allowed in the standard of the
- Saluki, some tazis found in Turkey, Iran and Irak are brindle. The
- Azawakh is red or sand, with black mask, dark overlay or brindle.
- It has extensive white markings such as white socks, white blaze,
- white tip of tail, extensive white throat patch. In Africa other
- colors are found which are not recognized by the FCI standard for
- the breed such as parti color and black & white. The Afghan hound
- can be found in all coat colors, with black mask, brindle, black
- ears, black mantel, and grizzle (domino).
-
- 4) structure
- Although there is a certain degree of variation within each breed
- with some overlap in the looks of some individuals of each breed,
- the body proportions, topline, underline and angulations of these
- breeds are different.
-
- The Azawakh is built on a standing rectangle. The top-line descends
- along the neck, at an angle over the withers, and straightens along
- the back. The hips are slightly higher than, or level with, the
- withers, the croup is bony, the brisket does not reach the elbow,
- the underline is first falling then rising sharply.
-
- The Sloughi is squarish, slightly higher than long. The top-line
- descends along the neck and straightens along the back. The withers
- are hardly visible and the topline is almost straight from the base
- of the neck. There is a slight curve over the loin. The croup is
- bony, the brisket does not reach the elbow, the underline is first
- straight (long sternum) then rising sharply.
-
- The Saluki is squarish to slightly rectangular. The top-line
- descends along the neck, at an angle over the withers, and
- straightens along the back. The croup is bony but often more
- rounded than in the previous 2 breeds. The brisket usually reaches
- the elbow, the underline rising evenly from the elbow.
-
- The long coated Afghan hound is difficult to assess, because of the
- long coat which hides many features of the body structure. In more
- general terms, the Afghan hound is squarish to slighthly
- rectangular with a topline descending along the neck, at an angle
- over the withers and straightening along the back. The croup is
- bony. In smooths, and in dogs with a somewhat longer coat, the few
- pictures available show a brisket which reaches the elbow, the
- underline rising evenly from the elbow.
-
- Salukis and Afghan hounds are usually more angulated in the rear
- than Sloughis, which are more angulated than the Azawakh. Salukis
- and Afghan hounds usually have larger ears than Azawakhs which
- usually have larger ears than Sloughis. Sloughis, particularly the
- males, have larger and stronger heads than Salukis and Azawakhs.
- Sloughis are usually bigger and look more powerful than either
- Salukis and Azawakhs. Sloughis and Azawakhs are more leggy and
- usually have more tuck than Salukis and Afghan hounds.
-
- All 4 breeds have a very noble and impressive bearing. The
- expression of the Sloughi is gentle and melancholy, almost sad. The
- expression of the Azawakh's almond-shaped eyes is intense and
- somewhat feral, the expression of the Saluki is thoughtful and
- alert, the expression of the Afghan hound is alert, dignified and
- sometimes haughty.
-
- 5) natural gait The Azawakh has a flashy and springy gait, head and
- tail held high. There is no exageration in extension. As a result
- of its "standing rectangle" structure, the racing style of the
- Azawakh is an upright gallop.
-
- The Sloughi has a smooth, floating, effortless gait, tail held low,
- head at a moderate angle to the body. There is no exageration in
- extension, the front paw not reaching beyond the tip of the nose.
- This type of gait enables an animal to cover large distances
- without tiring. The racing style resembles more that of the
- greyhound, but looks more pulled together as a result of the
- squarish structure of the Sloughi versus the "lying rectangle"
- structure of the Greyhound. Because of its straighter topline, the
- Sloughi does not flex its back as much as the Greyhound.
-
- The Saluki has a light and effortless gait, in which the degree of
- reach and drive varies between the extreme extension, front paws
- reaching beyond the tip of the nose, of some modern show dogs, and
- the more moderate gait of the so-called "old fashioned" or "desert
- breds", which resembles more that of the Sloughi. Like in the
- Sloughi the tail is held low and the head is at a normal angle to
- the body.
-
- The Afghan hound has a stylish, smooth and springy gait. Like in
- the Azawakh the head and tail are held high. Like in the Saluki,
- some modern show Afghans have a longer striding trot than dogs
- imported from their country of origin. The racing style is
- difficult to analyse and compare as it is hampered by the heavy
- coat, and the information is unavailable for the smooth Afghan.
-
- According to studies which clocked the speed of these 4 breeds on
- oval tracks in Germany, the Sloughi and Saluki are basically
- identical, the Azawakh is slower and the long-coated Afghan hound
- even more, however not excluding the possibility that the smooth
- could be faster than the long-coated Afghan.
-
- All 4 breeds are good watch dogs, with the Azawakh being probably
- the most protective. All are aloof towards strangers. All are
- excellent hunters. Where they come from, the Sloughi, Azawakh and
- Saluki usually hunt in open spaces (desert or open plains or
- steppe), they also protect sheep and goat herds from jackals
- (Sloughi and Azawakh) or other local wild canids (Saluki in
- Turkey). The long coated Afghan hound was used to hunt in tough
- mountainous terrain, whereas the smooth and somewhat longer coated
- varieties more often hunted in the open plains. All are or were
- highly treasured by their respective societies.
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- References
-
- The text above includes parts of articles published by the author
- about the Sloughi in "Sighthound Review" (editor Bo Bengtson), "Dog
- World" (editor Donna Marcel), "Field Advisory News" (editor Vicki
- Clark), the "SKC Journal" (States kennel Club) and "The Sloughi"
- (Sloughi Fanciers Association of America).
-
- FCI Standard 188(Morocco) FΘdΘration Cynologique Internationale
- Remarks on the Standard 188 (1994) by D. Crapon de Caprona.
-
- The Ways of the Desert (1971) by GΘnΘral Daumas. This translation into
- English of a French 19th century work mistakenly replaced the original
- word "Sloughi" by "Saluki". University of Texas Press, Austin and
- London, USA
-
- Variation of Blood Proteins in Race Hounds (1993) by K. Scherer
- (Bruchmⁿller), Journal of Veterinary Medicine A 39, Paul Parey
- Scientific Publishers, Berlin and Hamburg, Germany.
-
- The Sloughi (1995) by the Sloughi Fanciers Association of America, PO
- Box 1202, Wildomar CA 92595, USA
-
- The "Rare" Sighthound breeds, FCI Group 10 (1995) by D. Crapon de
- Caprona, Field Advisory News, November/December issue, editor Vicki
- Clark, Alpaugh, CA, USA
-
- Tracking the Sloughi in North Africa (1995), I.& E. Schritt, edited
- and translated by D. Crapon de Caprona Sighthound Review March April,
- May-June issues, editor Bo Bengtson, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
-
- Sloughi International, magazine, editor E. Schritt, Germany.
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Resources
-
- Kennel Clubs which recognize the Sloughi
-
- Conformation events
- FΘdΘration Cynologique Internationale (FCI, Puerto Rico, South
- America, Morocco & Europe), Union Cynologie Internationale
- (UCI)
-
- USA: UCI- International All Breed Kennel Club of America,
- United Kennel Club (UKC), States Kennel Club (SKC), American
- Rare Breed Association (ARBA) World Wide Kennel Club (WWKC)
-
- Canada: Southern Ontario Rare Breed Club, Canadian Rare Breed
- Association, Credit Valley Kennel and Obedience Rare Breed
- shows.
-
- Performance events
- USA/Canada: members of the Sloughi Fanciers Association of
- America have worked together with members of the following
- associations to enable the Sloughi to compete in their events
- (all non-commercial) National Oval Track Racing Association
- (NOTRA), Large Gazehound Racing Association (sprint, LGRA),
- American Sighthound Field Association (lure-coursing, ASFA)
- (miscellaneous stake over 18"), National Open Field Coursing
- Association (open field hunts, NOFCA), North American Coursing
- Association (open field hunts, NACA).
-
- Contacts
-
- In the USA, for information about the breed, conformation/performance
- events involving Sloughis, reputable breeders, rescue service,
- quarterly newsletter, contact:
-
- The Sloughi Fanciers Association of America
- PO Box 1202 Wildomar CA 92595
- 909-674-3079
- http://www.sloughi.org
- For fast contact E-Mail to Fritzsch@Creighton.edu
-
- _________________________________________________________________
-
- Sloughi FAQ
- Bernd Fritsch, Fritzsch@Creighton.edu
- Copyright 1996 by Dominique Crapon de Caprona, Ph.D.
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