Breeder Nancy Lovelady shares her passion for Sloughis, breeding ethics, and preserving elegant, functional hounds.
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Nancy Lovelady
1. I live in Carson City, Nevada, with my husband, our Sloughis, and most recently, we have added a Manchester Terrier to the group! We have five fenced acres of sand and sagebrush where our dogs can run, so they are always in top physical condition.
I have bred dogs for 45 years, starting with my parents in the mid-1980s. I bred Cairn Terriers under the McHan prefix, and raised and finished 50 homebred terriers.
I currently have the Terrier Group and should be approved for the Hound Group by the time of publication. I transitioned to hounds in the 2000s, first with Scottish Deerhounds and then to Sloughis. I have bred three Sloughi litters and am planning a fourth for later this year (2025), under the Almaboubin prefix. “Almaboubin” means “beloved” in formal Arabic, which describes my passion for the breed.
2. Sloughis should be a moderately sized, well-conditioned, and balanced animal. The Breed Standard calls for a “medium-large” dog. Dogs that are enormously tall cannot perform their function well, that is, to run, hunt, and course live game. They lack agility in the field as they cannot make the turns that a hare or the much smaller African wolf will use to maneuver to their freedom. Larger dogs also generally don’t have the stamina to pursue game for miles; their large body cannot continue without breaking down, due to the increased weight they carry. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but this is what I wish judges would keep in mind… can the exhibit bring down game for the table and hunt the animals that will attack livestock?
It is also important that judges recognize dogs that are “elegant and racy” as described in the Standard. Many dogs are neither elegant nor racy, which are traits that can easily be lost.
3. Yes! I have been very fortunate to have found wonderful homes for show and pet dogs! Many are very active in a variety of venues, such as the Canine Good Citizen programs, Fast CAT, and Lure Coursing. However, we can always use more people to get involved. Over the last three years there has been one litter born in the US each year, so we still have a way to go!
4. Dogs at Almaboubin are Wisdom Panel DNA tested for hereditary diseases. The only DNA marker in the breed is for progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), which has been virtually eradicated since the test was discovered. I also use complete thyroid panels to be sure we have healthy pets for owners. I am continually on the hunt, looking into cutting edge canine research, mostly in Europe.
Good health and temperament are two focuses in my breeding program. Many people espouse the “primitive” temperament as superior, i.e., a suspicious, often spooky, animal. I will not use any dogs with this temperament style because I do not live in a primitive area. My dogs must be pleasant to live with and easy to manage. Dogs should be able to be examined by judges. If not, they should be excused or not rewarded, at a minimum.
I love communicating with breeders and interested parties both here and abroad via social media and WhatsApp, so we can work together to improve the breed worldwide.
5. Sadly, purebred dogs seem to be less and less popular. Many people cannot get quality dogs from breeders and are exhausted by ridiculously complicated contracts and controlling breeders. We need to elevate purebreds back to where they were in society a mere 20 to 30 years ago… as a well-bred animal that is predictable and can interact well with families and other dogs.
6. I find that there are no new trends, just trends that resurface cyclically. An example is breeders who are controlling and won’t let anyone in the “exclusive” parent club, and the like. It kills the sport when only one person, regardless of breed, is the gatekeeper and won’t let people with dogs from others get involved.
7. I have seen a rejuvenation of interest in the sport with more titles and programs being implemented by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Many of my owners enjoy many of the different disciplines that are now offered. I also see many younger people coming into the sport, and we can always use more dedicated fanciers!
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