WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A SLOUGHI?
A Sloughi (slew-gee) is a new breed of dog, brought to America from Africa
about 1989. It is still considered a rare breed on this continent. The
Sloughi is reported as one of the site-hound breeds owned by ancient Egyptian
royalty. This graceful site-hound can weigh upwards of 75 pounds and have
almost no fat on their body. In spite of their size, they make wonderful
indoor pets and are quite loyal to their owners.
Stand a Sloughi next to a greyhound and,
at first glance, minor differences are not noticed. The Sloughi is
a larger boned animal with a broader chest. The ears are lop-eared,
coming off the side of the head, rather than laying against the back
of the neck. The body of this breed is shaped more like a square instead
of the triangle of a greyhound.
The Sloughi often has a longer nose than
most greyhounds with the distinctive “Roman” bump in the
center, and will use it to counter-surf wherever there is food. The
Sloughi comes in two varieties – the shorthaired and the longhaired
type, which often has curly hair at the tips of his ears. While the
coat may be in any color, the most common is red, with black a close
runner-up.
One way to tell a Sloughi is by the gait.
Unlike his cousin, when trotting or running, his paws will not extend
past the nose. Because a Sloughi is a long distance runner, it is often
bred with the greyhound to extend the sprinter’s endurance.
An interesting feature of the Sloughi is
their webbed feet with an exposed pad. No special care is needed for
the pads, but with prolonged walking on asphalt or rough terrain, a
special cream will need to be applied. This is inexpensive and is available
at your local pet store.
This breed is happiest when serving its
owner. After the period of adjustment to its new home, he becomes protective.
While the Sloughi could not be called a “watch-dog”, he
might be provoked to action if he feels the need to defend the owner.
Unless the Sloughi is raised in the home from puppyhood, it is not
suited for young children under the age of eight.
The Sloughi is a highly intelligent animal
with logical reasoning. If you want to teach your pet tricks, a Sloughi
is not for you. If he doesn’t see the logic in an action, he
won’t do it. While the Sloughi appears shy, he is actually cautious
and will hang back when making the acquaintance of humans. Given enough
time, the Sloughi will get curious and come to the new person. People
need to know that a cupped hand with the palm down is a threatening
motion to a Sloughi. The best way to gain their confidence is to cup
the hand upwards, as if going to stroke the throat, and let the Sloughi
walk into the hand.
This animal is a peace-loving pet. It will
not tolerate or forgive a raised or yelling voice. They have long memories
and do not forget. If the Sloughi needs disciplining, a simple motion
and toneless voice signals the need for a behavior change. Your adult
Sloughi will usually not make the same mistake again.
Contrary to popular belief, the Sloughi
does not need a large amount of exercise. He is content with a soft
place to curl up and sleep and a few large cuddly toys scattered around.
Be aware that plastic eyes, bows and other adornments will be pulled
off in play and are dangerous to your pet if swallowed. It is natural
for a Sloughi to play in spurts for about 1-2 minutes and then be satisfied
to lie close to his owner for hours.
After a Sloughi gets acclimated to his
new home, he will walk the perimeter and will need to go to the bathroom
more frequently until he adjusts to his surroundings. Don’t forget
to show him what behavior you expect to let you know when he needs
to go outside. He may never have seen a doggie-door before!
Keep in mind that even though your new
Sloughi has food and water indoors, he will drink from anyplace outdoors
that may harbor mosquitoes. Without the monthly application of heartworm
medicine, your new pet will quickly come under an agonizing death sentence.
Rescue groups are a great way to find the
gentle Sloughi. They are able to give insight to the pet’s personality,
likes and dislikes, as well as some history of the animal. An Internet
search will list contact information for rescue groups and breeders
in addition to more information about the breed.
Julie Grant is owner of Pet Chauffeur Transport, a pet chauffeur company that operates in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and suburbs. She is available for special presentations and talks. Pet Chauffeur appreciates your comments and encourages you to send them, whether pro or con, to oegrant2@juno.com. All contents and articles on this website are copyrighted and require the express written permission of the author for copies, distribution, or use outside of this website.
