Gentle, a little sad, as though full of homesickness: this is how the FCI standard describes the Sloughi’s eyes. Behind that expression is a sight hunter that has lived in North Africa for centuries. Commit to one and you gain a sensitive, proud dog deeply attached to its person.
| FCI | Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds, Standard No. 188, without working trial, with racing licence |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Morocco |
| Height at the withers | Males 66 to 72 cm, females 61 to 68 cm (ideal height 70 and 65 cm) |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Very short, dense and fine |
| Colours according to the standard | All shades from pale sand to red sand, with or without black mask, black mantle, black brindling or black overlay; a small white chest patch is a fault, white stockings disqualify |
A sighthound from the Maghreb
According to the standard, the Sloughi has been native to North Africa for centuries, now mainly Morocco. It comes only in a short coat, the quickest distinction from the Saluki: semi-long hair and feathering on legs or tail exclude a Sloughi from breeding. The Sahel is home to the Azawakh, another African sighthound.
Proud, yet close to its person
Noble and proud, deeply attached to its master and ready to defend them when needed: this is the standard’s portrayal. It has a hunter’s instinct and the capacity for sustained exertion, yet appreciates the comfortable cosiness of a home. Aggressive or overly fearful dogs are disqualified.
Running where it is safe
It was bred to hunt by sight. Today, sighthound racing and coursing meet its needs, with the standard providing for a racing licence. Add quiet walks on the lead. Free running should be limited to enclosed spaces, because a distant hare enters its mind faster than any recall.
Fine hair and fine skin
The very short coat needs little more than a rubber grooming mitt. The standard describes very fine skin fitting without folds. A dog coat provides warmth in cold, wet weather, while a soft, raised bed indoors cushions its bony joints.
A genetic test for the eyes
In 2000, Dekomien and colleagues found the cause of generalised progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an inherited retinal degeneration, in the Sloughi: an insertion of 8 bases in the PDE6B gene. Inheritance is autosomal recessive, and a DNA test is possible: ask for the parents’ results. Sighthound blood values vary by breed; a comparison of eight breeds says Greyhound reference values cannot simply be applied to the Sloughi (Uhríková et al. 2013). No lifespan figures are available; the British analysis by McMillan and colleagues lists the Sloughi only by name.
Who will be happy with it
It suits calm people who can reach safe running spaces and give a reserved dog time. Life is harder in households with cats or small pets whose compatibility has not been carefully assessed, and for anyone wanting to let a dog off lead everywhere. Meet its needs and you soon see that sad expression for what it is: pure attentiveness.
The breed quiz can help you decide whether a sensitive sighthound such as the Sloughi fits your life; our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German) explores the question more thoroughly. For the early days with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. If your Sloughi has long been part of your household, find it among our dog portraits or on the magazine-cover canvas.
Further reading
- Rhodesian Ridgeback: the dog that thinks alongside you rather than simply obeying
- Leaving your dog alone: learning without drama, step by step
- Older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 188 Sloughi (fci.be, German and English versions dated 27.04.1998, valid original standard dated 08.01.1998, original language French); Dekomien G et al., Generalized progressive retinal atrophy of Sloughi dogs is due to an 8-bp insertion in exon 21 of the PDE6B gene, Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics 2000; Uhríková I et al., Haematological and biochemical variations among eight sighthound breeds, Australian Veterinary Journal 2013; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed only in the name list, not analysed).
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
