Thinking of adopting an African Greyhound or Azawakh? So you need to know a little about the race before, to ensure their well-being and make sure they are the perfect pet for your home; For this reason, we invite you to continue reading to discover everything you need, from their origins and characteristics to their behavior and the basic care that these dogs require.
This breed of dog it is found among the African races that are more popular; They consist of extremely elegant dogs whose appearance and size make them very similar to the greyhounds that we can find in Spain, although they have some characteristics that allow them to be distinguished from them.
Origins of the azawakh
Although their origins are not completely clear, today it is known with certainty that African greyhounds, as their name implies, have accompanied the people of the African continent for hundreds of years. At first, the nomadic tribes that moved around the Sahara, were dedicated to raising them as guard dogs.
T is that having a robust and strong body structure they served as traveling companions for these tribes that did not have a fixed home, and at the same time they helped them when hunting and also to maintain both the unity and the security of the group.
Watchdog for nomadic tribes
The specimens of this breed stand out for being extraordinary protective dogs, so they have maintained this task over the years, being raised for the same purpose even by current tribes.
However, it should be noted that until the middle of the XNUMXth century it was not possible to adopt an azawakh outside the borders of said country and / or tribes, not until a popular Yugoslav doctor received a pair of African greyhounds as a gift from a tribe settled in the Sahara desert; and after the breed was exported, it gradually spread around Europe, then spread to the rest of the world.
Features
The African greyhound is characterized by being a medium-sized dog, which It reaches about 60-75 cm at the withers and has an approximate weight of about 15-25 kl. It should be noted that their life expectancy is between 8-10 years, depending on the physical condition and health of each specimen.
Likewise, we can say that the dogs of this breed are usually pets with quite peculiar physical characteristics; They have a square body and really long, slim legs. His stomach is quite stylized and similar to that of the Spanish greyhounds, although his is considerably fibred, making his muscles much more prominent, especially in the chest area, where it is usually bulky and very visible.
They have a fine and long tail, which is normally curved upwards, although in certain cases it is usually hidden in the middle of the legs. Its head stands out for being quite small, while its ears are lowered; For its part, the snout is distinguished by being thin and long, and its eyes are usually dark and small.
Its neck is equally thin and quite long, giving it a sophisticated and elegant appearance; while its coat is distinguished by being short, which is why it is necessary to brush it constantly. They can be presented in different colors, such as black, brown, white or tan, as well as a mixture of these tones.
Care
In order to maintain your well-being, the African greyhound needs some care that stands out for being relatively simple; In this sense, because its coat is short and is well adhered to the skin, being easy to maintain, it is enough to brush it a couple of times a week in order to get rid of dead hair and accumulated dirt.
In relation to the frequency of the baths, we can say that it is possible to carry them out only when the dog is very dirty, that is, monthly; Although it is important to bear in mind that these dogs should not be bathed more than 1 time a week, since doing so excessively will end up eliminating the layer of fat that is responsible for covering and protecting their body naturally, so it would remain more exposed to skin problems and diseases.
Also, the dogs of this breed require a good and complete exercise routineTherefore, in order to allow them to expend their accumulated energy, maintain a good weight and develop a balanced behavior, it is necessary that they exercise every day, and if possible, that they have a safe and ample space in which they have the possibility to run freely whenever they want.
Otherwise, it is best to provide, at least, 3 long walks during the day of approximately 40min each. In addition, it may be convenient to start it within some type of canine sport, for example, agility and / or canicross. In the same way as the rest of the dog breeds, African greyhounds require a balanced and complete nutrition in order to be able to develop properly both physically and emotionally as well as socially and cognitively.
In this sense, there are different kinds of canine food that it is possible to provide an azawakh, starting with a diet exclusively based on balanced feeds even opting for options that guarantee certain benefits, such as a BARF diet. In any case, in order to always guarantee the best nutrition according to your nutritional needs, it is advisable that you consult with your veterinary specialist.
Last but not least, you must not forget that this breed stands out for being quite intelligent, so you must make sure to keep his mind properly stimulated so that he can have a happy and healthy life. Also, keep in mind that it is important to enrich his environment and provide him with intelligence games.
"Salud"
This breed has, as we have already mentioned, with an average life expectancy of around 12 yearsHowever, these are dogs that have a certain tendency to develop health problems of various degrees. In this sense, it is common to get specimens that suffer from epilepsy or autoimmune diseases.
Equally, they may suffer from other common canine pathologies, being also especially sensitive to drugs and chemicals, so they could easily suffer allergic reactions. For all this, it is advisable to give him an appropriate preventive medicine throughout his life and visit the vet 1-2 times a year.