Azawakh

The Azawakh originated in Africa. They are a type of sight hound dog. Their build and structure resembles more to the sight hounds in Middle East and North Africa. They have long legs and their whole body is lean and graceful. They have a very aristocratic presence and an untamed way of living.

They come in many a color coats in their place of origin and vary a little bit in their refinement too. But they can be easily spotted as the Azawakh. A fully healthy and a fit Azawakh weighs in at around 15 to 25 kg (33 to 55 pounds). These are tall dogs when you look at their height. A fully grown adult stands tall at around 61 to 74 cm (24 to 29 inches). They have a coat that covers all of the body except for the underbelly. Their bones are easily seen through their skin, this isn’t because they are under fed, but that’s the way they are. They have “dry” muscles all over them. In dog terminology that means the muscles are flat, almost like gaining a 2 dimensional shape, unlike the rest of the breeds who have fully fledged muscles like we humans do.

Most of the Azawakhs have an intense and a close bond with their masters, and unlike the other sight hounds, they are very protective of their masters properties. They are not good at taking instruction from anyone, and aren’t easy to train. They are a mix of both worlds, they happen to be attentive, affectionate and refined and still be aloof, fierce and rugged at the same time. They are very gentle and affectionate to the master and the families they happen to live with. Strangers are advised not to approach these dogs as they get really aggressive, and chances are they might even harm you. When threatened upon, they even get aggressive even on other canines.

They can survive in the toughest of the toughest conditions; they have been doing so for generation after generation already in the remote dry places of Africa. They can even manage the equatorial heat with ease and are built for high endurance. No wonder they are the first choice to protect livestock in most of the areas of this continent. Given a chance, they can even run around at top speeds at 100 degree sunny afternoons that would be very fatal for any other breed of dog.

All they do in their free time is dig holes in the garden. It’s a great exercise for them as it also keeps their nails in check and keeps them from growing more than required. They aren’t big fans of cold weather and foggy rainy days either. They live in packs when on their own and always have a hierarchy chain going on. Unlike most dogs, they have excellent memories even when it comes to remembering other canines. They like the companionship of their fellow breeds and are found sleeping one over the other for warmth.