Sloughi vs Polish Hound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

It is thought that Polish Hounds descended from the Kostroma Hound. Other experts believe that the dogs were developed through crossbreeding of Bloodhounds with local Polish hounds.

The idea was to get a more lighter-boned, more athletic Bloodhound type of dog. In fact, this new standard was adopted in 1983 as the guide for the ideal Polish Hound.

The World Wars caused the numbers of these dogs to be drastically reduced, and attempts were made to revive the breed. The dog is rare outside his native country.

The Sloughi is an ancient dog breed, dating back to the 13th century, and coming from Morocco, North Africa.

Much of its history isn’t well known. The dog is a member of the sighthound family. They were originally used for hunting purposes.

The world wars saw their numbers declining. The first Sloughi dog was introduced to the United States in 1973. It was in 1989 that the American Sloughi Association was founded. The dog was also recognized by the American Kennel Club as a Foundation Stock Service breed in 1997. The dog has also been recognized by FCI in the Sighthounds group.

They are rare in the United States and if you wanted to buy one of these dogs you would stand a better chance of looking for a breeder, and then there may be a waiting list.

The Polish Hound is a nice, big, solid looking dog. He stands at between 55–65 cm in height and weighs between 20 to 32kg, both male and female. If you were to try and think of him, you could think of a Labrador/Beagle/Bloodhound mix.

He is a medium to large sized dog. The coat is short to medium in length and is thick and hard with a soft, dense undercoat. The color of the coat is brown and tan and black and tan. The dog’s tail is set low and is thick and long.

Temperament:

This dog is a wonderful dog known to be clever and eager to please. He also has other attractive characteristics such as being energetic, gentle and he has an urge to protect his human family.

He is also loved because he is reliable and gentle around children who know how to treat dogs with respect. Some people who have owed this dog say that there is just one small fault – the dog’s bark – it is deep and mellow – and its why he isn’t suited to life in the city.

He is a rural dog, loving wide open spaces. It is why the dog will be an excellent pet if he is trained and socialized, becoming obedient and well balanced.

The Sloughi is a big dog, tall and slender. The head is also long and elegant. He stands between 61 and 72cm, both male and female, and he weighs in the region of 18 to 28kg.

Looking much like a large Greyhound, the leggy dog has a noble look about him. Known for his hunting skills, he is fast and agile. In fact he is nicknamed the ‘Arabian Greyhound’.

The short straight hair makes him always look well groomed and clean. He sheds moderately throughout the year. Colors of the coat can be a fawn color, sandy, reddish brown or brindle and some come with the black mask and others without. He has medium length floppy ears and a long tail

Temperament:

The Sloughi loves his human family but is essentially a one-person dog. He is affectionate and loyal but can be quite stubborn, Having him trained and socialized does wonders and makes him amicable and well mannered.

He is quiet and intelligent and would prefer to be in a family with older children, and particularly with children who have been taught how to be kind and respectful with animals.

As a family pet, the Polish Hound just loves his human family, particularly when they are outdoor, active types. Your Polish Hound just loves spending time with his human family.

This is a wonderful dog as a family pet. More so when he has been trained and socialized. In exchange for the the wonderful companionship this dog offers you, you owe it to him to keep him happy and content.

Sloughis are independent, strong willed dogs who will need a firm owner who is consistent, fair and firm.

They're tall, slender dogs, elegant to look at and low maintenance with their short coats.

They are calm and dignified and when you make one of them your friend, companion and pet, you’re going to enjoy years of devoted companionship and loyalty.

The Polish Hound has a reputation for good health. That doesn’t mean you can just leave your pet. Good preventative healthcare is still vital if you want to prevent your pet being attacked by fleas, ticks, worms and mosquitoes.

You need to be careful with the Polish Hound because it's a deep chested dog, and these kinds of dogs are more prone to bloat. This is a deadly disease when the stomach twists and gas can’t escape. Untreated, bloat can be a killer. Take immediate action when you see your dog with a swollen stomach, restlessness and drooling.

Only a few genetic conditions are found in this breed and these can be the likes of autoimmune disorders such as eye disease, Addison's disease and irritable bowel syndrome.

These dogs are also sensitive to anesthesia as well as some medications. Other illnesses to look out for with this large dog are cancer, bloat and diabetes.

Exercise:

As a working dog, the Polish Hound is used to being busy and will be relying on you for a good dose of exercise. He loves the chance of a walk or a run and will be happy to run alongside you while you cycle or jog. Don’t forget ball games too.

Grooming:

The thick coat of the dog will need to be brushed twice a week to remove all that loose hairs. He is a moderate shedder so the coat becomes dull if not regularly brushed.

During the brushing session, check your dog over for fleas and ticks, and any odd lumps that weren’t there before. Trim your pets nails if they don’t wear down naturally. This is a floppy eared breed, so you will need to check the inside of his ears for dirt, wax and bacteria.

Pay close attention to your dog’s teeth.Bad teeth can cause a lot of pain but also be very detrimental to your dog’s health.

Diet:

Just like humans, dogs rely on quality food for good health and longevity. There are many good commercially manufactured dog foods, but avoid the ones with low quality ingredients as these can make your dog ill.

Check the ingredients-list carefully so that you can be sure your pet is getting the right balances of vitamins and minerals. Home-made food is also important as it is nutritious and tasty. You can add it into the dry kibble as a treat sometimes. The simpler the better as dogs don’t like spicy, exotic foods.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrot can be chopped up and given to your pet. Also try and include some raw meat as this is beneficial for health. Fresh, cool water must be made constantly available.

Grooming:

The Sloughi's coat is short and smooth and he also doesn’t have an undercoat. He is looked upon as low maintenance as he just needs a good brush every now and then to rid the coat of loose hairs and to keep him nice and shiny.

Diet:

The Sloughi dog can be fed dry kibble, but it should be a top quality one – one for large, athletic dogs. The dry kibble is useful in that it helps to keep his teeth clean.

To add some tasty variety to your pet’s diet feed him some home made food occasionally. All chopped up, boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your Sloughi and can be added to the dry kibble. Simple food like this keeps digestive problems at bay.

Try and include some raw meat into the diet as this can help in fighting off horrible skin diseases. Make sure he has constant access to fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

Sloughis love to be active and to have a good run. If you live near a park, allow him off the leash to have a chance to run. Alwys check first though, that it is safe to do so and that your loughi doesn’t try and fight with other dogs off the leashh or accidentally knock over a small child. If you’ve got a big garden, throw a frisbee or ball for him. It is important for him to get a good dose of exercise.