American Azawakh Association
The Official Site of the National Parent Club

About Azawakhs

History and Development
An African sighthound of Afro-Asiatic type, the Azawakh originated in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Raised in the Sahel region of the Sahara desert, they are named for the Azawakh valley. Azawakh means "land of the north". They are the guardians, hunters and companions of the Tuareg and other ethnic tribes of the southern Sahel.

 The breed was first imported to Yugoslavia in the early 1970's by Dr. Pecar, a Yugoslavian diplomat stationed in Burkina Faso. The dogs could not be bought, however, Dr. Pecar received his male as a gift from the nomads. He later bartered his services as a hunter, by killing a bull elephant who had been terrorizing the tribe, in exchange for a female Azawakh. The French military and civil servants also played a significant role in exporting the Azawakhs to Europe. France is the patron country of the Azawakh under FCI rules.

The Azawakh made it's debut in the United States in the mid 1980's. The first litter was whelped on October 31, 1987 by Gisela Cook-Schmidt (Reckendahl). These first American Azawakhs were all red or fawn with white markings. The first brindles came to America in 1989, with the first brindle litter whelped November 27, 1990 by Deb Kidwell (Kel Simoon). In the mid 90's, a parti-color male was imported from Burkina Faso and in 1997, a parti-color and sand litter which was bred in Mali, was whelped in Alaska. It is hoped that an even larger selection of colors will find their way to the US from Africa in the near future.
The Azawakh has a show history that begins very soon after its original importation. They were first shown in the early 1970's under FCI rules as a variety of Sloughi. On January 1, 1981, they were accepted as a bona fide breed and were referred to as "Sloughi-Azawakhs". In 1986, the Azawakh was finally recognized for the unique animal it is, when FCI dropped the word "Sloughi" from the name.

In the US, the Azawakh is recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC), the International All Breed Kennel Club of America (IABCA), the States Kennel Club (SKC), the American Rare Breed Association and many other smaller registries. The AKC Foundation Stock Service (AKC FSS) allows the breed to be registered through the service, however the breed is not presently recognized to compete in any AKC events.
The American Azawakh Association is the parent club for the breed in the US. Although the AAA doesn't recognize the FCI Standard for the breed because of its color limitations, the dogs can be shown in any FCI recognized country under FCI rules which allow only sand to dark red and brindle, with all other colors disqualified. Their history as show dogs is in its infancy, but their natural regal presence demands recognition.

Breed Characteristics
Azawakhs are elegant, tall dogs of proud bearing. Lean and muscular of frame, their appearance should indicate swiftness when running. He should be longer of leg than of body, which may seem extreme when compared with other sighthounds His neck is long and graceful, his head held high when alert. His tail is proudly carried above the line of the back. The breed has pendant ears which are raised to the side of the head in response to sounds. Their movement is spectacular to watch. The gait is always very supple and elastic. At the trot, they are light and graceful; the gallop is leaping and they cover ground in great strides. The movement is an essential point of the breed.

Azawakh bitch exhibiting proper movement
Note: At the trot, the front leg should not extend past the nose.
The "flying trot" has no place in Azawakh movement!
Photo Courtesy of Ingrid Aigeldinger, Al Hara

Key points of the breed standard: This sighthound presents himself as a rangy dog whose body fits into a rectangle with it's longer sides in a vertical position. The length of the body is 90% the height of the hound. This ratio may be slightly higher in bitches. The height of chest is 40% the height at withers. Well developed and deep, the chest should not reach the elbow. The brisket may be rounded or angular, but should rise abruptly into a very small waist. The forequarters and hindquarters should exhibit very open angles. The shoulders should be at about 130 degrees, the hindquarters at about 145 degrees.
The topline should be flat or slightly arching over the loin. The hips must always be at the same level or higher than the level of the withers. It is a major fault to have hips lower than the withers.
Skin and coat: The skin should fit tightly over the whole body, the coat is short and fine. The belly may be completely hairless. The FCI standard admits only sand to dark red and black brindled. In the US, the American Azawakh Association recognizes all colors which naturally occur in the Azawakh's countries of origin. These other colors include, white, black, gray, blue, dilute brindles, grizzle, parti-color and all shades of brown to include chocolate. The hound usually has  white markings to include: a white bib, and white brush at the tail tip and  white stockings or socks on the legs.

Vital Statistics
Males range from 25-29 inches in height and weigh 44-55 lb., females, 23 1/2 - 27 1/2 inches and weigh 33-44 lb.. The short, smooth coat comes in a variety of colors to include, clear sand to dark red, white, black, blue, gray, brindle, grizzle, parti-color and all shades of brown, including chocolate.
Grooming of their short coat is accomplished easily with a zoom groom or hound glove. Frequent bathing is not necessary as the breed has no doggy odor. However, they do have sensitive skin, so use of a mild, hypoallergenic, unscented shampoo is recommended.
Their life expectancy ranges from 12-15 years.

Photo courtesy of Christiane Bergmann, Germany

Exercise Requirements

Exercise requirements with all sighthound breeds is a very important subject. The Azawakh must have adequate exercise and makes an excellent companion for the serious jogger and runner. The Azawakh is a very active dog, however, they run and play in spurts interspersed with long naps on the sofa. They should have a large yard where they can stretch their legs, but more importantly they need interaction with the owner or another dog, to make them exercise. Left alone in the back yard with the expectation of self exercise is not acceptable for this breed. A bored Azawakh will look for its own entertainment, not necessarily close to the house. They should receive at least half an hour a day of hard running and/or playing exercise. Finding a securely fenced ball field is perfect for play excursions. . They typically need a lot of space around them and can not deal with endless hours of crating. Regular exercise and being an integrated part of the family are prerequisites for a well adjusted Azawakh. Azawakhs generally love to travel and go to different places with their owner.

The Azawakh is a hound of the desert. They hate wet and cold weather. The breed should not be left outside for long periods of time in cold weather. Azawakhs enjoy a quick race in the snow, but need to come back in the house to warm up. This breed will become fat and lethargic or hyper and destructive without proper energy outlets. Azawakhs can be very reliable off lead if taught a strong recall. This is a boon for people who enjoy the company of sighthounds, but have difficulty enjoying them because they cannot be trusted off lead.

Photo courtesy of Deb Kidwell, Kel Simoon

Temperament

When discussing the temperament of an Azawakh, consideration should be given to individual personalities and contributing backgrounds, both genetic and environmental. However, there are several general characteristics common to the breed. Described in a Dog World article as a "warrior class dog", they have the intelligence and heart to protect. When approached on their own turf, they are vocally intimidating. In situations where their duty as guardian isn't necessary, their reactions may range from friendly, to mildly curious to arrogantly indifferent. Although generally not outgoing, several in the US have found the opportunity to make social contributions as therapy dogs in nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.  
They seem to possess an uncanny combination of total loyalty and independence. Each new situation presents the potential for the struggle between the dog's natural desire to please and his prideful desire to do things his own way. A firm, fair hand is called for. Properly socialized and trained, the Azawakh will live harmoniously within the family and community.  
A well socialized Azawakh is affectionate, gentle, playful, subtle and very loyal to its owner. Some Azawakhs, having bonded with one particular person, do not change ownership with ease. Azawakhs are usually cautious with strangers. They typically observe for a while before approaching.
Azawakhs raised in kennel situations, with little socialization, are typically very shy. They are usually nervous, frightened and may freeze in a new situation They may snap or bite. They can be made to adjust, one step at a time, with a lot of time and patience. Well socialized Azawakhs can also be frightened, but adjust more quickly to the new situation, and often watch and trust their owner’s reaction to a given circumstance.  
Quick, attentive, distant, reserved with strangers and may even be aggressive, but he can be gentle and affectionate with those he is willing to accept. However, it is a breed disqualification to be timid, panicky or aggressive to point of attack. This part of the standard is at odds with many breeders in the US and Europe who are trying to breed Azawakh who are more approachable, maybe even friendly, and less apt to be "savage". In the Sahel, the hound prefers not to be touched, but is not aggressive. Unprovoked aggression towards a family member or guest would not be tolerated.

The Azawakh with other dogs
Much discussion as been given to the guardiness of the Azawakh, but here we must remember that this is a sighthound.
Azawakhs have retained all their instincts, and when several live together they establish hierarchies stabilized by subtle behavioral rituals. Intentions and moods are expressed by a large repertoire of postures, expressions and sounds. Like all Sighthounds Azawakhs are highly efficient and driven hunters. Because comparatively few generations have been removed from the need to hunt daily for personal and family survival, the hunting instinct is very strong in this breed.
As a rule, they seem to accept other dogs, though sometimes grudgingly, as protected members of their own pack. Their keen vision, speed and stamina specializes them for chasing down their prey in open spaces. The Azawakh is always on the alert for moving objects; even a leaf in the wind will trigger a chase. Azawakhs usually play by chasing one another.
Azawakhs can develop great friendships with cats and small dogs, but may mistake their friend for game outside, particularly if the pet runs away. Some cats attack dogs and can inflict serious damage to their eyes and face with their claws. Similar caution is required with Azawakhs and indoor birds. The beak of large parrots can turn into a dangerous weapon and vice versa, the teeth of an Azawakh can hurt the bird!.
Another point to mention is that the Azawakh is a very dominant breed. Within a household pack, they will almost always aspire to the alpha dog position. If there is an existing dominant dog in the pack, this can sometimes cause conflict within the pack. 

Photo courtesy of Melissa Wellington, USA

The Azawakh and Children
No one can predict the individual personalities of all dogs in any breed. There are some situations which should be avoided with guardian and sighthound dogs of any breed. Children playing together, sometimes squabble. It is natural for a guard dog to protect "his" children from their playmates. Also, children can abuse dogs without realizing it, and an Azawakh (or any other dog) might want to defend itself.
Chase or prey behavior is another situation that can be a problem. Children or other pets running away from the hound can activate the prey drive instinct. The hound may try to "take down" the child from behind as they would while hunting. A good rule of thumb is to never leave the Azawakh with children while unsupervised by an attentive adult. There are individual dogs of all breeds which do not like children. The Azawakh, as a breed, with care given to the situations mentioned, should fit well into any family structure.

Photo courtesy of Deb Kidwell, Kel Simoon

Health & Nutrition
The Azawakh as a breed does have several health issues that need to be addressed. The most common of these health concerns are hypothyroidism, seizures, and several autoimmune mediated diseases, such as a Myositis type disease, autoimmune thyroiditis and generalized Demodectic Mange. Cardiac problems, though not common, have occurred.  Bloat, though rare, has been known to occur in some lines. Breeders are strongly encouraged to test for as many diseases as possible, making it possible to make an informed breeding decision when considering a litter. Common tests are thyroid screens, complete blood chemistry profiles, autoimmune function blood work, cardiac screening, eye examinations (CERF), X-rays for hip/elbow dysplasia (OFA, PennHip).  Seizures are hard to test for and cause determination is not always possible. However, dogs exhibiting seizures should not be bred. Unfortunately, many dogs start seizure activity later in life after they have been bred many times and have already adversely impacted the gene pool of the breed.
The problem that breeders face in many cases is that because of the small gene pool, it is impossible to eliminate all dogs who carry a genetic disease from the breed program. But it makes sense to test for as many diseases as possible so as not to "double up" on the same disease in sire and dam. Pedigree research and disease tracking is an invaluable tool for Azawakh breeders. Some diseases can be tracked through an entire line from the original foundation dogs.

Nutrition is an important point to consider in a breed so close to its "roots". Though not all breeders feel it important, many feel that the hounds should be fed a simple diet of whole foods, rather than kibble. This is a personal preference, of course. Many generations of dogs have been kibble raised and have done well. In medical treatment of the hound, natural, holistic methods work very well. The Azawakh is generally a healthy breed. They heal amazingly well from cuts and scrapes. Care should be given with the use of chemicals, harsh shampoos and the feeding of excessive protein. The Azawakh is a natural breed whose immune system is not conditioned to the use of most Western chemicals, therefore, judicious use of chemicals around the hound is advised. The Azawakh should be fed a diet with a fat content of 12-16% fat to maintain good weight and a healthy coat, a moderate level of protein (22-26% ) is advisable. Weight maintenance of Azawakhs is another important area to consider. They should be slim. In proper weight, some ribs,  vertebrae, and the hip bones should be visible. It's not to say they should be skeletal, but a fat sighthound is not  a happy nor a healthy sighthound. Azawakhs are structured to be on the thin side. Overfeeding will adversely affect the joint structure of the hound, especially in puppies. Azawakh puppies should never be fat and roly poly. Keeping them slim as they are growing permits the joints and other body parts to grow properly, without additional stress and wear and tear. Slim pups are less prone to growth plate problems.

Photo courtesy of Michael Rackl, Ak Ilaman

Activities
As with most Sighthound breeds, many Azawakhs love to lure course or open field hunt. The American Sighthound Field Association has given full recognition to the Azawakh beginning Jan 2001. 
The Azawakh is also recognized by the National Open Field Coursing Association (NOFCA) as a rare breed. There have also been supportive offers for recognition with the National Oval Track Racing Association (NOTRA), however, at this time no Azawakhs are participating in this sport.
In the US, the breed is still considered a rare breed and is excluded from all AKC conformation events. There are, however, many rare breed clubs who sponsor conformation and performance events and the Azawakh is recognized by most of these. The breed is fully recognized by UKC (United Kennel Club) and the SKC (States Kennel Club).
In all FCI countries, the breed is fully recognized to participate in any sport that it is eligible. This includes, conformation, lure coursing, racing, agility, obedience, etc.
Another sport for which the Azawakh shows a lot of promise is the new sport of Canine Freestyle. In this sport, the hound's basic obedience skills along with other learned skills are set to music and choreographed to create a performance similar to the sport of Dressage in horses. The emphasis is on matching the music to the dog's gait, demonstrating the bond between the handler and the dog and creating an expressive, flowing picture to the audience. The Azawakhs springy, graceful movement and willingness to please makes this sport tailor made for them.

Sources and Resources
The American Azawakh Association, Inc. (AAA) is the parent club for the Azawakh in the US. The AAA was founded on February 7, 1988 with the goals of promoting the pure Azawakh and to guarantee the breed a permanent future in the US. Further information may be obtained by writing to the American Azawakh Association,1739 42nd Ave. , San Francisco, CA 94122. The club publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Azawakh Aegis, which is available by subscription to interested persons.
There are also several books which have small sections about Azawakhs or deal with the nomads who breed them in the countries of origin.
Dogs Of Africa. Sian Hall
Dog's Best Friend: Journey to the Roots of an Ancient Partnership. Ursula Birr, Gerald Krakauer, Daniela Osterlander
The Pastoral Tuareg: Ecology, Culture and Society. Johannes & Ida Nicoloaisen
Der Azawakh: Windhund der Nomades in Mali (in German) H.J. Strassner, E. Eiles
Wind, Sand and Silence: Travels with Africa's Last Nomads. Victor Englebert

The Canine Lexicon and several other all breed/rare breed books have blurbs and pictures of the breed.

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Show giving clubs:
United States
American Rare Breed Association (ARBA)
International All Breed Kennel Club of American. Run by European judging standards with written critiques.
States Kennel Club
Rarities
United Kennel Club
Other rare breed clubs

Great Britain
The Kennel Club

In the rest of the World
FCI