Breed information

Azawakh – the rarest of them all

This is the Touareg sighthound. The Touaregs are also known as the 'Blue Men' or the 'Veiled Men' of Africa, the Touaregs are a small population of Berber people in the Sahel area of Africa (Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger). 

The Azawakh first made its appearance in Europe around 1970, the first ones arrived in former Yugoslavia and in France. The breed found a dedicated but small crowd of admirers, and constantly attracts attention. The breed name Azawakh came from the 'Azaouakh' river valley, but the breed is known as 'Idii ’n illeli' or 'Oska' among the Touaregs.

Skinny and delicate at the first glance, but sturdy and full of temperament - this is the most refined sighthound of them all, but inside there is a strong mind, a fierce hunter with guarding skills. Characteristics that have made them the unique Sighthounds they still are today, in Europe and in their native country.

Few breed winners in the show ring today have as 'short' pedigrees as the Azawakhs – the famous Best In Show winner of the prestigious Longchamps show in Paris (6.200 dogs), Ch J’Fillingue de Garde-Epee’s mother was bred in Mali, Africa. Her offspring makes their mark in Azawakh history winning group placings and numerous BOB wins under breed specialist all over Europe. 

Every year an expedition takes place in the Sahel area, when Azawakh enthusiasts makes a journey to visit the different Toureg and other ethnic tribes that still breeds the Azawakhs, and to secure the gene pool, puppies from Africa are brought back to broaden the gene pool.

This is the way the Azawakhs are bred today, the 'old' Yugoslavian and French bloodlines are bred pure or mixed with recent imports from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger - this is the guarantee that the breed is true to its origin. 

The Azawakh community is very international - a female puppy bred in Sweden was exported to the US in 2001. Puppies bred in the US from an American born male and an African import female, have just arrived in Germany and the Czech Republic. The first UK litter is sired by an African male, residing in Germany, and the mother was bred in France. European bred Azawakhs live in countries like United Emirates, Scandinavia, US, Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Russia, Morocco and Great Britain.

Temperament

Much has been said over the years about Azawakhs and their temperament. Some are less socialized or well trained for the show ring, others are showed with perfection. This is not a dog for everyone! They have a strong mind, a powerful guarding instinct, a very reserved temperament and should always be treated with the utmost respect and care. The are not vicious, evil or aggressive! But they are different from the rest of the Sighthound family, and must be accepted for their uniqueness. 

Breed Standard

France is regarded as the Patronage of this African breed, the breed has been preserved by the European breed enthusiasts since it first arrived in former Yugoslavia and in France.

Proposed Interim Breed Standard

General Appearance
Particularly slender and elegant, showing great refinement. His bone and muscle structure are visible beneath very fine and dry skin. 

Characteristics
This Sighthound gives an impression of being a tall and racy dog by virtue of his elegant framework and his leanness, always elegant without coarseness. His frame fits into a standing rectangle, bitches can be slightly longer. Capable of speed and endurance, enjoys the closeness of his family.

Temperament
Alert, attentive to his surroundings, distant and somewhat reserved with strangers, gentle and affectionate with those he is willing to accept. 

Head and Skull
Long, fine, dry and refined head, rather narrow, without excess. Skull is almost flat, rather elongated. The directions of the axes of skull and muzzle are slightly diverging. Eye brows and frontal groove slightly marked. Marked occiput. Very slight stop. Nostrils well opened, nose black or brown. Long, straight, fine muzzle. 

Eyes
Almond shape, quite large, dark or amber. Eyelids pigmented. 

Ears
Set quite high. Fine, always drooping and flat, not 'rose ear', quite wide at base, close to the skull, shaped as a triangle with slightly rounded tip. Ear base rises when the hound is attentive.

Mouth
Jaws long and strong. Scissor bite. 

Neck
Good reach of neck, long and muscular, slightly arched. The skin is fine, no dewlap.

Forequarters
Long, fine, almost entirely vertical. Dewclaws permitted. Long, slightly oblique shoulders, the Azawakh should not have a great layback of the shoulder.

Body
Topline is straight or rising towards the hips.  Quite prominent withers. Short, lean and often slightly arched loin. Distinctly protruding hip bones, always placed at an equal or superior height to the height of the withers. Oblique croup without accentuated slant. Forechest not very wide. Chest well developed in length and depth but without reaching elbow level, not too wide but enough heart room. Long, visible, slightly and evenly curved ribs. Sternum accentuated, joins in a continuous curve to a high tuck up. 

Hindquarters
Thighs are long with prominent and dry muscles. No exaggerated angulation. The stifle is perpendicular in keeping with the angulation. Hocks are parallel without dewclaws. 

Feet
Rounded, fine and tightly closed toes, pads are pigmented.

Tail
Set low, long, thin, lean and tapered, covered with same type of coat as the body. Carried hanging with the tip slightly raised, when the dog is excited, it can be carried above the topline.

Gait/Movement
Always very supple and covering the ground with light lissom movement of high order, never resembling to a hackney action, giving an impression of lightness and elasticity. The movement is an essential point of the breed.

Coat
Short, fine, down to absence of coat on the belly/abdomen. 

Colour
Red or sand, from the lightest to the darkest of these colours, also all brindle colours acceptable, with or without black mask and/or blaze. White markings on forechest and/or throat. It is essential that the tail has a white tip and and at least a trace of white on the feet, which can extend to stockings high up the leg.

Size
Height at the withers: dogs 64 - 74 cm, bitches 60 - 70 cm. (Weight: dogs 20 - 25 kg, bitches 15 - 20 kg.)

Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.