Africa is a particular and striking continent not only for its culture and tradition, but also for its diverse fauna and flora. When we talk about African fauna, almost immediately we tend to think of the beautiful exotic species that identify this continent, such as lions, rhinos, giraffes, hippos and elephants.
However, the African continent has also been the birthplace of dog breeds that are unique in their appearance and temperament. In this article on our site, we invite you to discover the 10 breeds of dogs originating from Africa most recognized throughout the world.
Don't miss our complete list of African dog breeds with photos!
1. Basenji
The basenji is a special dog for many reasons. In addition to being one of the most recognized African dogs globally, it is considered the oldest dog breed in the world, according to a scientific study that compares genomic analyzes of 161 current dog breeds [ 1] also has gained a lot of popularity , especially during the last few years, for being the least barking dog breed.
In addition to being silent and showing a somewhat shy temperament, the basenji emits a very particular sound that is not similar to the traditional canine bark and yes to a kind of laughter. He is also very strict about his personal hygiene, maintaining grooming habits similar to those of a feline. Curious, right?
two. Azawakh greyhound
The azawakh is one of the greyhound breeds originating from the African continent. Although little is known exactly about its origins, its birth is attributed to the region of Mali, located south of the Sahara desert. Their ancestors began to be bred and later adopted as a kind of talisman by the Tuareg monad tribe. For this reason, the breed has remained, for several centuries, isolated in this region of Africa, only reaching the European continent in the 70s.
Like all greyhounds, the Azawakh features an athletic body, taller than it is long, with remarkable elegance. Thanks to its privileged size, its long and strong legs, its great flexibility and physical resistance, the azawakh greyhound can reach extraordinary speeds
3. Sloughi
We continue our list of African dogs with the sloughi, also known as greyhound or Arabian hound As it is a very old breed, their origins are uncertain, but it is estimated that they could have been born in the region of Ethiopia, having spread throughout the Maghreb thanks to the Bedouin nomads. For this reason, a large part of the sloghi brought to Europe came from the region where Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya are currently located.
Its popular name is a reference to the great popularity that this type of greyhound has achieved in Arab countries. For many years, these dogs have been used in a cruel hunting method that, fortunately, is now prohibited.
The most outstanding physical characteristics of the sloughi are:
- Tall and elegant body.
- Wedge-shaped head.
- Triangular ears, relatively small in relation to their size.
- Short, smooth and fine fur, whose color can be sand, reddish, sand-red and black mantle.
- The black mask is also accepted in this dog breed.
4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is, to date, the only dog breed originating in South Africa recognized by the FCI (International Cinological Federation). For many years, this dog was called "lion dog" and, until today, we also find many references to the breed by its original name in English, Rhodesian Ridgeback. This peculiar name refers to the characteristic inverted hair ridge that these dogs stand out along their back.
This is a large dog, with an elongated body and well-developed muscles, which needs high daily physical activity to expend its great energy. In relation to their guardians, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are extremely faithful, but can be somewhat reserved in the presence of strangers. With early socialization, they can learn to relate positively to other dogs, people, and other stimuli and objects in their environment.
5. Coton de Tuléar
The Coton de Tuleár is a breed of African dog originating from the Island of Madagascar, more specifically from a port city called Tuléar. Although there is no reliable record that allows us to know exactly their origins, it is estimated that these dogs originate from dogs of the bichon family that have been brought from Europe to Madagascar.
The arrival of these dogs on the island is still a mystery. Some versions say that they were taken by French troops, while others affirm that they arrived on the ships of Spanish or Portuguese navigators.
Without a doubt, its most characteristic feature is the white, soft and dense fur which, due to its resemblance to cotton, yields the name "coton" (a word that means "cotton" in the French language). It is also a small dog, with a body slightly longer than it is tall, and a very docile, cheerful and sociable character. For this reason, they are often much loved as pets, and can be excellent family dogs.
6. Boerboel or African Bulldog
The Boerboel is another of the African dog breeds that originated in South Africa It is a Molossian-type dog that is also known internationally as the South African mastiff, African mastiff, or African berboel. For its development it is assumed that the bullmastiff, the great Dane and the bullensbeisser (a dog of German origin now extinct) have been used.
Thanks to his impressive appearance and large size, this dog is never unnoticed wherever he goes and needs an experienced guardian who has the patience, affection and knowledge necessary to educate him properly.
Regarding its character, the Boerboel is an intelligent and balanced dog that usually responds very well to positive training. But he is very suspicious in the presence of strangers, as he has been historically trained as a guard and defense dogTherefore, socialization will be key in their education.
7. Aidi
Aidi is one of Africa's lesser-known dog breedsoutside your home territory. Its birth is attributed to the mountainous regions of the north of the African continent, especially to the Atlas mountain range located in Morocco. These furry ones accompanied the nomadic tribes of the Berbers (a term that designates a group of native ethnic groups of North Africa), carrying out mainly herding and protection functions. Although they were also eventually used for big game hunting , especially wild boar.
Aidi dogs show a medium size, slightly elongated body and well-developed musculature, highlighting their strength, agility and physical resistance. Its fur is abundant and adheres well to the skin of its body, with straight, short and thick fur that usually shows a white background color combined with shades of black or brown. Regarding his character, Aidi is a dog active and very loyalto his guardians, who shows a great vocation for protecting his home and family from the.
8. Africanis
Africanis or African canis is a breed of African dog native to South Africa, where it is also known as Zulu, Bantu, Hottentot and Khoikhol. However, the same term " africanis " can be used, in southern Africa, as a generic name to designate any dog indigenous to this region.
Its origins are little known, but it is estimated that it has begun to develop naturally from crosses between pariah dogs (primitive) from South Africa with hounds introduced to South Africa from mainland Europe.
This is a medium dog, with a body slightly longer than it is tall and with well-developed muscles. Their short, coarse coat can be any color, and eventually the Rhodesian ridgecharacteristicis seen in this breed as well. Africanis are active, fast and very slender, so they need high physical activity to expend energy and maintain a balanced behavior.
Currently, the Africanis is classified as an emerging breed by the KUSA (Kennel Union of Southern Africa) and the Africanis Society of Africa del Sur continues to dedicate itself to fulfilling the requirements for its official recognition by the FCI.
9. Saluki
The Saluki, also known as royal dog of Egypt or Persian greyhound, is a very old breed, and may be the oldest specimen of the family of the greyhounds or greyhounds. Its origins are quite uncertain: the FCI attributes its birth to Middle East, which is why the creation of this dog is usually associated with Arab countries, especially Iran.
Nevertheless, graphic portraits of the saluki have been found in Egyptian tombs from 2100 BC. C. and, as their popular name suggests, these furry ones were related to the nobility of Egyptian society. In addition, the term Middle East is currently used more broadly in a geopolitical context, encompassing, in addition to the Arab countries of South Asia, also countries such as Egypt and Cyprus.
Considering all this, it is very possible that this dog breed has African roots and Arab culture, whose tradition says that they can only be given as gifts. Two varieties of saluki are accepted: long-haired and short-haired, with the former being more popular than the latter.
10. Abyssinian sand terrier or African hairless dog
We end our list of African dogs with the Abyssinian sand terrier or Abyssinian sand terrier, as its name suggests, it is a dog of the terrier family that originated in Africa. Very little is known exactly about its origins, but it would be a very ancient race to which African mythology used to attribute supernatural healing powers. Beyond the legends, these dogs show a very brave and somewhat intrepid character, being extraordinarily loyal to their guardians.
Without a doubt, its most striking physical characteristic is that it is a hairless dog, although some specimens may have some tufts on the skull and tail The bat ears, always erect, are also a typical feature of these African dogs. A wide variety of colors are accepted for this breed, including elephant gray, black, bronze, dappled with pink ears, and pale sandy.
Currently, it is being investigated whether they could have participated in the creation of other breeds of hairless dogs, such as the Chinese Crested.
