The Azawakh is a slender sighthound from Mali, primarily accompanying the nomads of its homeland as a loyal companion and useful hunter. An Azawakh is primarily a sight hunter, acting independently of the people in its social group. This noble and gentle sighthound has also become somewhat of a status symbol in the United States and faithfully accompanies its people through everyday life. In the FCI, the Azawakh can be found in the following FCI group: FCI Group 10 Sighthounds, Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds without a working trial, with standard number 307.

Origin and Breed History

The Azawakh is one of the few dog breeds that accompany nomads through the steppes and semi-deserts of the southern Saharan regions. The breed originated in the Azawakh Valley, located in the center of the state of Mali. As the dogs were also kept as status symbols from the beginning, the nomads made great efforts not to crossbreed them with other breeds.

Among the Tuareg nomads, the Azawakh is known as the “Hound of the Free.” However, it not only accompanies the Tuareg but also the Berbers, who hold the swift sighthounds in high esteem and appreciation. The Azawakh live very close to humans and sleep in tents with the family. Due to this close connection, they are attentive guards and alert the nomad camp to any intruders, making life difficult for livestock thieves. They quickly get used to the animals that belong to the nomads and respect and cherish them.

In addition to guarding the camp, the main task of the Azawakh was sight hunting, providing additional meat to the nomads. The swift dogs reacted to antelopes and even wild boars, but primarily to small desert hares. Like all oriental sighthound breeds, they perform an important task for the nomads, with the Azawakh being one of the youngest sighthounds.

The exact start of purebred breeding is not known, but the first dogs left their homeland only in 1968 and found their way to Europe, especially to France and Yugoslavia. Azawakhs were only found in the United States from 1975 onwards and they were only recognized as an official breed by the AKC (American Kennel Club) in 2011. The imported dogs formed the basis for breeding outside the animals’ original homeland and thus the beginning of the popularity of these beautiful sighthounds.

Characteristics & Temperament of the Azawakh

The character of the Azawakh is ambivalent: On the one hand, it is a very gentle and affectionate companion, loyal to its human and possessing a very calm and reserved character. On the other hand, it is also a high-performance athlete with a strong desire to run and an enormous hunting instinct. Since it is a pure sight hunter and acts independently of its owner, this form of hunting instinct is very difficult to train out, so most Azawakhs must remain on a leash and can only run off-leash in secured areas.

Despite its hunting instinct, the Azawakh is a very pleasant companion that requires a lot of affection and forms a close bond with its people. Thus, it is an ideal companion and can also be well integrated as a family dog. With very young children, care should be taken not to constantly overwhelm the Azawakh, as this can stress the dog unnecessarily. Overall, it is very loving and patient with children, and if it meets other animals early on, it can get along with cats and small animals in the house. Some individuals tend to alert to newcomers, but this can be easily trained out. Otherwise, Azawakhs are usually neutral or distant with strangers. They often need a moment to warm up to other people. Once they have accepted someone as part of the family, they are just as affectionate and attached to that person as they are to the rest of the family.

The Azawakh needs the attention of its family and is very reluctant to be separated from its people. Due to its very calm and composed nature, it makes a good office dog, and the calm dog also has no problems with other dogs, although it is not very playful with other dogs. Due to its sensitive nature, it responds very sensitively to its owner’s emotions, making harmonious coexistence very easy. However, the Azawakh responds to harshness with fear and shyness.

Affection Level	High
Friendliness	Medium
Kid-Friendly	Medium
Pet-Friendly	High
Exercise Needs	Medium
Playfulness	High
Energy Level	Medium
Trainability	Medium
Intelligence	High
Tendency to Bark	Medium
Amount of Shedding	Low

Appearance of the Azawakh

The Azawakh has a noble appearance and a graceful yet powerful gait. It is immediately apparent that the Azawakh is an oriental sighthound, with its tall silhouette being unmistakable. It is one of the larger representatives of sighthound breeds and can reach a withers height of 64 to 74 cm in males and 60 to 70 cm in females. The slender dogs weigh between 20 to 25 kg for males and 15 to 20 kg for females. Characteristic of the breed is the extremely slender appearance of the sighthound, with a deep chest and flat musculature. Additionally, the slightly slanted eyes are a classic feature of the Azawakh, with dark eyes often having dark eyelids that contrast slightly with the fur.

The coat of the Azawakh is smooth and short without an undercoat, yet it has a velvety and soft texture. The colors for the Azawakh are precisely defined in the AKC standard. According to this standard, only the colors light sand, red with all shades towards dark brown are acceptable. Less commonly, a black shading and white markings on the head, chest, and tail can be found, and the lower part of the legs may also be white.

Training & Care of the Azawakh – What to consider

Training the Azawakh is quite straightforward, as it is naturally a very calm and reserved dog. However, compromises and likely permanent leash control may be necessary due to its hunting instinct. The Azawakh will quickly learn basic commands if its owner takes the patience and time for gentle training. Consistency is important, but the owner should never be too harsh, as this can make the dogs fearful and anxious.

The Azawakh should be acclimated to its daily life very early on and should be exposed to all things it may encounter later, so it can remain confident and calm in any situation. Once the basics of training are mastered and a strong bond is established between the Azawakh and its owner, the owner can engage in dog sports. As a swift hunter, the Azawakh requires both physical and mental stimulation.

Nutrition of the Azawakh

When it comes to the nutrition of the Azawakh, the owner should pay close attention to choosing high-quality dog food. This gentle sighthound is prone to allergies and has a sensitive stomach. A good dog food helps to prevent problems and provides the dog with all the necessary nutrients from the beginning.

The owner can easily recognize a good dog food by examining the list of ingredients. A meat variety should be listed first, indicating that this meat type is the main component of the dog food. Dog foods of lower quality often have grains or soy as the primary ingredient. Grains and soy are fillers that provide no nutritional value to the dog and are often triggers for allergies. Therefore, it’s best to avoid them, even in treats.

In addition to high-quality dog food, the owner must also choose the food according to the dog’s age. Since the Azawakh is a large dog, it needs support during growth. Therefore, the young Azawakh should receive puppy food until its 6th month of life to support its growth. Even in old age, the Azawakh has different requirements for its food. It needs food that supports the cardiovascular system and internal organs. Senior food should be given from the age of 7, with a gradual transition to avoid digestive issues such as diarrhea.

Health – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases

Although the Azawakh is a very gentle and calm dog, its slender appearance often gives the impression of weakness to non-dog people, but it is actually a robust athlete. The Azawakh does not suffer from hereditary diseases, but it has a slightly higher likelihood of joint and bone problems due to being a large and long-legged breed. Its stomach may react to certain substances such as grains and soy with allergies, but this is only rarely the case.

The health of the Azawakh is primarily influenced by the breeder. Only if the Azawakh has healthy parents can it have a good start in life. A conscientious and good breeder will have the parent animals checked by a veterinarian for any potential diseases. The breeder should always prioritize the preservation of the breed and never focus on a false beauty ideal or even just profit.

The Azawakh has a life expectancy of 13 to 14 years, although some dogs have lived to be 15 years old. A good breeder and appropriate care and nutrition offer the best conditions for a long and healthy dog life.

Grooming a Azawakh

The care of the Azawakh is very simple, as its short coat without an undercoat sheds very little hair. It only needs to be brushed occasionally and should be dried after every walk where it gets wet. Due to the lack of an undercoat, the Azawakh may easily feel cold in wet and cold weather. A soft coat is advisable to protect the dog from hypothermia. After all, the gentle sighthound comes from a desert region.

In addition to coat care, the owner should check the ears for any redness or noticeable dirt, in which case a veterinarian should be consulted. Similarly, with the eyes, as long as the Azawakh does not have watery eyes or any discharge, its almond-shaped eyes are fine.

Azawakh – Activities and Training

The Azawakh enjoys being active, especially with its family. If given the opportunity, the Azawakh can run on racetracks for fun and satisfy its strong urge to run. Many areas have dedicated clubs for sighthounds and racetracks where the dogs can participate. The most important thing is that the sport brings joy to both the dog and the owner. As daily exercise, biking or jogging can also be utilized, as Azawakhs often enjoy accompanying their owners while running.

Many representatives of the breed enjoy dog sports. Suitable sports include agility, hoopers, obedience, and even trick training for the clever dogs. The key is to find a sport that not only exercises the dog but also brings enjoyment and strengthens the bond with the owner. Otherwise, the Azawakh also enjoys spending quality time with its family and requires cuddle sessions. It should be able to go for walks at least three times a day, each lasting an hour, to fulfill its needs.

Good to know: Special Features of the Azawakh

The Azawakh is one of the youngest sighthound breeds from the oriental region, known for its noble appearance and size. This gentle dog is well-suited for beginners and makes a pleasant companion, especially indoors.

Disadvantages of the Azawakh

The most significant disadvantage of the Azawakh is its strong hunting instinct. When it spots prey, it becomes deaf to any command, and even the best training will not deter it from chasing. Therefore, it should always be kept on a leash during walks, and it should only be let off leash in enclosed areas or on racetracks to prevent it from following its hunting instincts.

Is the Azawakh Right for Me?

The Azawakh is a typical sighthound. Its family can enjoy a calm, affectionate, and noble dog that is loyal to its owner. It does not do well being left alone and should therefore only be placed with people who have enough time for this gentle hunter.

The four-legged companion makes a good family pet and can also be suitable for seniors, provided they are still fit enough to exercise the dog regularly and take it for walks. As it is very gentle, it needs people who will treat it with patience and love, guide it through life calmly, and can handle its occasional need for peace and quiet.

Azawakh Overview