Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Summary
The Azawakh is an ancient sighthound breed developed in the Sahel regions, primarily among the nomadic Tuareg tribes, for whom the dog served not only as a hunting companion but also as a guard, protector, and traveling partner in harsh desert conditions. For centuries, the Azawakh was used to hunt swift game such as gazelles, hares, and other animals requiring high speed and endurance. The breed evolved naturally under severe environmental selection, where only the strongest, driest, and best-adapted dogs survived the intense heat. As a result, the Azawakh preserved exceptional stamina, lightness, and functional efficiency. The breed reached Europe only in the 20th century, remaining rare and valued for its authentic desert type and noble appearance.
General Appearance
The Azawakh is a tall, exceptionally dry and elegant sighthound with an elongated outline and distinct verticality of the body. The construction is light, with long, well-defined muscles free from massiveness. Long limbs create an impression of airiness and speed, while the deep yet narrow chest emphasizes the desert type. The body lines are smooth and dry, with a strongly tucked-up abdomen and an elongated croup. The overall appearance must express nobility, lightness, speed, and inherent endurance. The Azawakh gives the impression of an aristocratic, strong, yet refined dog, adapted for long-distance running in hot climates and possessing natural elegance in both stance and movement.
Important Proportions
The Azawakh has an elongated format, with height at the withers clearly exceeding body length, giving the breed its characteristic verticality. The legs constitute most of the dog’s overall height, providing its swiftness and light movement. The chest is deep yet remains narrow, with the lowest point set relatively high. The abdomen is strongly tucked up, creating the typical silhouette of a desert sighthound. The head is long, amounting to roughly 40% of the dog’s height. The shoulder angle and sufficient length of the hind limbs ensure a free, long-reaching gait. All proportions must emphasize dryness, lightness, height, and functional adaptation to long-distance running across the hot, open landscapes of the Sahel.
Behaviour and Temperament
The Azawakh is inherently independent, observant, and sensitive, maintaining a calm distance toward strangers. In the household, it is balanced and devoted to its owner yet not intrusive, showing subtle emotional responsiveness and strong decision-making ability. Its historical roles as guardian and hunter have shaped alertness and high vigilance, though aggression is not typical for the breed. The Azawakh reveals itself in motion: it is brave, energetic, fast, yet remains controlled and composed. Within the family it demonstrates gentleness, respect for humans, and strong attachment. Proper socialization ensures a confident, stable, and harmonious companion.
Head
The head of the Azawakh is long, narrow, and dry, with smooth, clean lines and minimal soft tissue. The skull is flat, elongated, of moderate width, and tapers slightly toward the muzzle. The stop is weak, forming a straight and elegant profile characteristic of desert sighthounds. The contours emphasize the refinement of the breed while maintaining functional shape. Cheeks must not be prominent, and the overall head tends toward harmonious elongation. The jaws are long but not massive, with a scissor bite. The head must give an impression of nobility, lightness, and verticality, fully consistent with the aristocratic type and historical role of the Azawakh as a hunting sighthound.
Facial Region
The facial region is narrow, elongated, and extremely dry, with straight, clean lines that highlight the breed’s airy outline. The muzzle is long and gradually tapers toward the nose while remaining proportionate and strict in shape. The nasal bridge is straight. Lips are thin, dry, and tight-fitting, without folds or looseness, important for desert-type breeds. The nose is small with well-defined dark pigmentation. The jaws are elongated and strong, but not coarse. The transition from muzzle to skull is smooth and minimal. The facial region must convey precision of proportions, dryness, and functionality, supporting hunting efficiency and the characteristic silhouette of the breed.
Eyes
The eyes are almond-shaped, slightly slanted, and of medium size, set deep to emphasize the head’s elongated proportions. The expression is attentive, thoughtful, and sometimes wary, but never aggressive. The iris ranges from deep amber to brown, always harmonizing with the coat color. Eyelids are dry, thin, tight-fitting, with good pigmentation. The Azawakh’s gaze reflects its character: independence, observation, and inner composure. The eyes must maintain expressiveness without roundness or protrusion, remaining an integral part of the breed’s dry, noble appearance.
Ears
The ears are set high, thin, flat, triangular, with softly rounded tips. At rest, they lie close to the sides of the head, emphasizing its narrow and dry structure. When alert, the ears lift slightly at the base but do not stand erect, maintaining a neat and noble outline. Their length is moderate, with even, clearly defined edges and no thickness. Ears that are too large, fleshy, or low-set are faults. Their shape and placement must emphasize the breed’s lightness and aristocratic nature, harmoniously complementing the elongated head and the overall impression of desert elegance.
Neck
The neck is long, dry, elegant, and smoothly widening toward the shoulders, blending harmoniously into the body outline. The musculature is elongated and well-defined but not massive, emphasizing the breed’s lightness and verticality. The topline of the neck is slightly arched, clean, and noble. The skin fits tightly, with no dewlap. The neck must provide balance, free head movement, and natural springiness at the trot. A neck that is too short, thick, or coarse disrupts the breed’s typical lightness. Proper proportions of the neck shape the Azawakh’s aristocratic and airy silhouette.
Body
The body of the Azawakh is elongated, extremely dry, with pronounced verticality and a strongly tucked-up underline. The withers are noticeable but not coarse. The back is straight or slightly rising toward the loin, which is acceptable and breed-typical. The loin is short, strong, and light in form. The croup is elongated, slightly sloping, smoothly transitioning to the tail. The chest is deep but narrow, aiding efficient thermoregulation and economical movement. Ribs are long and moderately curved. The abdomen is strongly tucked up, creating the characteristic desert silhouette. The body must convey harmony, dry strength, lightness, and functional capability.
Tail
The tail is long, very thin, low-set, and tapers significantly toward the tip. When relaxed, it hangs down and may form a slight sabre-like curve. In motion, the tail lifts moderately but must never curl into a ring or stand vertically, as this contradicts the desert sighthound type. The coat on the tail is short, smooth, sometimes slightly denser at the base. The tail emphasizes elegance and lightness, continuing the line of the sloping croup and completing the silhouette. It must never appear heavy, coarse, or thickened.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
The forequarters of the Azawakh are exceptionally long, dry, and straight, reinforcing its tall stature and adaptation for fast running across open terrain. Shoulder blades are long, narrow, sloping, and closely set, forming the correct shoulder angle. The upper arm is nearly equal in length to the shoulder blade, providing free reach. Elbows are aligned with the body, neither turning outward nor inward. Forearms are very long, straight, with pronounced tendons and minimal volume. Pasterns are slightly sloping and resilient. Bone is light yet strong and strictly functional; any heaviness or shortening disrupts type. The limbs must create an impression of verticality and elegant strength.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters are long and dry, with clearly defined joints and balanced angulation enabling effective propulsion. Thighs are narrow, elongated, with well-defined but not massive musculature, preserving the breed’s overall dryness. Lower thighs are long and strong, forming a smooth outline that ends in low-set, distinct hocks. The hind legs are parallel and stable, without closeness or spread. Stifles have sufficient angulation, though excessive angulation is undesirable as it compromises natural lightness and verticality. Hocks must work elastically without softness or exaggerated flexibility. The hindquarters must highlight speed, endurance, and adaptation for long-distance running.
Gait / Movement
The Azawakh’s gait is light, vertical, and elastic, creating an impression of natural airiness. At the trot, movements are free, springy, and wide-reaching, enabling the dog to maintain prolonged tempo with minimal energy loss. Forelegs extend easily and precisely, while the hindquarters provide a strong yet refined push. The back remains stable without swaying. The gallop is swift and extended, with smooth transitions between suspension phases. The Azawakh must move harmoniously, without stiffness, side deviations, or short stride. Correct movement underscores the breed’s functionality, elegance, and adaptation to sustained fast locomotion.
Coat
The coat of the Azawakh is short, smooth, and close-lying, emphasizing dryness and muscle definition. On the body, it is very thin and moderately dense, with little to no undercoat—reflecting adaptation to hot climates. On some areas it “clings” to the skin, reinforcing the impression of lightness. On the ears and tail tip, the coat may be slightly shorter or smoother. Excessive length, waviness, softness, undercoat, or volume is considered a departure from type. The coat must accentuate clean contours and the aristocratic exterior.
Permitted Colours
The Azawakh exhibits a variety of natural desert-type colors. All shades of red occur—from pale sand to rich reddish chestnut. Fawn, sand, and greyish-fawn shades are permitted, as well as brindling of varying intensity. White markings are allowed, commonly on the chest, legs, tail tip, muzzle, or forehead, but must not dominate. Pure white is not allowed. A dark mask is possible but not universal. All colors must appear natural and harmonious, emphasizing elegance. Overly bright or unnatural shades are faults.
Size
The Azawakh is defined by its height and dry format; thus size is essential to breed type. Males typically stand 64–74 cm at the withers, females 60–70 cm. Weight is proportional to height but remains relatively low: males 20–25 kg, females 15–20 kg. Slight deviations are acceptable if harmony, verticality, and dryness are preserved. Body length is equal to or slightly less than height at withers, emphasizing long limbs and light format. The torso must remain taut, without massiveness. Proper height-to-weight proportions support the breed’s functionality and desert type.
Faults
Faults include any deviations from breed type that do not critically affect health but disrupt harmony of the exterior. These include heaviness, lack of verticality, insufficient dryness, excessively broad chest, weak tuck-up, short or insufficiently straight limbs, round or protruding eyes, weak nose or eyelid pigmentation, overly short or coarse head, pronounced stop, pendulous lips, excessive or insufficient angulation of the hind limbs. Restricted elasticity, stiffness, or short stride are also faults. Faults must be evaluated in context and in relation to the dog’s functional ability.
Disqualifying Faults
Disqualifying faults include severe deviations of type or behavior. Aggression or pronounced shyness exclude a dog from breeding. Major structural deviations such as heavy, bulldog-like or square format; excessive looseness; absence of typical verticality are unacceptable. Clear anatomical defects including cryptorchidism, incorrect bite (other than scissor), and missing teeth beyond allowed limits result in disqualification. Albinism, pure white coat, absence of nose or eyelid pigmentation, blue eyes, or heterochromia are prohibited. Movements that severely impair function—lameness, significant stiffness—also disqualify. Behavioral and morphological deviations are assessed strictly.
Important Notes
The Azawakh developed naturally under harsh climatic conditions, making preservation of its authentic type essential. When evaluating exterior, functionality must be considered: the dog must be capable of long-distance running with high endurance and economical movement. Variations in dryness or musculature are acceptable if general harmony and type remain intact. Puppies and young dogs may appear temporarily unbalanced due to limb growth. Small white markings should not be penalized if the overall aesthetic remains natural. Special attention is given to temperament: the dog must show balance, attentiveness, and appropriate reactions.
Conclusion
The Azawakh represents a unique sighthound type that has preserved the ancient, natural appearance and functional qualities of a desert hunting dog. Its speed, verticality, and dry, refined format distinguish it from other sighthounds. Evaluation must consider not only visual elegance but also the dog’s ability to maintain prolonged movement without energy loss. Every element—from head shape to limb angulation—must support the breed’s historical purpose. The Azawakh symbolizes a blend of nobility, lightness, endurance, and natural grace. Proper breeding must preserve authentic type, harmonious proportions, and stable temperament.
