Overview
The Azawakh comes from the nomadic peoples of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where it guards camps and runs down gazelle and hare. It is startlingly thin even by sighthound standards, with visible bones, a short fine coat in sand, fawn or brindle and a reserve with strangers that owners describe as dignified and newcomers can read as unfriendly.
Walking an Azawakh is about trust and management. The dog decides who it likes, it will not be fussed by passers-by, and once it is running nothing you say will matter.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour a day is enough for most adults, provided it includes a chance to open up and run. They are sprinters rather than joggers: a few flat-out bursts and they lope quietly for the rest of the walk.
Cold and wet weather can cut walks short. With almost no body fat and a fine coat, an Azawakh feels the chill fast and needs a coat in a British winter.
On the walk
- Recall: Do not rely on it. Movement triggers the chase and the dog can reach full speed in seconds. Use a secure field or a long line.
- Strangers: Reserved to the point of avoidance. Ask people not to approach or reach for the dog, and stand between it and anyone who insists.
- Other dogs: Generally fine with other sighthounds and indifferent to the rest. Rough, bouncy dogs can frighten or annoy it.
- Skin: Thin skin tears easily on brambles, fences and in rough play. Check for nicks after every walk.
- Cold: Shivering starts quickly in rain or wind. Carry a coat and keep winter walks moving.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a wide martingale collar or a sighthound-specific harness; a narrow neck slips an ordinary collar.
- Find a securely fenced field where the dog can gallop safely and make it a regular part of the week.
- Keep introductions to new dogs calm and short, and do not force the dog to join a group.
What to ask the owner
- How does the dog react to strangers approaching, and how would the owner like you to handle it?
- Has the dog ever chased livestock, deer or cats, and how far did it go?
- What temperature does the owner put a coat on at, and is there a coat you should use?