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Hound Handbook
Insurance guide
Breed profile

Sloughi

Smooth-coated North African sighthound: sensitive, reserved and quietly devoted to its family.

Sand-coloured male Sloughi standing in long grass under a summer sky
A sandy male Sloughi: smooth coat, lean lines, black-rimmed eyes.Photo: Sabine.schlenkrich / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
18–29 kg40–64 lb
Height
61–74 cm24–29 in
Lifespan
10–15 yrs
Group
Hound
Origin
North Africa (Morocco)
Popularity
#201 US#213 UK · 2025

Known for: Warm climatesLow groomingQuiet

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Reserved, Sensitive, Graceful, Loyal.

Health problems to know about

  • Progressive retinal atrophy (DNA test)
  • Addison's disease
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Anaesthetic and drug sensitivity

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Daily walks plus safe off-lead runs in a fenced space. Minimal grooming. Space out vaccines and other treatments as your vet advises.

A good fit for

Calm, experienced owners, warm climates, and adult homes.

Probably not ideal for

Rough-and-tumble family life, homes with small pets, and owners needing reliable recall.

Sources

  1. Sloughi Dog Breed Information | American Kennel Club
  2. Sloughi | Breeds A to Z | The Royal Kennel Club
  3. Sloughi | Wikipedia

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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Rangy sighthound from the Sahel. Fiercely loyal to its own people, aloof or suspicious with strangers.

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Rhodesian Ridgeback

Athletic African hound with a ridge of backward-growing hair along the spine. Dignified, loyal and quietly protective, with a will of its own.

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