Azawakh
Price range: $1,000-$2,500
Common health issues: Hypothyroidism, seizures, cardiac issues
Additional expenses: Early training and socialization
A tall, lean dog, the Azawakh is a sighthound from West Africa. It has a short, smooth coat that needs little maintenance. Unlike most other breeds, the Azawakh can be any color or combination of colors. As would be expected from its athletic physique, this agile breed needs daily exercise and enjoys running, as long as he has company, either human or canine. Like other intelligent breeds, positive training is important.
The breed comes from the south Sahara and the Sahel zone. In the Azawakh Valley, the dogs are known as the “idii n’ illeli,” which means “sighthound of the free people.” There the dogs live closely with their nomadic families and serve as protectors. They are also good hunters that catch hare, antelope and wild boar for their owners.