Raised by nomadic peoples of the Sahel in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, as a guard and to hunt gazelle and hare.

The Sighthounds family. Ancient coursing dogs that hunt by sight and speed. Deep chests, long legs and a quiet, gentle nature at home, with a strong urge to chase anything that runs.

Loyal, independent and affectionate with family.

Voice

Usually quiet; barks when there's a reason.

With kids

Better with older children who respect its space.

Other dogs

Can be selective about dog friends; introduce slowly.

Home

Best in a house with a yard.

Exercise. Energetic: needs real exercise every day, such as long walks, hikes or running games. Puppies do better with several short sessions than one long walk, and older dogs need gentler outings.

Training. Learns well with consistency, but has its own opinions. Reward-based training and early socialization pay off.

Short, smooth coat: a weekly once-over with a rubber curry mitt or bristle brush and an occasional bath. Light shedding.

For every dog: trim nails when you can hear them click on the floor, brush teeth daily if you can (a few times a week still helps), and clean ears about once a month, drying them well after baths and swims.

Daily calories

About 960–1,410 kcal for a healthy adult

Dry food

Roughly 2.5–3.5 cups a day at ~400 kcal per cup

Puppies eat four small meals a day at 6 to 12 weeks, drop to three somewhere between 3 and 6 months, and move to two meals a day from about 6 months.

Deep-chested dogs are at higher risk of bloat (GDV). Feed two meals a day rather than one, use a slow feeder if your dog gulps, and keep mealtimes calm.

Keep treats, including training treats and table scraps, under 10% of daily calories.

Calories use the resting-energy formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual (70 × body weight in kg^0.75) times a maintenance factor of 1.4 to 1.8, so very active or working dogs may need more. Cups assume about 400 kcal per cup; check your food's label. Treat any feeding chart as a starting point and adjust to body condition.

Typical lifespan is 12–14 years. Conditions reported in the breed:

Ask breeders for health-test results from the parents (hips, eyes, and DNA tests where relevant), and schedule yearly vet checkups.

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Photos come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the licenses shown. Only freely licensed photos appear on this site; where none is available, you'll see an illustration.

• Wikipedia: Azawakh (opens in a new tab)
• AKC breed weight chart (opens in a new tab)
• PetMD: breed health & care (opens in a new tab)
• AKC: Puppy feeding fundamentals (opens in a new tab), bloat (opens in a new tab), treats (opens in a new tab) and grooming (opens in a new tab)
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional requirements of small animals (opens in a new tab)

Ratings for energy, shedding and the like are our own summaries, informed by these sources. Breed facts were checked in October 2026.