Azawakh
Countries of Origin: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso
Purpose: Livestock guardian (goats, cattle) primarily, secondarily used to hunt in packs
Temperament: Bonds to household/village, extremely loyal and bonded, difficult to rehome – can be aloof or guarded with strangers, should not be aggressive toward them – Pack oriented
Proportions: Taller than long
Top Line: Marked withers, straight, hips level or higher than withers, boney croup – prominent hips
Under Line: Doesn’t reach elbows – falls, then rises to high tuck
Head: Muzzle is half head length – head is narrower than half the length of head – ears high set, moderately sized, limited stop
Gait: Springy, prancing, limited extension since body is taller than long, upright – tail may be carried above the horizon
Coat/Coloration: Extremely short – Red most common, all others allowed under the AKC standard
Sloughi
Countries of Origin: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya
Purpose: Hunting game frequently hunted with eagles/hawks
Temperament: Loyal, faithful to a household – reserved or aloof with strangers but shouldn’t be aggressive
Proportions: Males slightly taller than long, females may be slightly longer than tall
Top Line: Withers apparent but not marked, straight topline
Under Line: Straight, long sternum, moderately rising
Head: Wedge shaped from above, melancholy expression
Gait: Long strides, covers ground – moderate reach – carries tail low
Coat/Color: Smooth – Sand, Cream, Mahogany, Red, Masks/Overlay common
Saluki (Smooth)
Countries of Origin: Egypt, Iraq, UAE, Qatar, Syria, Lebanon, Israel
Purpose: Hunting game over long distances
Temperament: Independent, sensitive, affectionate with loved ones
Proportions: Square proportions or longer than tall
Top Line: Withers apparent – reasonably straight topline but curved at loin/croup
Under Line: Moderate to high tuck – rises evenly – ribs meet elbows
Head: Large ears with tip reaching under jaw – head moderately wide between ears – stop not pronounced
Gait: Long, elastic, gliding strides – long reach – tail carried low or high
Coat/Color: Feathered or Smooth (both allowable by AKC)– White, cream, fawn, golden, tan, red, grizzle, tri, black and tan
Afghan (Smooth)
Country of Origin: Afghanistan
Purpose: Hunting game
Temperament: Refined, independent, loyal, silly
Proportions: Close to square but not considered important in AKC breed standard
Top Line: Almost perfectly straight topline – prominent hips
Under Line: Moderate tuck (more pronounced than sloughi)
Head: Prominent nasal and occipital bones –Regal, chiseled head, almost Roman looking – level bite preferred
Gait: Long elastic strides, back legs should land where the front legs were previously at a trot – tail should be carrier in ring above horizon
Coat/Coloration: Coated, Feathered, and Smooth Varieties exist – only the coated version is permissible under the AKC breed standard –any color allowed but white marking on head undesirable