History

  • The Sloughi is originally the Sighthound of the Berber people. Its exact origins date too far back to be completely known and remain speculative. Representations of African Sighthound-like dogs date back to the 8th-7th millennium BC, and Ancient Egypt’s artifacts tell us how valuable straight-eared and lop-eared smooth Sighthounds were in those days.
    The lop-eared smooth Egyptian Sighthound originated possibly from Asia but was also part of tributes to the Pharaohs from Nubia (South of Egypt).
  • The Sloughi has been assigned the Hound Group designation. They first entered FSS in 1997.
  • The Sloughi is one of two African Sighthound breeds recognized by FCI. Whereas the Sloughi originates from North Africa, the Azawakh is to be found in Central Africa (Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali). The Sloughi is also known as the Arabian Greyhound.
  • The Sloughi exists in coat of many colors. The most common are the sand black mask, and the sand brindle. But Sloughis can also be found in all shades.
  • The Sloughi breed was developed in Europe and the USA from dogs imported directly from Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Algeria.
  • The Sloughi was originally bred by the Berber folk in North Africa, the Azawakh by the Touareg (a Berber tribe) in Central Africa and the Saluki by the Bedouin in the Middle East.
  • Although Sloughis are Sighthounds which chase their prey on sight, they are also excellent trackers who can flush out game by scent before the final chase.
  • December 2003 – The Board approved the eligibility of some Foundation Stock breeds (including the Sloughi), which meet certain criteria, for competition in AKC Companion Events (Obedience, Tracking, and Agility), effective January 1, 2004.
  • From the February 2004 Board Meeting – Effective April 1, 2004: The Sloughi will be eligible to participate in AKC Lure Coursing Tests, and to participate in Lure Coursing Trials on an exhibition-only basis.
  • From the August 2006 Board Meeting – The Sloughi will be eligible to compete in Lure Coursing Events, effective October 1, 2006.
  • From the May 2010 Board Meeting The Sloughi will be eligible to compete in the Miscellaneous Class, effective January 1, 2011.
  • From the May 2011 Board Meeting The American Sloughi Association will serve as the AKC Parent Club to represent the Sloughi.
  • From the February 2015 Board Meeting The American Sloughi Association is the official parent club for the Sloughi and to accept the Sloughi into the AKC Stud Book on December 1, 2015. The breed will be eligible to compete in the Hound Group beginning January 1, 2016. AKC will maintain an open registry for the Breed until January 1, 2021.