Medium
12 Years
25 Kg
Hound Dogs
Affectionate, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Lively, Playful
The Azawakh is a large breed of dog that belongs to the Hound group. Taller than it is long, this racy breed originated in West Africa and was originally used to guard livestock. It is closely related to the Sloughi, also a member of the sighthound family. It is particularly higher on the hips than the withers and its bone structure and musculature are characteristically well defined through the skin because of flat muscles, giving it a thin appearance. The head is long, lean and chiseled with an almost flat and rather elongated skull. The almond-shaped eyes are quite large and come in hazel to dark brown in colour. It has triangular, rounded-tip ears which are always drooping and flat and a long, straight muzzle tipped by a generally black or brown nose. The head is supported by a long, fine and muscular neck that is slightly arched. A nearly straight topline that rises towards the hip is an attribute of the breed. It has a long, thin tail, carried low with the tip slightly raised when the dog is at rest. The front legs are long and vertical with round-shape feet and pigmented pads. The back legs also are long with lean muscles on the thighs with very open stifle. It has a fine coat that covers the whole body made of very short hair that comes in a variety of colours and markings including clear sand to dark red, white, black, blue, gray, brindle and all shades of brown with a white bib and a white brush at the tail tip. The belly is void of coating. A male Azawakh height is between 64 cm to 74 cm while a female is between 60 cm to 70 cm. Typical weight is between 20 kg to 25 kg for males and 15 kg to 20 kg for females.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
Named after the Azawagh region of Africa where it hails, the Azawakh is a true African sighthound in appearance and in spirit. Its early ancestors are depicted in several Holocene-era petroglyph rock arts found in sub-Saharan Africa – particularly the pariah dogs or bush dogs of Africa. Dog bones were also found in Saharan settlements dating from 8,000 to 10,000 years old. DNA studies also showed that the Azawakh has a rare gene composition that is only found in foxes, jackals, Italian wolves and Sloughis, suggesting that this breed has a true ancient origin.
In recent history, the Azawakh played an invaluable guardian of livestock and protector of its owners. It was bred by the various nomadic tribes of the Saharan and sub-Saharan Sahelian zone of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and southern Algeria. The semi-arid climate of this region produced a dog that is both elegant, rugged and independent. It was used to hunt game such as gazelles and hares when these animals were abundant in those regions. This breed is a pack hunter, often alerting other members through unique vocalisation lead by an alpha dog and will ward off or attack would-be predators as a pack. It is still a relatively rare breed outside Africa but there is a slowly growing number of Azawakh aficionados introducing the breed in Europe and UK.
The Azawakh breed has a variable temperament, ranging from quite docile, lap dog to relatively aggressive. It is typically a reserved dog with an intense suspicion of strangers but is not inherently aggressive. It has a strong guarding instinct owing to its lineage as a guardian of livestock. It is very loyal and extremely affectionate to its owner and to those it is familiar with. This is a pack-oriented breed and does everything in packs. It has a very good memory and is able to recognize a dog it has grown-up with even after being separated for many years. An Azawakh can tolerate extreme heat conditions but will not do so good in a cold, wet environment because it has no thick coat to protect it.
The Azawakh needs lifelong socialization from a firm but gentle owner to raise a well-balanced dog. If well-socialized and trained, this breed can be great with other canines as well as children and strangers.
Brushing with a hound glove once a week will keep the Azawakh’s coat healthy, including the skin. Regular bathing is not necessary but when given a bath, use of a mild, hypoallergenic brand is recommended because this breed tends to have a sensitive skin.
This dog is an incredibly healthy breed even for its large size and it heals very rapidly from injuries. Unlike other large breeds, the Azawakh is not affected by hip dysplasia, although there are rare cases of adult-onset epilepsy and cervical vertebral instability attributed to a diet that is high in protein.
The Azawakh has a very high energy and incredible endurance so it needs an equally high amount of exercise. It is an excellent running partner to someone who likes long jogs or runs on a daily basis. It will do best in a home with a large, enclosed yard where it can run off lead until it decides it had enough. It is not recommended for an apartment living but if is with an active owner, then it will do just fine as long as it gets enough daily exercise.
Although the Azawakh was bred to protect livestock, it is generally good with other dogs and does not have an inherent aggression towards other pets, unless it is threatened. It is not a dog for first time pet owners and is not recommended for a family with small children who are not familiar with proper dog handling.
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