JUDGING THE SLOUGHI: ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS OF TYPE
Ground-Covering Gaits. The Sloughi has a supple, smooth, and effortless gait with long strides, covering plenty of ground and reaching from the shoulders in front. This does not mean tremendous reach and drive. While an exaggerated “flying trot” should not be reward- ed, short-strided, hackneyed, weak gaits, or gaits reaching only from the elbows, are also incorrect. Dogs who are out at the elbows or those having weak, floppy pasterns are particularly faulty. Hackneyed action is a serious fault. In addition, the Sloughi does not normally converge at the speed at which it is shown in the Conformation ring. The American Sloughi Association has a judges’ edu- cation video on proper gaits in the breed at this link: https://sloughi-international.com/?p=2416 Robust but Elegant. The Standard says the Sloughi is a “ robust, but elegant and racy, pursuit dog with no exaggeration of length of body or limbs, muscle develop- ment, angulation, nor curve of loin.” The Standard also uses the words, “powerful,” “strong,” and “sturdy.” Yes, the Sloughi is elegant, but the skeletal structure should be sturdy. The Sloughi should not appear fragile or delicate. The muscles and soft tissues should be strong and lean. The Sloughi is sturdier than many of its desert counter- parts. This strength is needed for a dog that must often hunt over rocky terrain Wedge-Shaped Head. The head of the Sloughi is unique among sighthounds. It has a long and elegant, sturdy, wedge-shaped head that narrows from the cranial region to the nose. The AKC Standard describes a back- skull that is 4.75-5.5 inches wide between the ears. The Sloughi head is more substantial than many sighthound breeds. The occiput should be apparent, but not as pro- nounced as that of the Afghan Hound. Ears. The ears are set slightly above the eye line, drooping, close to the head, medium in size, triangular, and slightly rounded at the tips... Disqualifications are ears erect, raised with tips drooping, or rose ears that can- not drop close to the head. The Sloughi’s ears are set at about the level of the eye when the animal is at rest. When the animal is alert, the ears will appear to be higher on the head. In addition, a rose ear is a disqualification in the Sloughi . Even Sloughis with excellent ears will fold them back when they are anxious, hot, bored, or inattentive. A handler can always show that an exhibit’s ears are proper upon request if they are correct . There are fifty shades of faulty between the ideal Sloughi ear and the disqualify- ing rose ear. Color and Pigment. The coat colors are all shades of light sand (cream) to mahogany red fawn, with or with- out brindling or with or without black markings such as a black mask, black ears, dark overlay, and black mantle (black and sand or black and brindle). Blue, chocolate, solid black, and white Sloughis do exist, but they are dis- qualifications under the Standard.
A small white mark on the chest or small white marks on the toes are faults. White, anywhere on the body, due to aging or scars, is allowed. Dis- qualifications are: color not in accordance with the Standard, larger white markings, solid white extending above the toes, or white anywhere else on the dog except the forechest. The nose must be black. Any nose color other than black disqualifies. The nails should be black or pigmented. Brown nails and striped nails are acceptable. Depigmented nails or white nails are faulty. Any dog with a majority of white or depigmented nails is a disqualification. Topline. The Sloughi’s topline is essentially level between the withers and the hip bones, but the highest point of the hip bones may be slightly higher than the withers, which should be apparent. Body Condition. The Sloughi should always show defined bony structure and strong, lean muscles. The skeletal structure is sturdy. A Sloughi in good weight will have its hip bones apparent (but less apparent than those of the Afghan Hound), as well as the three rear-most ribs faintly visible. A Sloughi should look and feel hard and fit in the ring. The forechest should be bony and angular, and it lacks “fill.” The Sloughi should never be pigeon-breasted. It should never be soft in condition, and it should never appear padded. Temperament. The Sloughi evolved as a coursing and hunting hound, but it also evolved as a guardian of nomadic tents and a sometimes livestock guardian. Part of the Sloughi’s purpose was historically to be suspicious of strangers and to be especially devoted to its family. The Sloughi should be approached in a business-like fashion—never staring into the eyes; ask the handler to show the bite—front and sides, but never opening the mouth to check molars. Judges should refrain from speaking when bent directly over a Sloughi. If an exhibit is shy or nervous, please refrain from trying to comfort the Sloughi or talk to it, which will only heighten its suspicion. Sloughis presented at Conformation shows must be comfortable enough to be examined, even if they are wary. Disqualifications: • Ears erect, raised with tips drooping, or rose ears that cannot drop close to the head. • Nose pigment any color other than black. • An overshot or undershot jaw. • Coat too long and/or feathering on the ears, tail, and/or legs. • Dogs with a majority of white or depigmented nails. • Color not in accordance with the Standard, larger white markings, solid white extending above the toes or white anywhere else on the dog except the forechest. For more information, please see the American Sloughi Association Judges Education Page online at: https://sloughi-international.com/?page_id=1340
252 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2023
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