A sighthound, this dog was nearly extinct by the 20th century. Political problems ruined the sucessful breeding by leading families. As well, a French law prohibited hunting with these dogs, allowing people to shoot them on site.

However, there has a been a rigorous movement to get these breeds AKC recognized and more widely bred. Traditionally, these dogs were used for hunting gazelles, desert hare, fennec, and even jackals. Nowadays, they can be used for hunting desert hare and fennec. Rarely are they used for hunting gazelles. Aloof and introverted, this dog is surprisingly devoted and loyal to its owner.

Whew! That was quite a bit of information