About
The first azawakh to arrive in the UK was Na'ema Runi, bred by Dr. Pascal Thiery in France and imported by Mary and Ken Snowdon. This lead to the formation of the proposed Azawakh Assocation of the United Kingdom. In April 2003, the first litter was bred in the UK by Susannah Kemp, producing a total of three dogs and two bitches out of Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian & Danish Champion Mouli de Garde-Épée (dam) and Amanar (sire), an import from Mali. This was the year the Kennel Club first recognised the breed, adding it to the Imported Register.
By 2005, the breed totalled 11 dogs in the UK due to several owners returning to their home countries with their Azawakhs and few importing or breeding new dogs. Numbers continued to fluctuate but remain very low for the next ten years. However, many owners continued to promote their breed during this time, with appearances at Discover Dogs, Azawakh teach-ins at the Humberside Hound Association, journeys to Ireland for FCI dog shows with much success and many parades at the Hound Association show.
In 2014, the Hound Association invited the AAUK to man a breed stand at its championship show along with the other hound breeds on the Imported Register. Four Azawakhs attended, aged from 7 years to 9 month.
In 2015, the interim KC breed standard for the Azawakh was approved and this meant that the breed could now be shown, if only in Import Register classes. At the Belfast Championship Show that September, Pure Elegance Asali owned by Walter Albert won the Hound, Terrier and Gundog Imported Register class. A second Azawakh, Swala's Shi-Shenti, owned by Irish handler Breda Dunne, took reserve best bitch.
The first time Azawakhs could be shown at Crufts was in 2016. Several European exhibitors were encouraged to attend and overall seven Azawakhs made it. In total that day, Azawakhs won junior dog, open dog, junior bitch, limit bitch, open dog, best dog and best imported register, leading to the winner Azamour Khemosabi performing a lap of honour in Crufts' famous group ring prior to the Hound group judging.
While Crufts entries have dropped since then, due to the lack of progression or awards from Import Register classes, it is hoped that the recent introduction of Best Imported Register into group judging will encourage our European friends to enter Crufts once again.
The breed continues to grow and develop in the UK.
By 2005, the breed totalled 11 dogs in the UK due to several owners returning to their home countries with their Azawakhs and few importing or breeding new dogs. Numbers continued to fluctuate but remain very low for the next ten years. However, many owners continued to promote their breed during this time, with appearances at Discover Dogs, Azawakh teach-ins at the Humberside Hound Association, journeys to Ireland for FCI dog shows with much success and many parades at the Hound Association show.
In 2014, the Hound Association invited the AAUK to man a breed stand at its championship show along with the other hound breeds on the Imported Register. Four Azawakhs attended, aged from 7 years to 9 month.
In 2015, the interim KC breed standard for the Azawakh was approved and this meant that the breed could now be shown, if only in Import Register classes. At the Belfast Championship Show that September, Pure Elegance Asali owned by Walter Albert won the Hound, Terrier and Gundog Imported Register class. A second Azawakh, Swala's Shi-Shenti, owned by Irish handler Breda Dunne, took reserve best bitch.
The first time Azawakhs could be shown at Crufts was in 2016. Several European exhibitors were encouraged to attend and overall seven Azawakhs made it. In total that day, Azawakhs won junior dog, open dog, junior bitch, limit bitch, open dog, best dog and best imported register, leading to the winner Azamour Khemosabi performing a lap of honour in Crufts' famous group ring prior to the Hound group judging.
While Crufts entries have dropped since then, due to the lack of progression or awards from Import Register classes, it is hoped that the recent introduction of Best Imported Register into group judging will encourage our European friends to enter Crufts once again.
The breed continues to grow and develop in the UK.
From left to right, Valerie Minto with Worgeordie Ekundu Na'ema, Mary Snowdon with Ettebel Amali, Tombouktou's Jufayyar at Afrikamoon and Worgeordie G'Zuhri at Afrikamoon with Tricia Churchill.
Last update: November 14, 2020