Azawakh

Also known as: Azawakh hound, Tuareg Sloughi

The Azawakh comes from the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara, used by Tuareg communities across Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to hunt gazelle and hare in open, hot savanna. The body is exceptionally lean, with almost no subcutaneous fat, so muscles and veins show clearly through the skin, a look that can strike first-time observers as emaciated even though it's simply the healthy breed standard. The short, thin coat offers little insulation, so the dog needs a coat in cold climates. A male weighs up to 25 kilograms, extremely fast over short distances, built for hunting open ground with little vegetation. Temperament runs reserved with strangers and tightly bonded to its own family. Life expectancy runs 10 to 12 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Azawakh: how old in human years?

60–74 cmHeight
15–25 kgWeight
10–12 yrsLife expectancy

Sloughi

FCI group: Sighthounds
FCI section: Section 3: Short-haired Sighthounds
FCI: 307
Country of origin: Mali

Energy level

4/5
Trainability

2/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 64–74 cm

Females 60–70 cm

Weight

Males 20–25 kg

Females 15–20 kg

Life expectancy

10–12 yrs

Coat

short, fine, close (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Azawakh's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is low.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 2/5
Good with other dogs 2/5
Friendly with strangers 1/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 2/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Azawakh's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 4/5
Exercise need 4/5
Apartment friendly 2/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 4/5

Guarding & Alertness

Azawakh's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 4/5
Barking level 2/5

Grooming & Care

Azawakh's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 1/5
Drooling 1/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Azawakh

A patch of sun on the sofa, a long-legged dog curled into a ball, lifting its head only when someone unfamiliar walks past the window: that is an Azawakh at home. In the Sahel it guarded camps and coursed fast game, so it holds two characters: calm and reserved indoors, lightning outdoors.

It needs regular flat-out runs, but only somewhere safely fenced: once it sees a running hare or cat, it won't hear a word you say. Town walks are on the lead. It learns in its own way: harshness pushes it away, while patience and a calm voice slowly earn its trust.

With its own family it is gentle and attached, though it shows affection with restraint, and it rarely lets strangers touch it. Loud children and a chaotic household don't suit it well, and cats and small animals can wake its hunting instinct. If you value a quiet, dignified and strikingly elegant companion and are ready to respect its personal space, it will repay you with loyalty.

Grooming and coat

An Azawakh's coat is short, fine and close, with no undercoat and next to no shedding. A weekly pass with a soft rubber mitt or a damp cloth is enough, and baths are rarely needed. A fine coat also means fine skin, though: after rough play with other dogs or a run through scrub, check for scrapes, and the bony points, elbows and hips, can rub sore on hard floors, so a soft bed is not a luxury.

Look inside the ears once a week; they should be clean and odour-free. Wipe the eye corners with a damp cloth. Trim the nails regularly, as long nails spoil the gait on those slim legs. And remember that this dog from the Sahel does not like the cold: a rainy November or a Lithuanian winter calls for a coat.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

Lean, long-legged, with ribs and hip bones plainly showing: that is what a healthy Azawakh looks like, and it sometimes alarms a new owner. The breed is sturdy and can live ten to twelve years, and the two conditions below are the ones worth being able to recognise. If anything changes, let a vet make the call.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Hypothyroidism

The thyroid gland makes too little hormone, so the whole body slows down. You might notice your dog becoming sluggish, feeling the cold more, putting on weight without eating more, or its coat thinning. An Azawakh's frame is so lean that an extra kilo or a bald patch in that short coat shows at once, so take changes like these to a vet.
Masticatory muscle myositis

This is an inflammation in which the body's immune system attacks the chewing muscles on the sides of the head. The dog may be unwilling or unable to open its mouth wide, avoid hard food, or flinch when its muzzle is touched, and later the muscles over the temples may waste away. On an Azawakh's fine face such changes show quickly, so if your dog struggles to open its mouth or its head looks different, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (25 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 280 g of dry food a day, from €15,29 a month For a neutered, normally active 20 kg dog. Calculate for your dog