Sloughi

The Sloughi is a short-coated sighthound from North Africa, with Morocco set down as the breed's country of origin. It sits in the same broad hound family as the Saluki and the Azawakh, shaped by generations of coursing work across open, dry country. A Sloughi stands medium height on a fine, dry frame, with long legs and a deep chest that gives the breed its distinctive racing outline.

Temperament-wise the Sloughi is loyal and firmly attached to its own people. It tends to hold back with visitors, sometimes to the point of aloofness, and keeps a calm, dignified manner around the house. This is an independent thinker rather than a dog that works hand in glove with a handler, which is typical of sighthounds bred to hunt well away from their owner.

The breed suits Kiwi owners who want a settled, sensitive companion and who can offer a securely fenced section for it to stretch its legs. It is not suited to firm-handed training or to households after a bouncy, eager-to-please dog. Early socialisation and a steady routine help a Sloughi settle with confidence.

Who it's suited to

The Sloughi fits patient, active owners who like a quiet house dog that turns properly athletic once outside. A securely fenced section or run matters, given the breed's strong urge to chase. Anyone after a dog that bonds tightly with one household, and who respects an independent, sensitive nature, will get on well with a Sloughi.

The Sloughi took shape in North Africa and is closely tied to Morocco, recognised as the breed's country of origin. Lean, smooth-coated sighthounds of this type have existed across the region for a very long time, used throughout the Maghreb to hunt game over open terrain.

The breed earned its keep as a working hunting hound rather than a pet. It coursed hare, gazelle, and other desert game, relying on sharp sight, speed, and stamina over rough ground. Hounds lived close to the household and were looked after carefully, reflecting the close working partnership between hunter and dog.

The Sloughi shares ancestry and a similar look with other African and Middle Eastern sighthounds, including the Saluki and the Azawakh, though it remains a separate breed with its own regional story. Differences in coat, build, and colour set it apart from these relatives.

More recently the Sloughi has been bred and exhibited outside North Africa, with recognition from major kennel bodies including Dogs New Zealand. Strict biosecurity rules apply to any dog entering the country, so importing a Sloughi means meeting Ministry for Primary Industries requirements and, in most cases, a stint in quarantine. The breed stays uncommon here, kept by a small number of enthusiasts who value its working background and quiet temperament.

The Sloughi carries a dry, athletic build with next to no excess flesh. The body shows clear bone structure, a deep chest, a tucked-up waistline, and long, straight legs. The head is fine and refined on a long neck, with large, dark eyes that give the breed a gentle, watchful look. The tail is thin, carried low, and curls up slightly at the tip when the dog is relaxed.

Coat and colours

The coat is short and smooth and never needs clipping. Colour runs across the sand spectrum, from pale cream through fawn to a deeper red. Plenty of dogs carry a black mask, a dark mantle, or brindle striping. The skin is fine, and the overall look is of a sleek, low-maintenance hunting hound rather than a heavily coated breed.

The Sloughi builds a close, lasting bond with its household and is gentle and affectionate with people it trusts. Around strangers it holds back and can come across as aloof, staying out of the spotlight rather than seeking attention. This reserve is normal for the breed and should not be mistaken for aggression.

At home the Sloughi is calm and quiet indoors, often happy just resting near its people. It can live alongside children when raised together and introduced carefully, though its sensitive nature means it does best in a settled household without rough handling. It generally gets on with other dogs, but its strong prey drive means small pets such as cats or rabbits may be chased unless the dog is raised alongside them and supervised.

The breed is independent and was bred to make its own calls while hunting well ahead of a handler. It is intelligent without being eager to please in the way some working breeds are, so it does best with patient, respectful handling rather than pressure.

Grooming

• Brush the short coat weekly with a soft brush or grooming mitt to lift out loose hair
• Bathe only when needed, since the coat stays clean without much help
• Check and trim nails regularly, as overlong nails throw off the dog's gait
• Clean the ears and brush the teeth on a routine schedule

Exercise

• Provide daily exercise, with chances to run flat out in a safe, enclosed space
• Use a long lead or a fully fenced area, because the chase instinct is strong and recall can't always be trusted around moving animals
• Combine free running with walks to keep muscle tone and the dog mentally occupied
• Skip hard exercise during extreme heat or cold

Environment

The Sloughi settles well into a calm home and is quiet indoors, but it needs somewhere it can gallop properly. The thin coat and low body fat mean the breed feels the cold, and New Zealand winters, especially further south, call for a coat and a warm, padded spot to sleep. A secure section or run matters too, since a Sloughi can cover ground fast once it sets off after something.

The Sloughi is naturally lean, and a slight visibility of the last ribs is normal for the breed rather than a sign it isn't being fed enough. Feed a complete, balanced diet suited to a medium-sized active dog, and adjust the amount to the individual dog's weight, age, and activity. As a deep-chested breed the Sloughi may carry a higher risk of bloat, so splitting the daily ration into two meals and holding off on hard exercise straight after eating is a sensible precaution.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to a small share of daily calories to protect the breed's lean build. Most Sloughis on a complete diet need no extra supplements; check with a vet before adding anything, especially for puppies, pregnant dogs, or seniors with health issues.

The Sloughi is typically a robust breed with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. As a sighthound it carries very little body fat and reacts strongly to certain anaesthetics and drugs, so it matters to use a vet who understands sighthound physiology. Responsible breeders screen for known concerns, and routine veterinary care supports a long, healthy life.

Preventive care

• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date
• Book annual vet checks, including teeth and eyes
• Maintain a lean, healthy weight and good muscle tone
• Use a sighthound-aware vet for anaesthesia and medication
• Protect the dog from temperature extremes

The Sloughi thinks for itself rather than working closely with a handler, so training calls for patience and consistency. It learns well when motivated but switches off during drilling and reacts poorly to harsh corrections, which can dent trust with such a sensitive breed. Short, upbeat sessions work better than long ones. Because the chase instinct runs deep, reliable off-lead behaviour around moving animals is hard to guarantee, so a secure area or a long line is the safer default.

Basics

1. Start socialisation early, gently exposing the puppy to people, places, and other dogs
2. Teach name response and a solid recall in a fenced space before trusting the dog outdoors
3. Build basic cues (sit, down, stay) in short, calm sessions
4. Practise lead walking and settling around distractions
5. Reinforce a reliable recall and a strong "leave it" given the breed's prey drive

Sloughis generally take their time reaching physical and mental maturity, like many sighthounds, and breeding is best left until the dog is fully grown and health-tested. Responsible breeders confirm temperament and screen for known concerns before mating. Gestation in dogs averages about 63 days, and Sloughi litters tend to be moderate in size.

Raising Sloughi puppies is largely about gentle, early socialisation, since the breed's reserved nature means confident exposure to people and situations in the first few months shapes how the adult dog turns out. Puppies should be kept warm, fed well for steady growth, and introduced to handling, sounds, and other animals at a measured pace. Reputable breeders place puppies with owners who understand the breed's exercise needs and sensitive character, and in New Zealand that usually means going on a waiting list with a breeder registered with Dogs New Zealand.

Sloughi registration and microchip registration in New Zealand

Adding your Sloughi to the registry is a ten-minute job at most: name, date of birth, photo, contact details, save. The profile is free for life and works whether the chip is already in or booked for the next vet visit. Dog registration is the place to start.

Getting the chip implanted was the vet's job; giving the number somewhere to point is yours. Registering the microchip with United Pet Club costs nothing on the lifetime plan, suits any brand a Kiwi vet reaches for, and keeps the record searchable at any hour from anywhere. Creating a free account ties the profile and the chip together.