Sahel Hound » behavior

Dusky Blurs

Brian Reiter — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:00:34 +0000

At twilight, playful wresting often preceeds warp speet chase gams.

Tawzalt capers through the bamboo thicket at dusk.

Two Speeds

Brian Reiter — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:18:16 +0000

Zero

I awakened with too many mammals in our bed. Cassandra was curled up with Azelouan and Tawzalt was apparently displaced so that she decided to flop down on my face which was a minor obstacle in the way of the pillow.

Zoom

Tawzalt is having a game of chase with Zel in our garden in Ghana. She is careening around a stand of bamboo. Zel is faster than Tawzalt on a straightaway but when she is in the mood to run she is very fast and can turn in any direction in one stride. She can also keep going and going and going—I think because she is so light.

Preposterous

Brian Reiter — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:21:06 +0000

Tawzalt just walked casually into my office, stretched and curled up on top of Azelouan.

Backyard Shenanigans

Brian Reiter — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:18:31 +0000

Azelouan’s new game is jumping the pile of wood that I have left over after building a new fence. The wood pile is over 8 feet long and 2 feet high. He easily clears it every time.

On the way out.

The return journey.

It’s nap time

Brian Reiter — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:02:38 +0000

Theodora and Tawzalt

Cassandra and Tawzalt

Unfortunately, this lasted about 10 minutes. I should never have let the girls eat chocolate cake at the coffee shop.

“Help” with the snow removal

Brian Reiter — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:46:38 +0000

We had a pretty big snow storm last night, about 6 or 7 inches or hock-deep on an azawakh. The dogs are a little ambivalent about the stuff. They have fun with it until they start to get really cold. For Tawzalt, this is her first experience with proper fluffy snow that hasn’t been adulterated by a nasty skin of ice caused by freezing rain.

They were very helpful at un-shoveling the snow as I cleared it.

Tawzalt is starting to feel the cold after some crazed digging

What is this crazy stuff?

Snow Digger

Azeloan with his snow ball

Havoc wreaked, it's quittin' time.

West African Working Bush Dog

Brian Reiter — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:06:36 +0000

These are photographs of photographs I took in 1997 in The Gambia. The dog is one of three that serve as guardians for a beautiful herd of Fulani cattle. The structural conformation is very much like an Azawakh but many of the “bush dogs” in that area tend to be quite rustic and unrefined. Specimens with one or both ears erect were not uncommon, tails tendto be thick-ish and the hair was usually somewhat longer than is typical of Azawakh. The temperament is the same as typical of Azawakh. I believe these dogs and Azawakh are very closely related.

It was common practice for male working dogs to have cropped ears. I’m not sure if the primary purpose was to proactively prevent torn ears or to identify the dog as owned by someone (and therefore not to be killed).

West African bush dog protecting his cows

After thieves, the biggest risk to cattle might have been hyenas. The bush dogs that guard herds were expected to keep hyenas at bay.

West African Hyenas, the enemy of the bush dog

The Warm Spot

Brian Reiter — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:25:14 +0000

Today it is 15 F outside and a wicked wind is blowing. Azelouan found himself a nice warm spot in the sun to warm his bones.

Azelouan in his warm, sunny spot

Today we have sunshine

Brian Reiter — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:58:28 +0000

It seems like forever since we have had anything but grey skies and below-normal temperatures. The dogs definitely noticed the improvement. Tawzalt came into my office to bask herself.

Tawzalt basking in the warm sunlight

Enjoying the sun, but still still watchful.

Snuggle

Brian Reiter — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:10:15 +0000

Cassandra in jams snuggles Tawzalt

My wife insisted that Tawzalt needed an inaugural bath. If I say that Tawzalt detests being bathed it is not true only because detest is not a sufficiently negative verb. She does quite enjoy being snuggled and comforted by my daughters afteward, though.