COUNTRY: Morocco
WEIGHT: 55 pounds
HEIGHT: 21-24 inches
COAT: Medium-short, dense
COLOR: White preferred; also appears in black; tawny; "washed out" red, black and white
OTHER NAMES: Atlas Sheepdog, Kabyle Dog, Aidi
Group:Flock GaurdWhether the Aidi crossed into Africa from Spain or was carried from Italy (or beyond) by the globe-trotting Phoenicians matters little. He is a classic flock guard, although a bit smaller and with less coat due to his semi-arid environment.
This breed guards flocks, tents, camels and other belongings of the nomadic tribes in the northern African hills. Several are selected for their attentiveness and aggression, being staked out at night around the campsite. With each other and their masters, they are tractable.
They have exceptional noses, able to track even in the sands of the Sahara and join in the caravan's hunts. They are paired with a Sloughi, the Atlas dog finding the game by scent, then the Sloughi slipped for the chase. In the past he may have been used as a dog of war. The Atlas Sheepdog is versatile, performing as a shepherd, drover, gun, guard, war and police dog.
He is lively and high-strung, but with a job to do, he can be kept in the country or city, even though correspondents say the breed is a dog "of the rural zones." Confident and alert, the Aidi makes an outstanding watchdog.
Moroccans say that a club was organized to promote this national breed only recently. This group is proud of the breed's heritage and wants to preserve the purity of the Atlas Dog. The current standard supplied by the Moroccan Kennel Association describes the thick fur and heavy plume of tail as a sign of purity. Its thick "mane" and "fleece" shelter it from the arid heat and the mountain cold, also protecting the Aidi in fights with jackals and other predators. His ears are tipped to the front; sometimes dogs with cropped ears or a short tail are seen, although the natural condition is the only one recommended.