West African Working Bush Dog
February 26, 2009
These are photographs of photographs I took in 1997 in The Gambia. The dog is one of three that serve as guardians for a beautiful herd of Fulani cattle. The structural conformation is very much like an Azawakh but many of the “bush dogs” in that area tend to be quite rustic and unrefined. Specimens with one or both ears erect were not uncommon, tails tendto be thick-ish and the hair was usually somewhat longer than is typical of Azawakh. The temperament is the same as typical of Azawakh. I believe these dogs and Azawakh are very closely related.
It was common practice for male working dogs to have cropped ears. I’m not sure if the primary purpose was to proactively prevent torn ears or to identify the dog as owned by someone (and therefore not to be killed).
West African bush dog protecting his cows
After thieves, the biggest risk to cattle might have been hyenas. The bush dogs that guard herds were expected to keep hyenas at bay.
West African Hyenas, the enemy of the bush dog
Aidi wan n'Eezel: the loyal azawakh 
February 26, 2009 at 9:59 pm
I can’t make a comparison between the temperament of the bush dog and an Azawakh, but I will about the physique. I see no similarity whatsoever between the two conformation types, unless you are saying, well, they both have 4 legs, 2 eyes and a nose!