Ashra Kennel

Countries of origin:

Tunesia, Libya and Morocco; the northern part of the Sahara in North Africa. To this day they are highly valued hunting dogs among the Bedouins, the free sons of the Sahara. The hunting skills of the sloughi are praised everywhere; A good hunting dog provided meat for the whole family. They were worth many camels and even women.

History:

In the 19th century, European travellers who had discovered the until then unknown Arabian world brought with them the first stories about the Sloughi, the northern-african greyhound. The most elaborate and accurate description dates from the middle of the previous century and is to be found in the accounts of the Sahara-journeys of the French general Daumas. With strong empathy in the African-arabic world Daumas describes the sloughi as the noble hunting companion of the Bedouins, who was treated like a king. Indeed the sloughi was treasured: if necessary they were breast-fed as a puppie, they slept next to their master in the tent, they were protected from the cold with a blanket, and they wore a collar and a talisman as a jewel. They got the best food, were hospitably welcomed when accompanying their master on a visit, and were mourned when they died. Daumas describes their character as courageous and noble, their mannerisms as distinguished and proud.

This high appreciation for the noble greyhound in the eastern world has existed for many centuries, among kings and emperors as well as poor Bedouins. The tradition of hunting with greyhounds is age-old. It can be traced back to the time of the Pharos: the hunt with the short-haired greyhound with drooping  ears is already pictured on Egyptian monuments that date from 1500 B.C. This greyhound would have been imported to North-Africa by Arabian conquerors.

The sloughi was, besides the horse and the camel, the most precious possession of the bedouiins. He accompanied his master when hunting, and was placed on the saddle in front of the rider. If a herd of gazelles would come within sight, the sloughi would jump from the cantering horse to chase one of those fast prey for his master. The continuing civilisation and the present hunting laws have diminished the numbers of Arabian greyhounds as hunting animals. The huge sloughi-packs of mighty sheiks no longer exist.

But the passion for the sloughi is deeply rooted in the inhabitants of this vast land, and far away from the advancing modern cities and roads this tradition is still carried on. If you want to find the authentic sloughis in North-Africa, good preparation, a lot of knowledge about the country, and extensive contact with the natives are necessary. Otherwise you will inevitably be disappointed.

The relationship between you and your sloughi should be based on mutual respect and confidence. This aristocratic dog will do everything for the master HE has chosen, if this master accepts him as he is. At least once a day a sloughi should be given free rein. Next to ordinary walks he should get the possibility to run and play around freely without a leash. The endurance of this breed is uncomparable. Inside it is a calm dog, outside he shows how athletic he really is.

As can be said for any greyhound, future owners should realise that this dog needs this free exercise very much. SInce the dog’s tendency to roam will very by training and personality, you’ll have to find out yourself whether it is possible to let your own adult dog run around completely unleashed. Sooner or later every sloughi will discover his true nature. Since he can run long distances in a short time, owners should not underestimate the dangers of, for instance, nearby roads or hunting terrains. Although most sloughis can by training be taught to return to their masters on command, an alternative is to give them free exercise within a closed space. Long walks on the leash or next to the bike are also very appreciated. An ideal possibility is the participation to and the training for greyhoundraces on a race-track. This allows the dog to run as much as he likes and experience his hunting instinct without any danger.

The development of the sloughi is largely dependent on the way he is kept and the experiences from his youth. Especially in their early youth sloughis need intensive social contact with humans to develop fully. For these and any greyhound, an authoritative attitude will work well for sloughis. Be aware, a violent training will break their pride and also their character. On the contrary, A loving, patient training will undoubtedly lead to unexpected and good results. Before buying a sloughi, it would be ideal to visit some shows and racetracks to get to know the versatility of this breed.