The Azawakh belongs to the tenth group in this classification which is made up of hunting dogs (the word greyhound derives from the word hare) and come from very old breeds. They were intended for sight hunting: their narrow and elongated head shape gives them a wide field of vision and these breeds being often large, their gaze can look far away. After spotting the game, the greyhound's mission is to pursue it and catch up with it while running. Unlike hounds which exhibit qualities of endurance, greyhounds are characterized by their speed. The breeds of this group are divided into 3 sections, according to a morphological criterion (type of hair): Section 1. Long-haired or fringed greyhounds Section 2. Wire-haired greyhounds Section 3. Short-haired greyhounds

The Azawakh is an African greyhound of Afro-Asian model, which appeared in Europe around 1970, coming from the middle Niger Basin (Republic of Mali) and in particular from the Azawakh valley. It has been the companion of sub-Saharan nomads for hundreds of years. The International Cynological Federation recognized the breed in 1981 and published a standard in 1982.

The Azawakh has a slender and particularly slender body. The tourniquet is well out and the chest is high, reaching down to the elbow. Its head is long and thin with an almost flat and rather elongated skull. The muzzle is long, straight and ends in a black or dark brown nose; the eyes are almond-shaped, quite large, dark or sometimes amber in color. The ears are set high and rather thin, always drooping and flat; their shape is that of a triangle with a rounded tip. The tail, set low, is long and thin. The hair is short, fine, fawn in color, with or without brindle. All shades are allowed, from light sand to dark fawn. The muzzle may have a black mask and the variegation is very variable. Each of the four members has a white spot, at least in the form of a trace on the foot. Black stripes are allowed. Height at the withers is between 64 and 74 cm for males and 60 to 70 cm for females. Weight varies from 20 to 25 kg for males and 15 to 20 kg for females.

The Azawakh is a robust dog that does not have a particular predisposition to certain diseases. Due to its short hair and its extreme thinness, it is not the best choice for people living in a humid or cold climate. Its Life expectancy is around 12 years. Having a very fine coat, a simple weekly brushing is enough for its maintenance.

The Azawakh is a dog that has a huge need to exercise and will therefore need a sports handler to take it for walks and give it the opportunity to run. These muscular and enduring dogs are excellent companions for joggers and runners. Reserved and distant in nature with strangers: they will growl to warn of the arrival of an intruder and will therefore be a good guardian. The Azawakh being a very independent and sometimes stubborn dog, his education will not always be easy and will therefore be more suitable for a master who already has experience with dogs. It requires firm but gentle and consistent education from an early age.