Fun Sloughi Facts For Kids

Are you enthusiastic about learning more about dogs? If yes, then you must know about one ancient breed, the Sloughi.

This breed originates in North Africa and is especially found in Morocco. In history, dogs were first known for hunting, and it is still being used for hunting in North Africa. This medium-sized dog breed is classified as a part of the sighthound group.

It is also known as the Arabian hound. These short-haired dogs have a slender look.

It is one of the dog breeds, with high energy and loves to take part in all kinds of exercise. While training, these dogs respond well to positive reinforcement, and it loves treats.

When we look at the dog's temperament, it can seem aloof and a little stubborn, but the dogs are quite loyal to their master and other family members. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized this dog breed in 2016 as their 190th dog breed. Do you want to know more about this elegant dog breed?

Keep reading to learn interesting Sloughi facts. Also, check out the articles on the miniature German Shepherd and Dorkie.

Sloughi Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Sloughi?

A Sloughi is a type of dog breed belonging to the sighthound group.

What class of animal does a Sloughi belong to?

The Sloughi belongs to the class Mammalia and the genus Canis.

How many Sloughi are there in the world?

The exact population of the Sloughi dog breed is yet to be known.

Where does a Sloughi live?

The Sloughi is a North African dog, and it is extensively found in Morocco. Other than that, the dog is found in countries like Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

However, this dog breed has reached other countries due to its popularity as a hunting dog. The Sloughi has been recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) along with other reputable kennel associations.

What is a Sloughi's habitat?

The Sloughi is used to moderately cold and hot temperatures. This dog breed has a short coat and isn't meant to stay in extremely cold places.

The dog is mainly found in human households as a loving pet. However, Sloughis are still used for hunting in their native country, and it belongs to the hound group.

Even though this dog can adapt to an apartment lifestyle, it wouldn't be able to live in a very small space. It's better to have this dog at a place that has enough space for it to move around.

These dogs cannot live alone, and they crave human attention. Hence, don't leave your puppy alone for too long, as it can quickly escalate into separation anxiety.

Who do Sloughis live with?

The Sloughi is found with its human owners. It is an extremely intelligent and loyal dog breed.

The Sloughi loves children, and when a puppy is raised with a child, it is quickly socialized about tolerating more children. The Sloughi is also pet-friendly if it receives training from a young age. People who have rodents or other small mammals should keep those pets away as this is a sighthound breed with a high prey drive.

However, these dogs can be a little sensitive when it comes to strangers. Don't let strangers come near the dog until the pet has grown to know the person.

How long does a Sloughi live?

The average life span of a Sloughi is around 12-15 years.

How do they reproduce?

Like other dog breeds, the Sloughi bitches also go through estrus (heat) cycles. The breeding of dogs mainly depends on the heat cycles of a bitch.

Breeding during the heat cycle will most likely turn into pregnancy for the bitch. The gestation period lasts 58-68 days, and the Sloughi bitch gives birth to four to six puppies.

It is important to take the bitch to an experienced vet as soon as you find out about Sloughi's pregnancy. The puppy needs to stay with the mother for up to six weeks before the litter is weaned.

If you want to adopt a Sloughi puppy, make sure to get it from a responsible breeder. The breeders also need to focus on mating the right dog and bitch to get purebred Sloughi puppies that meet the guidelines of AKC and other organizations.

What is their conservation status?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature or the IUCN Red List has listed this dog breed as Not Listed.

Sloughi Fun Facts

What do Sloughis look like?

When it comes to the physical characteristics of this dog breed, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has done a good job in penning them down. One of the first characteristics that you will notice is its hound-like look which places the Sloughi in the sighthound group.

They have slim and slender muscular bodies, along with long angular legs, that help the dog be extremely agile. The head is shaped like a long wedge and is supported by a long neck.

The eyes are almond-shaped, and the ears are droopy and medium-sized. The breed has a tucked-up belly along with an almost level back.

It also sports a long and slim tail that curves at the end. The Sloughi breed is known for its smooth and short coat. It comes in different colors and patterns like black, brindle, cream, fawn, light sand, and spotted.

A black mask is often seen on the face, along with black markings on the ears. A little bit of feathering of the coat is seen in the ears.

How cute are they?

You may not find the Sloughi cute at first look, however, you cannot miss its affectionate and adorable look. We find the puppies even more beautiful because of their cuddly nature.

How do they communicate?

The Sloughi dogs aren't huge barkers, and you will rarely find them barking. However, it may bark when it is in the presence of strangers. Other than barking, the Sloughis also communicate through scent like other dogs. You can also teach the dogs tricks and other communication cues through training.

How big is a Sloughi?

The average shoulder height of a Sloughi is 24-29 in (60.9-73.7 cm). The long legs do add to its tall height and upright gait. The Sloughi is slightly smaller than the Great Dane (that has an average shoulder height of 28-32 in or 71.1-81.3 cm.)

How fast can a Sloughi run?

Sloughis are great at running, and their hunting skills and acute prey drive were used to search for wild pigs, desert hares, ostriches, and other animals. The top speed of a Sloughi is around 42 mph (67.6 kph), and the dogs can run long distances without getting tired.

Training a Sloughi puppy from an early age can help it to participate in events like lure coursing and tracking.

How much does a Sloughi weigh?

The average weight of the Sloughi dogs is around 45-70 lb (20.4-31.7 kg).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male Sloughi is called a dog, and the female Sloughi is called a bitch.

What would you call a baby Sloughi?

Baby Sloughis are known as puppies.

What do they eat?

The diet of a Sloughi is super important because these are high-energy dogs. It needs a lot of exercise in a day, and it should be complemented with high-quality food.

Good and healthy protein should make up most of its diet closely followed by important fats. It is best to talk with a vet before you start giving a certain food to your puppy.

These dogs can be a little aloof and stubborn, and you will need to work with them, especially when it comes to training. Dogs generally like to eat dry food, and the quality depends on their age and weight.

Make sure to give the dog fresh water with the meals. Because of its slender look, some owners try to feed the dog more food, but that isn't good for its health.

Are they slobbery?

No, the Sloughis aren't slobbery dogs.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, the Sloughis are an amazing breed of dog to keep as your pet. The breed is known for its loyalty to its masters.

Even though Sloughis can be a little aloof, the dogs are certainly goofballs when you show love and appreciation. Because of their high energy level, the Sloughis are also great for households with kids as the dog can easily keep up its playful nature.

As an African hunting dog, it can still have an acute prey drive, but a little bit of training in its early life will help to socialize the dog. These adorable puppies are protective of their family and have a long life to spend with them.

When it comes to the nature of these dogs, they are a little sensitive, so the owners will need to shower a lot of love on their pets. The dogs can be a little tricky about strangers and find new people disconcerting.

However, proper training helps, and these dogs respond well to positive reinforcement and affirmations. When talking about training, we have to say that this is a sporty dog.

Hence, it can easily participate in lure coursing and other sports with a little bit of training from an early age. The dog needs 90-120 minutes of exercise daily, and you will need to provide that to the pet for a healthy life.

Grooming is always a big thing for dogs, and this is a smooth-haired breed; hence you wouldn't need to struggle with it. The smooth coat needs to be brushed once or twice a week.

It's a medium-sized dog, so brushing shouldn't take a long time. You should also give the dog an occasional bath to get rid of any dirt. Grooming in all dog breeds should also include cleaning their ears and teeth.

Another thing to focus on is the health of a dog. It includes maintaining the weight of a dog, but this breed isn't prone to weight gain.

Still, as it is a high-energy breed, you should keep a check on its diet and search for the best food available. As you are most likely to get this dog from a breeder, make sure to know about its history.

Breeders have to follow certain rules of breeding, and the breeder should also have the health and life history available of the owners.

However, this might not be possible for rescue dogs. Make sure to visit a vet after getting the rescue dog. Some common health problems seen in a Sloughi are progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, and Addison's Disease.

Keep up with the regular exercise routines to keep the dog healthy. The general health of this breed is quite good.

Did you know...

The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that the Sloughi was entered into the Foundation Stock Service in 1997. The Sloughi can also participate in the AKC Companion events since 2004.

In 1989, the American Sloughi Association was established as the popularity of the breed increased.

The Sloughi is a part of the sighthound group as it hunts with the help of sight and sound.

What does a Sloughi dog look like?

The Sloughis have an elegant and upright look. As the breed looks quite similar to the greyhound dogs, it is also known as the Arabian greyhound.

The dog has a short and dense coat along with greyhound-like long legs. The dog also has a slim tail. Do not confuse the Sloughi with other dog breeds like the Ibizan hound or other breeds like the Saluki and Azawakh.

Are Sloughis good guard dogs?

Yes, the protective temperament of the Sloughi is quite strong when it comes to its family and territory. In its native countries in Africa, the dog is still used as a hunting and guarding dog. This is also the reason that the Sloughis are a little too sensitive toward strangers.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Gelada interesting facts and striped skunk facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Sloughi dog coloring pages.