Breed standards

Sloughi

Breed standards are the official guidelines that describe the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential.

Last Updated: 03 Aug 2008

Kennel Club, London 1994

Group:
Group 4 (Hounds)
History:
General:

Elegant, racy yet strong, without coarseness. A dignified hound with fine skin marked by its muscular leanness. Capable of sustained effort over long distance.

Characteristics:

Quiet, of dignified bearing. Noble, haughty and extremely expressive with the instincts of a hunting hound.

Temperament:

Loyal to owner, affectionate with family. Aloof with strangers.

Head And Skull:

Long, refined, an elongated wedge showing strength, but not excessively angular. Skull flat, fairly broad. Clearly rounded at back of skull and curving smoothly into sides. Slightly marked frontal bone and pronounced occiput. Muzzle refined without exaggeration, about equal length to skull. Slight stop. Nose and lips black.

Eyes:

Large, dark, oval, set slightly obliquely. Expression gentle, rather sad and wistful. In light-coated hounds, lighter eyes permissible.

Ear:

Not too large, triangular in shape but with rounded tips; flat. Usually folding down and carried close to head, set level with or slightly above eye but may be carried away from the skull or sometimes even thrown backwards.

Mouth:

Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck:

Strong yet very elegant in proportion to body. Moderately long with good arch. Skin slightly loose, making fine pleats under throat.

Forequarters:

Shoulder blades long and set obliquely onto body. Flat bone and well muscled. Upper arm of moderate length. Pasterns supple and strong.

Body:

Chest not broad. Prominent sternum. Slightly sprung ribs giving fairly flat appearance, reaching almost to point of elbow. Reasonably well ribbed back with definite tuck up. Loin short, broad and muscular and slightly arched. Topline almost level. Relatively short croup, obliquely set. Pin bones prominent.

Hindquarters:

Strongly muscled. Fairly Flat appearance with moderate angulation. Second thigh long and well-developed. Hocks well let down.

Feet:

Lean, elongated hare foot, fairly well arched.

Tail:

Fine and well set on without fringes or long hair. Strong curve at end which preferably reaches to point of hock. Set in line with croup as a continuation of topline. When moving never carried higher than level of back.

Gait/Movement:

Free, smooth, effortless gait head carriage not too high. Without exaggerated extension.

Coat:

Fine and short. Undercoat may grow during winter.

Colour:

Colour ranges from light sand to red sand (fawn) with or without black mask, black mantle, black brindling or black overlay. Excessive white undesirable.

Sizes:

Height at withers:
Dogs 66-72 cms (26-28.5 ins)
Bitches 61-68 cms (24-26.5 ins)

Faults:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Notes:

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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