A basic variety of landrace dog can be found distributed across Africa; within this broad grouping there are regional variations, believed to be the result of isolation and a limited degree of deliberate breeding, the name Africanis has been given to these dogs found in southern Africa. Some modern writers describe the Africanis as a pariah dog, this is considered an inappropriate classification as that term typically denotes an ownerless, free-ranging dog; whilst considered a landrance with limited human interference in their breeding, the Africanis was typically maintained by human owners. The Africanis, is a medium-sized, lightly-built dog with a long slender muzzle and usually a short coat, it has been described as resembling a cross between a Greyhound and a Dingo. It can be found in almost any colour or combination of colours, although fawns, browns, brindles and blacks with various white markings are common. It usually stands between, being a landrace minor variations in appearance are common, but the Africanis is known to breed very true to a recognisable form.
History
The Africanis is said to be descended from ancient Egyptian dogs found throughout the Nile Delta from the 5th millennium BC, it is believed the descendants of these dogs spread throughout Africa with tribal movements, first throughout the Sahara and finally reaching southern Africa around the 6th century AD. The Africanis has almost always been attached to human settlement in southern Africa, it was used variously to assist in herding sheep, goats and cattle, guard against the many predators found in Africa and to assist in hunting. Whilst generally looked down upon by European settlers who preferred their imported dog breeds, the Africanis was held in higher esteem by Europeans in Africa than the Indian pye-dog was in India. In recent times efforts have been made to protect, preserve and promote these dogs, and prevent them from being split into a number of different breeds based upon different distinguishing physical features. The Africanis Society of Southern Africa based in Pretoria was established to do just this, these dogs are recognised as a single diverse breed and it is now recognised by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa as an emerging breed.
