Azawakh — breed guide
A Sahelian guard and hunting sighthound from the Azawakh valley. Built for heat like no other dog here — and genuinely cannot cope with cold or damp.
At a glance
- Group
- hound
- Size
- Large
- Weight
- 15–25 kg (33–55 lb)
- Life span
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Very short, fine, almost absent coat
Living with a Azawakh
- High energy — needs real exercise every day, not a stroll.
- Almost no grooming.
- Barely sheds.
- Can be stubborn.
- Quiet.
- Can do well with children, with care — easier with older kids than toddlers.
- Usually fine with a familiar dog; strange dogs need managing.
- Not a safe bet with cats — this is prey drive rather than a training problem.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- Better with previous experience behind you.
- Built for heat.
- Needs a coat in the cold.
Temperament
Aloof · Fiercely loyal · Fast · Reserved
Health to watch
- Anaesthesia sensitivity
- Hypothyroidism
- Idiopathic epilepsy
- Bloat (GDV)
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Questions people ask
Is a Azawakh good with kids?
With care. Azawakhs generally do well with older children who already know how to behave around a dog; with toddlers, supervise every interaction and give the animal somewhere it can retreat to.
Is a Azawakh good with cats?
Usually not. This is prey drive rather than a training problem — a cat that runs can trigger it in a dog that is otherwise impeccably behaved.
How much exercise does a Azawakh need?
An hour or more of proper exercise every day.
Can a Azawakh handle hot weather?
It is built for it.
Leash Life keeps a Azawakh's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.