Page 35 - The Sloughi Review - Issue 9
P. 35
T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 3 5
Azawakh, north of Tanout, Niger 2017 © G. Hanß
Also, the idea of "al-Andalus" (19) still exists The Tuareg are considered the breeders of
today in North Africa. Galgos españoles are the sighthound called Azawakh in the breed
still occasionally integrated into the standard FCI No. 307.
Sloughi breed, which is close to an
"outcross" in a way, but not the same. We Breeders in the sense of: breeding selection
have already studied this breeding idea for certain characteristics that are and were
with the Arabians (20). useful and necessary in their habitat.
The proximity and kinship to the Azawakh These characteristics make them primarily
guard and protection dogs for the herds and
"Protégez l'Idi du Sahel!" This could be tents of their owner, whom they closely
understood as a battle cry for the follow. Only secondarily were Azawakhs kept
preservation of the sighthounds of the and used as hunting dogs and show animals
Azawakh Valley, which are very closely by the "noble" Tuareg.
connected to the Berber nomadic Tuareg
people. Dr. Werner Röder, together with In considering this in relation to the Sloughi,
the A.B.I.S. (Association Bourkinabé Idi du which is also a sighthound of the Berbers,
Sahel), accompanied by several Azawakh we have to make a small excursion into the
breeders, has carried out expeditions since origin and history of the Tuareg.
1992, especially to Burkina Faso. Since 1996,
the Azawakh Valley in Mali and areas in The word Tuareg (21) is derived from the
Niger have also been regularly visited. word Targa, the Berber name for the
province of Fezzan in Libya.
