Page 155 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

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Arrian describes this approach of dog and human as follows: “Nothing is so (good) as a soft
and warm bed. It is best with a human being, because this not only makes them friendly to
people, but also gives them pleasure in human skin and makes them no less fond of the one
who sleeps with them than of the one who feeds them” [94].

He is trained for hunting, which is usually done by older Sloughis, the culture of the
family plays an important role. Training is not to be equated with education. When
training, the natural dispositions are awakened, noticed through observation and then
encouraged and brought into relation with humans. The Sloughi learns as he would learn
from family members in a natural and original situation.

How do we talk to our family members when something disturbs the family harmony,
threatens to make the common will and good together impossible? We talk to each other
and approach each other. Command tone, beatings, psychological games or other variants
of exerting pressure to get one's way are now recognised as not being effective in the
long term. Therefore, our Sloughi will be more eager to become a good family member if
you talk to him, trust and patience can grow together.

By growing up in the family, which also includes the herd animals, he will defend them.
This is primarily a social behaviour, not a territorial one, which stems from the origin of a
nomadic way of life. Territorial behaviour is to be understood as a demarcation of the
habitat, not as the defence of a fixed territory. The territory in which the nomad moves
changes in the course of the migratory movements to the seasonal pastures or places of

residence. The habitat of the family, however, does not change.

Living freely in the countryside with his family, the Sloughi who can develop a basic trust
in his family will stay with his family. He will not run away for miles and will not kill
everything he encounters. In order for him to learn all these necessary things of social
interaction, he must be given the opportunity to move freely in the environment. This
environment does not only include an indoor riding arena or a large fenced-in property.

The impressions of these stimulus-poor environments leave the Sloughi mentally stunted.
A full environment consists of alternating landscapes, new and varied impressions and the
resulting joy of life.

He develops his mental strength best when always new and different impressions and

perceptions sharpen his senses and strengthen the relationship to his human, because
this is his family reference point.