🐕 Medium · West Africa (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso)
The Azawakh is a tall, extremely lean West African sighthound used by nomadic peoples for hunting and guarding, distinguished by great stamina and alertness.
The Azawakh is independent, closely bonded to his own people, and notably distant to wary toward strangers. He is considered sensitive and reacts poorly to rough handling.
As a running and hunting breed, the Azawakh needs regular free exercise with room to sprint, ideally on fenced ground, given his pronounced prey drive. Rest periods at home alternate with short, intense bursts of activity.
The short coat is low-maintenance, but because of his very low body fat the Azawakh is sensitive to cold and often needs a coat in winter. Visible ribs and hip bones are normal for the breed and not a sign of underweight.
Given his pronounced aloofness, prey drive, and particular care requirements, the Azawakh is not well suited to first-time dog owners. Experience with sighthounds makes handling considerably easier.
The breed is generally considered robust, though breeders watch for a heart condition called idiopathic pericarditis as well as autoimmune thyroiditis. Because of the low fat layer, Azawakhs are also more sensitive to certain anaesthetics than other breeds.
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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.
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