The Incredible African Dog Breeds Africa is home to many exotic animal species, but rather than dogs, you will link this continent with lions and elephants. But that would be a mistake because Africa is also a place where many ancient and unique dog breeds were developed.
1. Basenji
Basenji African dog breeds
have some very rare breeds, but that is not the case with Basenji, which is quite popular worldwide. Basenji is believed to be an ancient dog breed that predates most modern breeds, but they were first described only in 1895 in Congo. Basenji is a highly valued hunting dog with a high prey drive, known for its courage, independence intelligence, speed, and agility.
Another thing Basenji is known for is the fact that they do not bark. They are not completely silent, since they are known for specific sounds resembling yodeling, but they truly are barkless dogs. The Basenji are strongly attached to their owner and they are loyal to their whole family. On the other hand, they are typically quite reserved with strangers. It is a curious, alert, energetic, and playful dog breed.
2. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback One of the easiest dogs to recognize from Africa is the Rhodesian Ridgeback, also known as the African Lion Dog. It is a large-size dog breed with the distinguishing feature, the ridge of hair running on the back in the opposite direction from the rest of the coat. The breed is native to southern parts of Africa and the first breed standard was written in 1922 in today Zimbabwe.
They can trace its history to semi-wild ridged hunting dogs of the Khoi Khoi people, who used these dogs for hunting large and dangerous prey and also for guarding. Later, these dogs were crossed with some European breeds, most likely with dogs such as Great Danes, Bloodhounds, or some Terriers, but they preserved their excellent hunting skills. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is known as a loyal and balanced dog breed with a very athletic and muscular body.
3. Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear Most African dog breeds are hunters, but some exceptions exist. And Coton de Tulea is one of the exceptions. This small fluffy white dog is just an incredible companion dog hailing from Madagascar. The ancestors of Coton de Tulea were probably brought to Madagascar in the 16th and 17th centuries on pirate ships.
Later these dogs were most likely crossed with Tenerife dogs. The Coton de Tulea is a Bichon type of a dog with very cottony coat texture. The great fact is, that it is a non-shedding breed, which can be excellent for allergy sufferers. On the other hand, grooming can be quite challenging. The Cotton is a very loving, smart, affectionate, and pretty playful breed. They love being around people and they are friendly towards almost everyone. They are also pretty intelligent and easy to train dogs.
4. Azawakh
The Azawakh African dog breeds Azawakh is one of the most elegant and athletic of all African dogs. It is an ancient sighthound from West Africa and it is named after the Azawakh Wali. The Yazawa is a very slim dog with very long legs and with muscles visible through the skin.
The slim body and long strong legs enable the dog to be very fast and it is said that they can run up to 40 miles per hour which is 65 kilometers per hour, making them one of the fastest of all dogs. It is no wonder, that they were used to hunt all kinds of fast prey, such as gazelles. The Azawakh was also used as a guard and protector, as it is a very alert dog breed and when they sense the danger, they will automatically start barking to alert other members of the pack. But when they are around their people, the Azawakh tend to be extremely gentle and affectionate companions.
5. Eide
The Eide African dog breeds One of the rarer African breeds is the Eide. It is a livestock guardian breed from North Africa. They are also named Atlas Mountain Dogs, as they can be found in the largest numbers in the Atlas Mountain range. The Yaide is a very protective breed, which is mostly used as a livestock guardian, but also as a personal protector. They also possess good hunting abilities.
6. Armant
The Armant There is not much information about the Armant dog and it is one of the rarest of all African breeds. It is a sheepdog, most likely related to Briards, which were brought to Egypt with Napoleon’s army. The breed is named after the town of Armand.
7. Sloughi
Sloughi Another African sighthound, very similar to Azawakh is Sloughi. This breed comes from North Africa, from countries such as Libya, Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco.
The Sloughi is another excellent fast and agile hunting dog breed, known for its extreme endurance over long distances. This is a very old breed that is creating a very strong bond with its owner and its own family. It is also a pretty sensitive breed and hard handling is not very effective for training this breed. They need kind, patient, and consistent trainers to achieve the best results.
8. Africanis
Africanis The Africanis is a land-raised dog that developed naturally by natural selection and survival of the fittest in South Africa. It is not a standardized breed and thus, there is a big variety in the breed. But on average, this is a medium-sized and strong dog with a friendly, but alert temperament. It is usually an extremely healthy and hardy dog breed, which is very independent and can survive on its own. But of course, they love being around people and they will prefer to live in a pack with its owner.
9. Boerboel
Boerboel African Dog Breeds One of the most powerful African breeds is the Boerboel, a large mastiff type of dog from South Africa. It is a strong dog with natural guarding instincts. They are excellent for protecting, as they will not let any intruders into your property. On the other hand, they are very gentle and playful with their own family and with kids. They are very tolerant of kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised. They are loyal and faithful to their owners and they would do anything to protect them. But back in the past, this dog was not only used for guarding.
It is believed that they were also excellent hunters and they were the best dogs for hunting leopards. The name Burbul derives from two Afrikaans words. Bur, which means farmer, and buy, which is a shortening for bullhead. which means bulldog, so the name can be translated as farmer’s bulldog.
10. Abyssinian Sand Terrier
Abyssinian Sand Terrier The Abyssinian Sand Terrier, also known as the African Hairless Dog is an extremely rare dog breed. They may be already extinct, as it is unknown if any of them still exist. The breed is almost completely hairless except for a few hairs on the head and the tail, but they can also be completely hairless.
11. Ayadi
Ayadi This Atlas Mountain Dog originated in Morocco, where it helped guard livestock with tribespeople.
Known to be a bit territorial, this breed needs early and extensive socialization and training, otherwise, their wild instincts tend to take over. Their thick, soft coat and attractive color
12 African village
African village dogs The African village dog is not a dog breed, but it is a group of native and indigenous dogs living in various parts of Africa, spreading from the north to the south.
African village dogs are common companions of African people and they are thousands of years old, but they are not standardized at all. This is a list of different African village dogs, they have different sizes, coat types colors, and utilizations.
13. Bora Bull Hailing
Bora Bull Hailing from South Africa, the Bora Bull’s origins are still a bit of a mystery. They’re thought to be part of Mastiff, brought over by the Dutch and native African dogs. What is clear is that they’re large, powerful, and unmistakably handsome. When socialized and trained well, these dogs make incredible family guard dogs. They generally love kids, and they’re happiest when they’re given some space to play, so perhaps not the best choice for urban apartment living.
14. African wild dogs
African wild dogs. Another not-so-typical canine from Africa is an African wild dog. It is a wild animal native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is a highly social animal living and hunting in packs. They hunt in packs with great endurance and they very often hunt animals like antelopes by chasing them to exhaustion. It is a quite big and strong dog with an average height between 60 to 75 centimeters which is 24 to 30 inches and weight is usually between 18-36 kg, which is 40-80 lbs. Females tend to be smaller than males.
15. Chinese crested
Chinese crested dog China is not in Africa, right? Of course not, but the latest research says, that the origin of the breed is not in Asia, but most likely in Africa or Mexico. Various British, Portuguese, and French explorers discovered similar dogs to Chinese crested dogs across the African continent in the 18th and 19th centuries. But if the dogs truly have ancestry and origin in Africa or not, will probably never be discovered 100%.