Azawakh

Azawakh History

The Azawakh is a sighthound from West Africa. It is known for its endurance and speed, and its distinctive elongated head. The Azawakh is descended from the African Greyhound, and is a natural ally of the hunter. The Azawakh, also known as the West African Greyhound, is an endangered African Sighthound. It is a rare, small and muscular breed of dog resembling the greyhound. Its primary use is as a coursing hound. The Azawakh can be found in Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire in West Africa. The Azawak Hound is a medium-sized, sleek and well-muscled hound. It has a slim body and a long neck. Although its ears are erect, they are not long, and the tail is carried low. The Azawak is a graceful, elegant, and well-balanced animal.

Azawakh Physical Characteristics

The Azawakh is a medium-sized, short-legged, extremely muscular, and thick-coated sighthound that generally stands up to 27 inches at the withers and weighs between 80 and 120 pounds. They have a thick, straight, and bushy double coat of fawn, red, gray, cream, or black. They have a triangular shaped head with a slightly pointed muzzle. The Azawak has large, erect ears that stand upright and close together and broad, low-set, long, narrow, and rounded eyes. They have strong, well arched, and muscular shoulders, deep-chested, semi-long legs, and hindquarters and a very strong, well-muscled neck. The Azawakh has a gait with a leisurely, long stride with loping, “bunny hopping” action.

Azawakh Health

Description of breed health.

Azawakh Temperament and Behaviour

The Azawakh is an independent, aloof, and sometimes even standoffish breed. They are not naturally inclined to be overly friendly or affectionate with strangers, and they can be quite reserved around people they don’t know well. However, they are usually very devoted to their family and close friends, and they can be quite protective of their loved ones. Azawakh are extremely intelligent and have a strong independent streak, which can make them difficult to train. They are also very active and high energy, and need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.

Azawakh Activity Requirements

Azawakh dogs are a sighthound, originally bred for hunting. They were primarily used to hunt gazelle and hare, but today they are primarily kept as pets. Azawakhs are intelligent and energetic, needing both mental and physical stimulation. Azawakhs require a great deal of exercise and mental stimulation. They are best suited to homes with large amounts of space where they can run around. A half-hour to an hour of vigorous play every day is the best way to keep this high-energy dog happy and healthy.

Kennel Club Recognition