written by Maria Szynaka-Tomaszewska
Eidi  n’Amanar azawakhs
eidi.amanar@gmail.com

Imagine …
You’re waking up in the strange place in the middle of nowhere…
Would you feel safe? What would you do in such circumstances?
Would you forsee your reaction?
It is hard to say!

Such faith concerns azawakh. Beautiful creatures taken from the wild, limited and surrounded by unusual enviroment. How do they feel in new environments? How are they perceived by society?

For many of us they are only ornament. We often see their beauty forgetting about their nature. Possesive desire makes us blind to their needs. Beauty excitiation is a bit too less to decide for living together.
Some people watching or even living with azawakh can just judge their behaviour instead of understanding and creating the bond which should be done to help azawakh with new conditions adjustment.

Before you decide for an azawakh, look into the world through their eyes.

Azawakh is not a typical dog. Proud, attentive, reserve ( only to unknown people! ) and dominant. They are independent but sometimes I think it is not so true cause they do everything for those, they love and recpect. If they don’t trust you and don’t treat you as a pack leader, they will ignore you, show their independence, can even become agressive as a result of feeling unsecure. To be really loved and recpected by azawakh you need to work a lot and be very careful. That’s why they are not dogs for everybody. Before you own an azawakh, be sure you are patient, consequent, emphatetic and never forget about their free spirit! I always give my dogs oportunity to keep their true nature. They need a space for themselves, can’t be done submissive slaves of our life. If they feel your positive emotions, they stay loyal, calm, tender and they will be your guards forever! I personally think, nobody can own azawakh, we can just become their partners or members of their pack. It is up to us if we get the pack leadership which is the only solution to live with balanced, relaxed and happy dog. I’m into opinion: your dog is as you are. So it is very important that we are emotionally stable and spread possitive attitude to the world. Emphacy is one of the main feature of an azawakh what I adore in this breed the most.

– My God, azawakh are so agressive– this is a statement I have heard many times. It is so unfair judging them in such way! Where does it come from? We just don’t understand the reason of azawakh unproper reactions which made azawakh being seen as a wild beast.

There are actually few basic azawakh behaviour caused such opinion, which should be known by their owners and fanciers and than life with these beautiful creatures becomes easy to manage. Even by unexperieced ones.
– when azawakh try to catch your tight or calf, it means: you are warned cause probably invaded its territory, or a dog feels unsecure and is afraid cause its owner is not strong enough to be a leader in a pack,
– when azawakh growls, and shows teeth trying to make scared ( it is not an attack! ), it is a clear sign of their teritorial instinct, you invaded its territory or you are suspicious and maybe your unusual behaviour makes such reaction,
– when azawakh running freely, doesn’t listen and doesn’t want to come back when you call, it means the dog doesn’t trust you and there is no bond between you, weak leader again (shame on you!)

So, if you really want an azawakh:
– be patient (azawakh is smart and intelligent, easy for learning but its indepenence doesn’t let them being subordinated too fast)
– be consequent (exercices must be repeated to become an habit, changing the rules makes the dog confused)
– be a leader (show you are strong and always take care of all packmembers, making them relaxed and safe)
– be understanding (understand azawakh is a primitive breed and needs time to know new conditions, rules and environment)
– be demanding and always fair – teach your dog tricks, go walking, spend time together (instead of sending for show with handler!) to create your own bond and dog’s confidence
– watch your dog (you’ll be able to forsee their unproper reaction and prevent it)
– listen to your azawakh (they need our attention)
And last but not least:
– Stay calm and love azawakh!

*** I’m an azawakh hothead. I think I can also say I am azawakh breeder. My family consists of 12 members (3adults,2 children, 6azawakh and 1saluki). So as you can see azawakh are very dominant 😉 .  But first of all I’m a lucky one! Having azawakh had been my big dream long before I got my first one. Now, thanks these unique beasts I’m experiencing a great adventure. We all live in harmony and protect our pack, surrounded only by friends who are honest to us. Sometimes my dogs know even better what’s best for me and thanks their emphacy I learnt a lot! I’m successful one as well. And main reason of my success is not winning shows, it is such passionate life with my family.