Bred by the nomadic Tuareg tribes of the southern Sahara as hunting and guard dogs for over a thousand years, the Azawakh dog was developed for the chase and will course any game. The German term "wind hound" is descriptive of this breed and its close relatives. The Azawakh dog is described by a breeder as "fleet footed enough to catch gazelles, hares and the European mouflon (wild sheep), courageous enough to ward off big predators, untiring like a camel and beautiful like an Arab horse."

Azawakh dogs defended goats and camels and vigorously protected the herds against jackals, hyenas and wild dogs. They still carry out these duties in their homeland. Their true value lies in the chase; however, the nomads appreciate their beauty and look upon the Azawakh as a symbol of high standing and wealth.

The Azawakh dog must never kill the prey, merely curbing its flight. If the game were killed, it would spoil in the desert heat. The Tuareg hunter has no guns nor even bow and arrow— providing food for the encampment only with a knife and a sight hound.

Pups are cultivated from birth for the hunt. They are fed on milk, never on flesh, and continue this diet throughout their lives. As three-month-old babies, they are introduced to their calling by beginning with rats and progressing to hares.

Eventually, at full growth, the Azawakh is taken on horseback to course gazelle. The hound is seated in front of his master on the saddle until the game is sighted and the chase is begun. When the dog is released, he begins his "breathtaking course," which sometimes lasts five to six hours. Finally, the Azawakh hamstrings the quarry, waiting for his master to join him and complete the kill.

This Azawakh dog breed has been the product of strict culling and selection, based on the nomad's stark existence. When a litter was born, only one male was kept for hunting purposes, and, occasionally, a bitch for reproduction. The others were killed. This practice made it nearly impossible for outsiders to obtain an Azawakh. Asking a nomadic huntsman to sell his sight hound was tantamount to asking him to sell his oldest son.