People who live in the Atlas Mountain region of Morocco described the role of their native dog this way: “There are no sheepdogs in the Atlas. The Morrocan dog who lives in our mountains has never guarded the flocks in the same way attributed to that type of work in Europe…”

So when the 1963 breed standard labeled the Aidi as a sheepdog, it was a rather big oops. The mistake was corrected in 1969, and most sources now report that the Aidi is, as its people said all along, a livestock guardian mountain dog used to protect its flock from wild animals such as jackals, as well as defend the tend and belongings of its masters. Perhaps because the Aidi was around mostly sheep, it was falsely assumed to be a herding type of sheepdog, but for over 5,000 years, it did nothing of the kind. 

The Aidi is described as having an incredible scenting ability and is able to track even in the sands of the Sahara. S/he uses this facility as an early warning system to pick up on predators before they can attack the flock. That said, the breed isn’t especially quick or agile, and predators often get away only to come back later. This is the main reason that the modern Aidi is often paired with a fast and agile Sloughi, the pair making an effective hunting combination: The Sloughi chases down prey that the Aidi has located by scent. Aidi are also said to have a great memory, and never forget if man or animal has made an affront. The AIDI will always remember an enemy.

Compared to other LGDs, this classic flock guard is a bit smaller and some have less coat due to a semi-arid environment, but it is still found in large numbers in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, the country that holds the breed standard.

An Aidi Association of American was founded in 2011, but neither it, nor its Facebook page seems to be very active. The breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006, and is also accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale, Dog Registry of America Inc.,  and the American Canine Association.

Image: Atlas Mountain Dog/Aidi Deposit Photo