AZAWAKH Standard: Comparative Study between 2011 SLAG Proposal & the Official FCI Standard
The breed standard of the FCI (Federation Cynologique Internationale) includes a description of an ideal and a guidance for judges and breeders for the breed that all members of the countries of the FCI (the European countries, South American, Asian and more…) should follow. In general, each member is the owner and the Manager of the standards of the breeds originated from their own country. Since there is no kennel club recognized by the FCI in Mali and Niger (and there never has been) the Azawakh standard for the FCI is run by the Société Centrale Canine (SCC) in France, who filed the first standard for the breed to the FCI. SCC delegates the management of this standard to the breed club, in this case the SLAG (Club du Sloughi, des lévriers d'Afrique et le Galgo) for the Azawakh breed. Recently, some Board members of the SLAG decided, without consulting the majority of breeders, to modify this standard by dictating specific limits on colors and white markings. This standard project has been adopted by the Board of the SLAG on 22/01/2011. Next, the procedure is to forward the project to the SCC for review and possible approval in the state or not, before being validated by the FCI. If the project is accepted as is, this next Azawakh standard which all breeders and judges of the member countries of the FCI will have to comply, will restrict the genetic diversity and endanger the future of the breed : New standard project - SLAG Board. The comments - in the white areas - are from several different Azawakh breeders.
Point

Standard Proposal from SLAG
(SLAG board approved - 22/01/2011)

Official Valid FCI Standard
(F.C.I. N°307 / 19.09.1994 / GB
Translation: Mrs. Peggy Davis

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION Not specified Group   10   Sighthounds.
Section 3     Short-haired Sighthounds.
                  Without working trial.
Comment Nbr 0  
Origin Confines to northern Mali and Niger, and the slopes of the Azawakh Valley. Mali.
Comment Nbr 1

* Does it matter to determine the origin of the ancestors of the breed having taken root in Europe, or the supposed origin of "ancestry"? In the latter case, on what basis can it be said that this dog was present in this region thousands of years ago ?

* Origin Mali, because we can not say that the Tuareg nomads have lived in the only region of the Azawakh Valley!

* The Middle Niger Basin which includes parts of the country, Mali, Niger, including the valley of the Azawakh and Oudalan province in Burkina Faso.

Sponsorship France PATRONAGE : France.
Comment Nbr 2

* PATRONAGE became 'Sponsorship'.

* Why is it not Patronage anymore ?

Use / UTILZATION Use: Sighthound for the taking of wildlife (antelope, rabbit, ostrich) and the fight against predators (hyena, jackal, lion). This dog is an important companion for the family life of the nomads, and shares their camp life. Belonging to the culture of peoples who domesticated and shaped it, it is named Oska in Tuareg language. UTILIZATION :   Sight hunting.  The nomads considered the dog equally as a « show piece » and as a companion.
Comment Nbr 3

* Its use as watchdog of the camp in "the fight against predators" could be emphasized. Owners and breeders of these dogs are not all Tuareg language and do not use all the term "Oska" used by a fraction of the owners of these dogs.

* Sight hound. Keepers of the cattle and camps and also a "show piece" and a companion.

* Specifying that this dog was used for hunting purpose is sufficient. In addition, it is also the guardian of cattle and the camp of nomads, in addition to being a "show piece" animal and a companion.

Brief Historical Overview

This is a sighthound descendant from african models represented in rock art of central Sahara dated back several millennia.The aridity of the Sahara led the pastors-hunters Tuaregs, Dahoussahaqs and Peuls to migrate with their dogs to the more hospitable lands of the Sahel. There, in areas suitable for farming and hunting along the dry valley of the Azawakh, the European amateurs have discovered him with admiration, and selected with the help of the breeders who hold them the first lines to Europe exported, starting in 1968.

It is an African sighthound of afro-asian type which appeared in Europe towards 1970 and comes from the Nigerian middle basin, among others from the valley of the Azawakh.  For hundreds of years he has been the companion of the nomads of the South-Sahara.
Comment Nbr 4

* Trying to confine its origin to the Azawakh Valley only is completely new. The description of the version of the current standard (1998) seems clear enough and representative of the area of origin of observed and imported dogs, by the 1970s and at the origin of the breed in Europe (at the crossboarders of Mali , Niger and Burkina Faso).

* I agree with the previous comment. This "Saga of origins" limits completely the origins to the Tuaregs and the area of the Azawakh Valley.

General Appearance especially slim and elegant, the Sighthound of the Azawakh gives a general impression of great finesse. Its bone structure and muscles show through thin and dry skin. It presents itself as a lanky dog whose body fits into a rectangle with long side vertical. Particularly high in the leg and elegant, the Azawakh sighthound gives a general impression of great fineness.  His bone structure and musculature are transparent beneath fine and lean tissues (skin).  This sighthound presents itself as a racy dog whose body fits into a rectangle with its longer sides in vertical position.
Comment Nbr 5 Same
Important Proportions - Body length / height at withers: 0.90 (a ratio slightly higher in females is allowed)
- Depth of chest / height at withers: 0.40
- Length of muzzle / length of head: 0.50
- Width of the skull / head length: 0.40
 -   Length of body/height at the withers = 9 : 10.  This ratio may be slightly superior in the bitches.
-    Depth of chest/height at the withers = about 4 : 10.
-    Length of muzzle/length of head = 1 : 2.
-    Width of skull/length of head = 4 : 10.
Comment Nbr 6 Same

Behavior, Character

Behavior, character: quick, attentive, distant, reserved with strangers and can sometimes appear shy (fierce), but he can be gentle and affectionate with those he is willing to accept. BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Quick, attentive, distant, reserved with strangers and may even be unapproachable, but he can be gentle and affectionate with those he is willing to accept.
Comment Nbr 7 Same apart "appear shy (or fierce)".
Head

long, fine, lean and chiselled, rather narrow, without excess.

Long, fine, lean and chiselled, rather narrow, without excess.
Comment Nbr 8 Same

Skull

The skull is almost flat, rather long, its width should be significantly less than half the length of the head. The planes of the head and the muzzle are sometimes slightly divergent [not parallel]. The brow ridges and the frontal furrow are slightly marked. On the other hand, the occipital crest is clearly protruding, and the occipital protuberance, marked.

Stop: very slight marked.

Skull : It is almost flat, rather elongated.  The width of the skull must definitely be inferior to half the length of the head.  The directions of the axes of the skull and the muzzle are often slightly divergent towards the front.  The superciliary arches and the frontal furrow are slightly marked.  On the other hand, the occipital crest is clearly protruding and the occipital protuberance marked.

Stop : Very slightly marked.

Comment Nbr 9 The head axes are in fact often slightly divergent (not sometimes). Pity that the direction of the divergence of the axes is no longer specified.
Stop Stop: very slight marked. (noted under 'Facial Region') Stop : Very slightly marked. (noted under 'Skull')
Comment Nbr 10 Same
Facial Region - Nose: obligatory black, the nostrils are well opened,
- Muzzle: long, straight, fine without exaggeration towards the end,
- Jaws / Teeth: Jaws long and strong with scissors bite,
- Flat cheeks,
- Thin lips tightly fitting, color is black, little or no lip,
- Almond eyes, rather large, slightly oblique palpebral opening, color is dark, sometimes amber, never blue
- Eyelids well black pigmented,
- Ears: Set quite high. They are fine, always drooping and flat, broad based, lie flat against the cheeks, and never "rose ear". The shape is that of a triangle with the tip rounded. The base of the ears pricks up when the hound is attentive.
Nose : Nostrils well opened.  The nose is either black or brown.
Muzzle : Long, straight, fine towards the front without exaggeration.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws long and strong.  Scissor bite.
Cheeks : Flat.
Eyes : Almond shaped, quite large.  Their colour is dark or amber.  Eyelids pigmented.
Ears : Set quite high.  They are fine, always drooping and flat, quite wide at the base, close to the skull, never a « rose ear ».  Their shape is that of a triangle with a slightly rounded tip.  Their base raises when the hound is attentive.
Comment Nbr 11

* Requiring for the nose, lips, eyelids and lips a mandatory black color is not realistic in accordance with the genetics of colors. Nose: In genetics, in the case of fawn coat, the nose may be black, brown or tan. Moreover it is not uncommon to see lighter, gray-looking or brown noses, or eyelids, due to seasonality. Excerpts of the book "List of coat colors in the dog" of the SCC Commission Zootechnique and Professor Denis: "With the fawn color, the nose may be black, brown or tan."

* The color of the nose and lips as well as pigmentation of the eye is subjected to the color of the coat, so a light fawn dog can have a pigmentation accordingly to the color of his hair. The pigmentation of the nose may be, for example, black in summer and clearer in winter.

* I agree with both previous comments. The pigmentation of the lips, eyelids and nose, match the color of the coat and are not always black. The eyelids and lips color other than black is considered a disqualifying fault. It follows that about half of all current Azawakhs would no longer be in the standard. Red dogs, as well as black brindle, show rather brown lips and eyelids (especially in times of no sun). What is the distinction between, on one hand the amber eyes that is permitted, and the clear or pale eyes, said "bird of prey eyes", eliminating fault ?

Neck Good reach, long, fine and muscular, with upper end slightly arched. The skin is fine and does not form a dewlap. Good reach of neck which is long, fine and muscular, slightly arched.  The skin is fine and does not form a dewlap.
Comment Nbr 12 Same
Body

- Top line straight, horizontal, slightly raised towards the hips,
- Withers quite prominent;
- Loin short, dry
- Hips clearly protruding and often placed at a height greater than the height of the withers,
- Croup oblique  (ideally 45 °) without being steep
- Forechest fairly narrow,
- Chest well developed in length, well descended (deep), gently narrowing towards the sternal region; presenting the three traits in the thoracic capacity of a distance runner,
- Ribs long, visible, slightly and evenly curved down to the sternum,
- Under line: the sternal arch is accentuated and joined without abruptness to the belly which is tucked up very high below the lumbar arch.

Topline : Nearly straight, horizontal or slightly rising towards the hips.
Withers : Quite prominent.
Loin : Short, lean and often slightly arched.
Hip bones : Distinctly protruding and always placed at an equal or superior height to the height of the withers.
Croup : Oblique without accentuated slant.
Forechest : Not very wide.
Chest : Well developed in length, deep but without reaching elbow level.  It is not very wide but must have enough space for the heart, so, the sternal region of the chest must not abruptly become narrow.
Ribs : Long, visible, slightly and evenly curved down to the sternum.
Underline : The sternal arch is accentuated and joined without abruptness to the belly which is tucked up very high under the lumbar arch.

Comment Nbr 13

* If the top line should be raised towards the hips, it can not be horizontal. The description of the current standard is more accurate.

* The top line: Nearly straight, horizontal or slightly rising towards the hips. This is what appears in the current standard and defines it more clearly!

* Note on the loin. The description in the new project has abandoned the "often slightly arched", which is emphasized in the current standard. In this regard, I find the new description better, because a arched loin is in contradiction with a straight or slightly raised towards the hips top line. It is anatomically impossible to have both an arched loin with a top line that raises to the hips. A contradiction in terms!

Tail Set low, long, thin, lean and tapered. Covered with the same type of hair as the body, it must have a white brush on the end. The tail hangs with the tip slightly raised, but it can rise above the horizontal when the dog is excited. Set low, long, thin, lean and tapered.  Is covered with the same type of hair as that of the body and has a white brush at its extremity.  Is carried hanging with the tip slightly raised, but when the dog is excited, it can be carried above the horizontal.
Comment Nbr 14

* Will all the dogs who are missing a white brush be therefore excluded from breeding ?

* With our dogs, it is about the Irish spotting Si, so the presence of white brush at the tip of the tail may be more or less important to even be partially reduced to a hair, these dogs will they be removed from breeding ? It should say: white tip of the tail like a brush or limited to a hair !

Forelimbs

Long, thin, vertical. Legs perfectly set.

Shoulders long, muscles dry and slightly oblique viewed in profile. The scapulo-humeral angle is very open (about 130 degrees). Metacarpal (pastern) slightly oblique.
Feet rounded, with slender digits, tight and well arched. The pads are pigmented.

FOREQUARTERS :
Seen as a whole : Long, fine, almost entirely vertical; legs perfectly well-set.
Shoulders : Long, lean and muscular and only slightly slanting seen in profile.  The scapulo-humeral angle is very open (about 130°).
Forefeet : Rounded shape, with fine and tightly closed toes; the pads are pigmented.

Comment Nbr 15

* With white socks, pads are not always pigmented, even with an overall good pigmentation.

* For dogs with white socks and nails it is common to see the pads often incompletely pigmented even if the dogs have a good pigmentation.

* I agree with your comments. This is also valid for the comment No. 16.

Hindquarters

Long and lean, legs perfectly vertical.

Thigh muscles with long projecting and dry. Coxal-femoral angle is very open (130°).
Stifle: Femoral-tibial angle is very open (145 °). Tarsus and metatarsus straight and lean, without dewclaws.
Feet rounded, toes well arched, pads pigmented.

Seen as a whole : Long and lean; legs perfectly vertical.
Thighs : Long with prominent and lean muscles.  The coxo-femoral angle is very open (about 130°).
Stifle : The femoro-tibial angle is very open (about 145°).
Hock : Hock joint and hock are straight and lean, without dewclaws.
Hind feet : Round shaped.  Pads are pigmented.
Comment Nbr 16

* With white socks, pads are not always pigmented, even with an overall good pigmentation.

* For dogs with white socks and nails it is common to see the pads often incompletely pigmented even if the dogs have a good pigmentation.

* I agree with your comments. This is also valid for the comment No. 15.

Gait Always very supple and with particularly high action at the walk and the trot. The gallop is bouncy. The Azawakh sighthound gives an impression of lightness, even elasticity. The movement is an essential characteristic of the breed. GAIT / MOVEMENT : Always very supple (lissom) and with particularly high action at the trot and the walk.  The galop is bouncy.  The Azawakh gives a great impression of lightness, even elasticity.  The movement is an essential point of the breed
Comment Nbr 17  
Coat

The skin is thin, stretched over the entire body. The hair is short, fine, and down to none on the belly.

Tawny with flecking [marking] limited to the extremities. All shades are admitted, clear sand to dark fawn (mahogany), with or without brindle, which should be black as excluding any other shade.

Described under 'Coulour'
Comment Nbr 18

* The brindle is, fortunately, finally an integral part of the accepted colors instead of just "admitted". "With the exclusion of any other shade": is it related to brindle or shades of tan ? There are a range of shades and colors of the coat worn by the dogs in Europe and in their countries of origin which has been arbitrarily excluded from this "European" standard (accordingly to the confession of the editors of the first standard). Many good testimonials throughout the ages corroborate this fact. The exclusion led to further reduce the genetic potential of the breed in addition to eliminating these colours.

* The black brindle color is finally accepted. The diluted colors and shades must be taken into account in the standard.

* The description of the varieties of colors and markings should finally match the results of two decades of gathering empirical datas, photos and video clips. I agree with the comments above.

Skin Décrit sous 'Robe' Fine, tight over the whole of the body.
Comment Nbr 19  
Details on the white markings

A - for limbs:
Each of the four limbs has a stocking, at least as a trace on the feet. On a subject having excellent morphology, the lack of white on one limb is allowed.
- Forequarters: the stocking, often irregular, should not extend beyond the elbows, or to encroach on the shoulders;
- Hindquarters: the stocking, often more regular and less invasive, should not go up to the thigh. White marks appearing within it [the thigh], however, should not be considered a fault.

B - for the breastplate [bib]: The white may be present as white spots more or less extensively, confined to the base of the neck. This bib shall not extend past the lower end of the scapula, or go up on each side of the neck. A small white spot on the neck, reduced size, is tolerated.

C - for the chest: As a continuation of the bib, white spots can appear below the chest, but must not in any case go up along the ribs.

D - for the blaze
Very inconstant, it is most often limited to the muzzle. The head can present a black mask.

Described under 'Coulour'
Comment Nbr 20

* Good luck to the judges!
For a long time many owners and breeders do not understand why, depending on the judges, their dog is variously described as with "too much white" and sometimes "with lack of white." Assess how much white exactly an Azawakh should have has always been a puzzle and depends on the interpretation of the standard and taste of the judges.
In the case of our current standard, the coat must have limited at the extremities white markings, also known as Irish spotting, which is described as follows in canine genetics:
"The overall color of the coat is dominated by its primary color. The minimum extension is represented by a small white tuft of hairs on the chest. Maximum extension, this spotting is characterized by white patches on the limbs, chest, belly, neck and head, forming a blaze. The appearance of a collar marks the extreme extension of this spotting." In the case of the current Azawakh standard the minimum extension is not sought, since it must be have white markings on the legs, chest and tail. It is therefore extremely difficult to avoid the white spots extending from either side of the neck and chest.
Furthermore, genes that govern the various spottings maintain between themselves, but in a inconsistent manner, incomplete dominance: as individuals genetically with irregular spotting (high white) may express limited spotting, for example ... They are also very subject to the action of modifier genes, which does that the boarder of each class of spotting merges with those of the other classes.
Based on these findings and observation of the wide variety of spottings of the dogs in the Azawakh Valley and aroun ... it seems not only unrealistic but also extremely dangerous for the future of the breed to do a selection of the dogs on the white markings.

* It is indeed encouraging that even in the lack of white socks, it is still an Azawakh.
Genetically it is the Irish spotting that we have here :
si = white markings on the extremities, the underside of the neck (Little)
si = chest, legs, belly, muzzle and tail (Allen)
si = white spots on the legs, chest, collar and the blaze (Willis)
S the solid color gene is usually dominant on the si spotting
So S si appears most often as a solid fawn.
si si, (most of our Azawakhs) is mainly influenced by minus or plus modifier genes for the extension of the white markings that can not be influenced by selection in breeding. Minus modifiers will result in a greater extention of white spotting and plus modifiers will reduce the white spotting.

* I have nothing to add to previous observations. I agree.

Hair Described under 'Coat' Short, fine, down to none on the belly.
Comment Nbr 22  

Coulour

Described under 'Coat' and 'Details in the white markings' Fawn with flecking limited to the extremities.  All shades are admitted from light sable to dark fawn.  The head may or may not have a black mask and the blaze is very inconstant.  The coat has a white bib and a white brush at the tip of the tail. Each of the four limbs must have compulsorily a white « stocking », at least in shape of a trace on the feet.  The black brindling is admitted.
Comment Nbr 23  
Size and weight - Height at withers: Between 64 and 74 cm for males and between 60 and 70 cm for females.
- Weight: about 20-25 kg for males and 15-20 kg for females.
Height at the withers :    Dogs     : between 64 and 74 cm.
                                    Bitches : between 60 and 70 cm.
Weight : Dogs     : about 20 - 25 kg.
             Bitches : about 15 - 20 kg.
Comment Nbr 24  
FAULTS

Any deviation from the above should be considered a fault, which will be penalized according to severity:

- General appearance heavy,
- Skull too broad,
- Stop accentuated
- Body too long,
- Important depigmentation of the nose

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.
·      General appearance : heavy.
·      Skull too wide.
·      Accentuated stop.
·      Body too long.
·      Hip bones placed distinctly lower than the withers.
·      Distinct depigmentation of the nose.
Comment Nbr 25  
ELIMINATING FAULTS

1 - Taking the general expression:

- Lack of type in general appearance, going as far as showing a cross with another breed,
- Hips lower than the withers,
- Head heavy,
- Tail thick and hairy, very coiled tail,
- Anatomical deformation that is not accident-related,
- Underbite or overbite.

2 - Taking the color and the coat:

- Coat does not conform: invasive white, white collar, other than black brindle,
- Nose and mucous membranes other than black
- Coat harsh or semi-long,
- Eyes pale [light] such as bird of prey, or blue eyes.

3 - Other features:

- Presence of dewclaws or traces of removal of dewclaws on hind legs,
- Size deviating more than 3 cm from the standard,
- Monorchidism and cryptorchidism,
- Character aggressive with attack.

·      Timid character, panicky or aggressive with attack.
·      Lack of type (in particular when showing a recent crossing with another breed).
·      Strong non-accidental anatomical deformation.
·      Disabling anomaly - not acquired.
·      All obvious redhibitory vices.
·      Upper or lower prognathism.
·      Light eye : i.e. bird of prey eyes.
·      Ribs curving in at the base of the chest which thus takes on the look of « violin box ».
·      Coat not conforming to the standard.
·      Harsh or semi-long coat.
·      Absence of any white marking at the extremity of one or more limbs.
·      Size out by more than 3 cm from the standard measures.
 
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Comment Nbr 26

* The hips lower than the withers was a defect "in exact proportion to its severity" and is now an eliminating fault. In show conditions the intimidated Azawakh that does not stand correctly is subject to be unfairly disqualified. By classifying the defect as eliminating, would it not be more appropriate to stipulate "hips placed significantly lower" as in the current version?
Anatomical deformities, prognathism and testicular problems are obviously faults in dog. Is it necessary to say here ?
Not useful to mention again the coat, mucous membranes and nose colors comments, already detailed above.
What does "pale bird of prey eye" mean ? In canine terms this expression is usually meant for yellow eyes. It might be useful to be more precise. In dogs, the color of the eye is passed on regardless of the color of the coat : even blue eyes are likely to come with any coat color. Nevertheless, some genes regulating coat color may influence the color of the eye. But in general, when the color of the eye is in the same shade than the color of a coat color it should be accepted and considered as correct.
The positive point of this proposed standard: the change regarding the character by keeping only "aggressive with attack" is welcome! The current version sanctioning a timid or shy character partially contradicts the description of the character and is confusing in some other language translations.

* I refer to comment 20, the color of the eye depends on the color of the coat and can vary in intensity of color, dark eye is preferred.

* My proposal on the low hips... one should judge dogs in motion. Because that is how you can see if the level is really low (which could be just a posture of fear in a static position). The semi-long hair, a lack of type, etc. ... it's very subjective ... Coiled tail (not often seen since the tail is almost always bent under his body by anxiety in the ring), Tail thick and a little more hairy, are easily controled by breeders. The use of dogs with these characteristics, in recent decades, is enough proof. Consideingr them as eliminating faults, and not a "simple" fault will unnecessarily restricts the genetic potential.

R E M A R K S

* The Azawakh is a rare breed according to its low representation and the few births outside of Africa. Despite of the contribution of some dogs of the countries of origin these last years to the European lineages, some foundation dogs of the breed are genetically in a very large proportion in the current lines. It is important to increase, or at least try to maintain a high genetic variability of the breed to save the morphological, functional qualities and health of future generations. The use of imported sighthounds from the countries of​origin of the breed is the most logical way to increase the genetic variability.
Now claim that the dogs from a very restricted geographical area exclusively (or specific owners) are the only ones who can be described as pure means considering that the entire Azawakh breed is originally out of many "bastards", of which some dogs were part of the establishment of the first standard. The sighthounds from the Nigerian middle basin, morphologically identical, with identical function and lifestyle, but may presenting some variations of colors and bone structure, are present on a much wider geographical area than that described in this project (as pointed out in the current standard). Which ultimately reduces surprisingly, the breed to one "family" or one homogeneous hypertype variety of this population.

The recent amendment (2004) in European health legislation had already drastically reduced the possibility of importing new lines from Africa. In addition, the security situation in Mali and Niger now makes the countries of origin of the Azawakh, almost inaccessible. Therefore, opportunities to increase the genetic variability of the breed are currently almost impossible. It is therefore essential to maintain sufficient genetic variability for the future of the Azawakh enabling as many of its representatives, of correct morphology, to be used for breeding - especially those whose lines are less represented. It is absolutely inappropriate to further restrict coat colors and markings of the standard and risk seeing a large number of subjects excluded from breeding for very bad reasons. Exactly the opposite should be done.

Because the standard allows some flexibility, SLAG club in France, following the desire of some to establish a more strict selection, has already been able to set up for judges issues of non-confirmation validated by the SCC, ie the refusal of breeding rights and to participate in canine events (like coursing, for example) to Azawakhs showing, among other points :
Hips lower than the withers (instead of "significantly lower" which was not an eliminating fault). Invasive white, a white collar, brindle other than black, nose not black, mucous membranes other than black. While these points are not among the eliminating faults in the current standard...

Assuming that you actually fear a "drift" of the entire breed to excessive extension of white, which is unlikely to happen due to the low enthusiasm for large white colors markings, the description of the coat on the spotting could specify that irish spotting is more common and preferred (but not excluding the lack of white on a leg or tail...). This would favor this marking, usually more frequent in the breed, without excluding subjects with more white that could be interesting for the purpose of genetic variability of the breed.

It also seems righteous for the same reasons, to accept the different coat colors, worn by very typical Azawakhs, observed and reported repeatedly in the Azawakh Valley (PhD thesis of Dr. Roussel in 1975, "Afrikanische Impressionen" Ursula Arnold, "Der Azawakh"of Strassner & Eiles, Dr. Gabriele Meissen Study, and others).

Regrettablly this project wich could modify the standard of the breed and the breeding policies, exactly goes against the interest of the breed and against its future survival. Indeed, for the following diverse reasons there will be fewer births, the use of fewer different dogs in breedings, an opposite extreme effect in white markings and finally in a genetic impoverishment of the breed :

- For an Azawakh which is not a dog to be put between all the hands, the responsible breeder who selects carefully the right family does not easily find to place its puppies. Most of the buyers are knowledgeable amateurs of the breed who wish to acquire a dog with which they can participate in some shows and\or coursings-racings. A greater number of "not standard" puppies will not find buyers. Unless eliminating puppies at birth, the breeders will not dare to make any more matings with their dogs, even successful ones. The speech, which wants to be reassuring on behalf of certain members of the Committee, ensuring that a high-quality dog, but non-standard in matter of white (white collar), may obtain a "waiver" to the breeding right cannot be trusted since one canotn predict the future high quality of a newborn puppywith too much or not enough white.

- Breeders will not want to take risks to ensure proper placement of their puppies and will only use the few high award-winning standard dogs that have made​their proofs in production of perfectly "standard" puppies with the minimum of white .
The typy offspring recently bred out of Azawakhs imported from the countries of origin, which could bring a good diversity and genetic vigour, will no longer be used to avoid every risk of unsaleable "non standard" puppies. It is the end of the serious and difficult work of selection from new lineages, on the type and the health, of numerous responsible breeders.

- The dogs will have the minimum of white and finally, very quickly, breeders will be confronted with litters of puppies wich the majority will miss the white brush and white stockings required.

- The used dogs will be more inbred, since the risk of heterogeneity (leading to a greater variety of types, colors and spottings) will be avoided. This will result in an increased risk of homozygosity at genes carrying defects, ie risk of genetic diseases, immune impairment and birth, not to mention problems of characters.

* I agree with this final remark!

Last updated 29/03/2011