The azawakh is a type of greyhound dog endemic to the African continent. Although it is a very ancient and symbolic dog breed in its countries of origin, it is still little known in the West. Likewise, these dogs stand out notable qualities, such as a slender and athletic body and a docile and balanced temperament.
In this tab on our site, we invite you to learn more about this magnificent breed of greyhound. Here, we will tell you all about the origins, physical characteristics, behavior and he alth of the azawakh And if you are evaluating the possibility of adopting a furry of this breed, you will be able to know the essential care of the azawakh dog.
Origin of Azawakh
The azawakh is a canine breed native to Africa, whose birth is attributed to the region between Mali and Niger, located south of the Sahara desert. These slender dogs are beginning to be bred and adopted as a symbol by members of the African nomadic tribe called Tuareg
Originally, the Tuareg used their greyhounds to help them on their hunting days, benefiting from the excellent vision and amazing speed that Azawakh dogs reach when running. In addition, their coat color and slim body allowed them to easily camouflage themselves in the dense sand of African desert areas. This gave them a great "advantage" when it came to reaching prey such as hares, gazelles, ostriches and fennecs Eventually, they would also have to deal with other local predators, such as jackals, foxes and even lions.
Likewise, it is important to highlight that azawakh has a great symbolic value for the Tuareg, and was not only used or explored for hunt. These dogs were considered great life companions by the members of the nomadic tribe, who found in them a great ally for their survival. In addition, according to the culture and traditions of the Tuareg, it was forbidden to sell their "talisman dogs" For this reason, the Azawakh greyhounds have taken several centuries to be known outside its homeland and its introduction to the European continent would only happen in the mid-1970s.
Nevertheless, they have never been as popular in Europe as the Afghan greyhound, the Spanish greyhound or the greyhound. But unfortunately, like most greyhounds, their physical qualities have also been exploited in races.
Physical Characteristics of Azawakh
Like all greyhounds, the azawakh is characterized by its privileged bearing and remarkable elegance, exhibiting a body that is taller than it is long, with long strong legs. The combined shape of their athletic and streamlined body highlights a "dry" and well-developed muscles, allowing these dogs to perform extraordinary jumps due to their flexibility, as well as reaching high speeds 60 km/h when running.
The azawak is a medium-large dog, tall and light, but revealing exceptional strength and physical resistance. Its thin and dry skin allows us to clearly observe the relief of its well-defined and marked musculature, especially on its thighs. Males typically display a height of 64 to 74 cm at the withers as adults, with an average body weight of 20 and 25kgIn females, the height at the withers varies between 60 and 70 cm at the withers, and their body weight can range from 15 to 20 kg.
Its head is long, fine and chiseled, retaining the same finesse and thinness that characterizes this breed. The neck is long, fine and muscular, clearly standing out in the height of the men, and being slightly arched to the naked eye. Likewise, neither the head nor the neck of the azawakh should appear heavy or coarse, but rather harmonious in relation to the fine lines of his entire body.
The facial region of the Azawakh is characterized by a long, straight snout, which tapers slightly towards the nose. The dark or amber almond-shaped eyes, the flat cheeks; lips thin and tight (not hanging) dark brown or black. Their flat, thin ears are always drooping next to their cheeks and are set fairly high.
The coat of the Azawakh is made up of fine, smooth and short hairs, which are well attached to its thin skin. Regarding colors, all shades are allowed from light sand to dark fawn, with or without brindle markings (as long as they are black). White markings are only allowed when they are limited to the extremities, and some white markings may only spread over the chest and neck region.
Azawakh dog character
In general, all Greyhounds are characterized by extremely energetic behavior, and the Azawakh is no exception. These furry ones have almost inexhaustible energy and show a great predisposition to physical activity. Therefore, they need to have an adequate physical exercise routine to expend all this energy and maintain stable behavior at home.
When they receive proper care and enough physical activity to expend their energy, Azawakhs tend to show a calm and friendly demeanor in their family nucleus, enjoying being caressed and sharing good times with their relatives. However, they are also independent dogs that will need to have their moments of peace and quiet respected, especially while sleeping and feeding.
We should also mention that Azawakh dogs are very attentive and have very well developed senses. Consequently, they tend to respond quickly to any strange stimulus in their environment, as well as being easily affected by stress symptoms. Therefore, they need to live in a positive environment and be properly socialized from their first months of life.
Azawakh dog essential care
The Azawakh requires relatively simple care to maintain optimal he alth. Its short, close-fitting coat is easy to maintain, requiring only brushing a week to remove dirt and dead hair. Baths can be done only when the dog is really dirty, or once a month, trying not to bathe it more than once a week. Excessive bathing removes the layer of fat that naturally covers and protects the body of dogs, leaving them more exposed to numerous diseases and skin problems.
On the other hand, Azawakh dogs need particular dedication from their guardians with their physical exercise routine. To expend their great energy, maintain a he althy weight and balanced behavior, you will need to exercise daily and ideally they should have a large and safe place where they can run freely. If this is not possible, you will need to do at least three long walks with your greyhound, of at least 40 minutes each. You can also consider the possibility of starting him in a dog sport, such as agility, or practice canicross with your dog.
Like all dogs, azawakhs need complete and balanced nutrition to fully develop physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. There are several types of dog food that you can consider offering your best friend, from basing their diet solely on the consumption of balanced feed to opting for the benefits of a BARF diet. To ensure that you provide the most appropriate nutrition for your greyhound's nutritional needs, we always advise you to consult a veterinarian.
Last but not least, remember that the Azawakh is an intelligent dog and also needs to have his mind well stimulated to lead a he althy and happy life. Remember to enrich your dog's environment, in addition to presenting intelligence games and consider starting him in searching or planting for dogs.
Azawakh education
The education of the Azawakh should begin in the early stages of its life, while it is still a puppy. However, if you decide to adopt an adult greyhound, you need to know that it is always possible to educate and train an adult dog. Puppy training begins with puppy socialization, a stage that begins around the third week of life and lasts up to three months. In this period we must ensure that the little Azawakh interacts with all kinds of people, animals, objects and environments, ensuring that each of these interactions is safe and positive. The socialization of the puppy will have a direct impact on the behavior of the adult dog. Therefore, if you want to share your home with an obedient and balanced dog, you will need to socialize it correctly.
During these first three months of your puppy's life, we also advise you to teach him to relieve himself in the newspaper and to correctly manage the bite so as not to cause damage. Also in this period, you must present the household rules, always applying positive reinforcement and never using punishment.
When your puppy has completed his first cycle of essential vaccinations, you can start taking him outside for walks and continue socializing him with other dogs, people, stimuli and environments. This will be the ideal time to teach him to relieve himself on the street and begin to introduce him to the basic dog training commands, which will be essential to encourage obedient behavior and positive communication with other people.
Upon reaching adulthood, around 12 months of age, you will need to follow up on your Azawakh's education, regularly working on already assimilated obedience commands, and introducing new tricks and more difficult tasks. complete to continue stimulating your mind. When you have completed the basic training with your best friend, you can consider starting him in advanced training, using circuits or specialized professionals.
Azawakh dog he alth
In general terms, the Azawakh shows great physical resistance and excellent he alth, so they will hardly get sick if they receive adequate care. But like all dog breeds, Azawakh dogs may have a certain genetic predisposition to develop some hereditary and degenerative diseases The following conditions are usually the most common in the azawakh dog:
- Hypothyroidism
- Heart problems
- Hip dysplasia
- Stomach twist
- Autoimmune diseases
In addition, the azawakh can also be affected by other common diseases in dogs and is quite sensitive to drugs and chemicals, and can easily develop allergic reactions. Therefore, it is essential to provide adequate preventive medicine to your best friend throughout his life. Remember to make visits to the vet every 6-12 months to verify its he alth status, respect its vaccination schedule and periodically deworm it with good quality products suitable for its size, weight and age.
With proper care, a positive environment and a lot of affection from their relatives, the life expectancy of the Azawakh is between 10 and 13 years.
