By Zoubida Senoussi

Rabat – This may come as a surprise for a lot of Moroccans: there is a rare species of Moroccan purebred dog from the Atlas Mountains called Aidi.

Though the origins of the breed remains vague, Aidi ('dog' in Tamazight) is considered a cousin of the Pyrenees mountain dog, the Yugoslav shepherd, the Anatolia shepherd, and potentially, the Tibetan mastiff.

This mountain dog has a huge musculature (52 to 62 centimeters) and a powerful frame without heaviness. It also has a thick fur of different colors that protects it from the freezing cold of the mountains, the heat of the summer, and the attacks of the wild beasts from neighboring forests. With his intelligence and sociability, he has serious some training potential.

Though Aidi is not a shepherding dog, its typically acts as a watchdog, protecting tents, houses, and herds of nomadic shepherds of the Atlas. It is also assists in hunting wild boars, foxes, and jackals.

Sadly, Aidi the Atlas dog who lived for thousands of years in the mountains and plateaus of the Atlas, is currently threatened with extinction.

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