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The American Kennel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, announced today that the Azawakh (pronounced Oz-a-wok) has gained full AKC recognition. This new addition to the AKC registry became eligible to compete in its group on January 1, 2019.

“We’re excited to have the Azawakh join the AKC family,” said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. “This wonderful breed has been around for thousands of years, and we’re happy to introduce it to dog lovers in this country. As with any breed, it’s important to do research and find the right one to fit your lifestyle.”

An ancient hunting sighthound from West Africa, the Azawakh joins the Hound Group. The breed originated as a guardian, hunter, and companion to nomads. They would hunt hare, antelope, and wild boar, and are tough, durable, and very fast. The Azawakh is leggy and elegant-looking, with a short, fine coat that needs occasional brushing. They are relatively calm dogs indoors but have tremendous energy and endurance outside and must have regular exercise. Azawakhs bond strongly with their owners and are affectionate, playful companions. They can be aloof towards strangers.

To become an AKC recognized breed there must be a minimum number of dogs geographically distributed throughout the U.S., as well as an established breed club of
responsible owners and breeders. Breeds working towards full recognition are recorded in AKC’s Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®). Additional information on the process can be found at akc.org.

Download hi-res images of the Azawakh HERE.