Sloughi

Grooming Tips

The Sloughi is extremely easy to groom. A quick rubdown with a towel, glove or soft brush every now and then is all that is needed to keep him looking tidy. Its sleek coat repels most of the grime that it encounters on its outdoor adventures. Mild shampoo and water are normally enough to clean even the dirtiest Sloughi. This breed has little of the "wet dog" smell characteristic of most damp dogs, making scented shampoos to mask that smell unnecessary. The Sloughi's skin is not overly-sensitive. However, because it is fairly thin and can become chafed, vigorous scrubbing and frequent baths should be avoided. During grooming, Sloughi owners should check for ticks, fleas, mites and other parasites that may have climbed aboard.The rest is basic care. Trim the nails as needed, usually every week or so. Like most sighthounds, Sloughis have sensitive feet, so practice this early on with a puppy and be sure you never hurt him when you are touching his feet. He’ll never forget it. Keep the ears clean and dry, and brush the teeth regularly with a vet-approved doggie toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.

Exercise Tips

Though usually sedate while in the home, the Sloughi is a somewhat active breed—he is a mannerly housedog possessed of high prey drive when in pursuit. This elegant, very athletic hound needs ample exercise, preferably including opportunities to run full out in a safely enclosed area. Canine sports such aslure coursingcan engage the breed with mental and physical activity he will greatly enjoy.With this said, Sloughi puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.

Feeding Tips

The Silky Terrier does well on either a home cooked diet or on high-quality dog kibble. You can supplement your Silky Terrier’s diet with other nutrients and vitamins.If you get a Sloughi puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again. One thing worth noting is that Sloughis prefer to eat their food off the ground much like other desert bred hounds.Older dogs are not known to be fussy or finicky eaters, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day, once in the morning and then again in the evening, making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go. Treatscan be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about whichhuman foodsare safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet.Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

Health Tips

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines. If you’re getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the ages of the dogs in her lines and what they died of. A good breeder will be able to discuss the prevalence of health problems in her dogs’ lines and help puppy buyers make informed decisions about health risks.The Sloughi is considered to be an especially healthy breed, with an average life expectancy between 12 and 15 years. Unlike some purebred dogs, Sloughis have relatively few known genetic medical disorders. Health concerns in this breed include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which can eventually lead to blindness in affected animals. Other breed health concerns may include heart murmers, intolerance of certain vaccines, anesthesia or medications, and primary hypothyroidism.

Trainability

The Sloughi is an intelligent and loyal breed that is somewhat aloof. He does best with caring and sensitive owners. Sloughis need ample exercise, and do not respond well to harsh training methods. Despite their athleticism, they are very quiet in the home. Some Sloughis are shy; most are simply very careful and cautious about their personal space. They have a strong sense of self, which shows clearly when they are pursuing games or are strongly challenged. As with most sighthounds, care is necessary when a Sloughi is off lead.An early start on training is a good idea simply because Silky Terriers tend to become more set in its ways as time goes on. The dog’s natural stubbornness will be become apparent if this happens and changing any problematic behaviors at this time will be difficult.

The Sloughi is an ancient sighthound breed, developed in North Africa (in the area including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya) to hunt game such as desert hare, desert fox, jackal, gazelle, ostrich, wild boar, and hyena. The first Sloughis arrived in Europe at the end of the 19th century and, in 1935, the breed was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Sloughi breeding has expanded greatly in the last 50 years in Europe following interruptions by both World WarsIn 1973, the first Sloughis were imported to the United States. The United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1995. The American Kennel Club does not yet recognize the Sloughi, but he is part of the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service and can compete in the Miscellaneous Class, lure coursing, agility, tracking, and obedience events.