The Aidi temperament makes her an exceptional hunter. A lean, muscular breed, the Aidi has a thick tail, strong jaw, and exceptional scenting ability. For this reason, she commonly serves as a livestock guardian.
Other names for the Aidi include the Berber dog, the Atlas Shepherd Dog, the Atlas Mountain Hound, and the Kabyle Dog. At one point, some called her the Atlas Sheepdog, though this is, of course, technically incorrect.
The Aidi Temperament and Personality
What follows is a list of the need-to-know traits common to most Aidi temperaments. These are the characteristics and quirks that will help you decide whether this dog is truly the right one for you.
She Needs Her Space
The Aidi temperament is an active one. She is a dog who prefers running about in the countryside, rather than more restrictive city life.
In fact, most experts recommend that only people who live in rural or semi-rural areas with at least a quarter-acre of land own an Aidi so she has plenty of room to run and burn off her excess energy.
In other words, the Aidi is not an apartment dog. If you leave her alone for a long period of time, especially in a smaller living space, she will feel bored and frustrated, and she will take those feelings out on your property.
And because she is a rather alert dog, she can channel her negative feelings into noisy ones too, letting all the neighbors know that you left her alone and that she’s really not happy about it!
Protective
The Aidi temperament includes a history of protecting sheep and goats, but that is where her aggressive tendencies end. She would never become hostile with a human unless she sensed that person was threatening her or her family.
However, whether she is or is not a good watchdog is still up for debate. Some say she makes a fantastic watch dog, others say not so much. In reality, it probably depends largely on the individual temperament of the dog.
For instance, she still has those strong protective instincts, so she tends to be suspicious of and bark at strangers upon first meeting them, especially while she’s still young. But once you socialize her more, that tendency should fade. Once she becomes more accustomed to meeting new people and animals, she is more likely to try to be friends with them, rather than consider them a potential threat.
Plays Well with Others
So long as you properly socialize her, the Aidi temperament takes no issue with other animals. In fact, she gets along with other animals just as well as she does with people.
If you do not socialize her early and often, then she may grow up to feel wary of other people and animals, perhaps even feeling like she needs to guard you against them.
Good with Kids
The Aidi is especially good with children, in part because of her playful nature. In fact, she will remain outside playing with children for as long as they let her (which also gives you the time you need to do other things!).
Working 9 to 5
The Aidi is a working dog – this is part of the reason why she’s so active. Give her a task to accomplish, or a challenge to meet, and she’ll be as happy as a pig in dirt.
Loyal
The Aidi is both a loyal and affectionate dog. This is perhaps the main reason why she eventually transitioned from being a working dog herding sheep and cattle to a downhome, family companion.
A Brief History of the Aidi Breed
Aidis have been around for hundreds of years, likely originating in Morocco. They started out as guard dogs, protecting herds from larger animals, like jackals. This, and the unique shape of her nose, is why even a modern Aidi is exceptionally good at sniffing out other animals.
Aidis may have even once guarded the Atlas Mountains, where there was plenty of room for them to roam! Even today you can find these dogs in the mountainous regions of Morocco. This is because the semi-nomadic people there still use them as guard dogs.
Training
Because of both her brains and her strength, it is easy to train an Aidi, especially when you incorporate positive reinforcement and a lot of patience. Start training them as early as you can for the best possible results.
Because of the Aidi’s pleasant disposition, loyalty, and eagerness to please, you almost don’t need to train her at all. She simply needs a little guidance to set her on the right path.
Because of the sensitivity of this breed, you should avoid punishment-based training at all costs. In fact, Aidis tend to be more sensitive than most other dogs, which is why positive reinforcement works best.
Remember, persistence is key. The Aidi can be rather independent, and if she senses she can take advantage of you, she will.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Aidi dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
The Aidi Appearance
In addition to the Aidi temperament, the size of an Aidi makes this dog a poor choice for apartment living. This girl needs lots of room in order to feel her happiest.
The Aidi is an attractive dog with a thick coat and a muscular body. She also has a bear-like head, though it is proportionate to the rest of her body. She has medium-sized eyes that are a dark color with dark rims, making her both cute and cuddly!
Her ears tip forward, and her long fluffy tail only adds to her “aww” factor.
Aidi Height
Full-grown Aidis stand between 20 and 24 inches tall, both males and females.
Aidi Weight
Both male and female Aidis reach a maximum healthy weight of between 50 and 55 lbs.
Aidi Colors
There aren’t too many colors the Aidi comes in, aside from black, white, tawny, red, or a combination of black and white.
Grooming
The Aidi is perfect for those who don’t enjoy spending a lot of time on grooming. Brush her coat twice a week, and that should be enough to keep her looking her best. The Aidi is a moderate shedder, so some Aidis only need combing once a week to prevent matting.
She needs a bit more attention during her shedding season, but that’s about it. In fact, her coat is actually weather-resistant, which means she’ll get dirty less often than other dogs.
And you only need to give her the occasional bath when she starts getting that “dog” smell. In fact, many Aidi parents only wash their dogs a few times a year, and that’s perfectly fine. Too often, and you end up eliminating the natural oils the dog’s skin needs.
More good news: because she only needs minimal grooming, if you choose not to do it yourself, you should expect not to have to pay much in the way of professional grooming fees.
Staying Healthy
When it comes to the Aidi, health issues are practically non-existent. The few problems they can experience include eye issues and dysplasia of the hip and elbow.
The Aidi's life expectancy is about 12 years. Keeping your Aidi in a fenced-in yard can extend her life by protecting her from potentially suffering harm while outside.
Helpful Dog Health Resource:
Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 12 yrs+ without pain and suffering.
Exercise
I can’t say it enough: the Aidi desperately needs proper exercise on the daily.
You must give her at least 45 minutes a day of playing in the yard or giving her doggie tasks to do, as well as walking at least 10 miles every week.
One thing’s for sure: if you weren’t fit before you got an Aidi, she will make sure you are after you bring her home!
The more you play fetch and other problem-solving games with her, the better her mental acuity will become. Plus, the longer it takes her to figure something out, the more energy she will expend trying to accomplish the task – it’s a win-win!
She can become loud or even destructive if she gets bored, so make sure you get her good and tired before the day is through!
Finding the Perfect Aidi
Considering adding an Aidi puppy to your family? That’s great! You can find an Aidi for sale from a breeder or adopt one through a local rescue or adoption agency.
When you’re looking for the right Aidi for sale, keep in mind that the younger they are, the better. When they’re young, you can give them the treatment and training they need to become a great family pet.
Aidi Puppies for Sale
Surprisingly, the average Aidi price is only around $300 to $500. Considering this breed is a rare one, it is honestly jaw-dropping that breeders are not charging thousands of dollars for her.
So, if you can afford the regular vet visits, food, and other routine expenses that come along with owning a dog, the Aidi is a rather affordable dog to get.
Aidi Adoption and Rescue
Once you are ready to add an Aidi to your family, then it’s time for you to explore the world of Aidi adoption!
It’s a bittersweet thing that this breed is so rare because while these dogs doesn’t end up in shelters all that often, that’s good for them, but bad for you.
However, you just never know what breeds could show up at your local shelter, so it definitely doesn’t hurt to visit anyway. Let the staff know that you are looking to adopt an Aidi or even potentially an Aidi mix.
Aidi mixes are even rarer than the breed itself, but again, you never know. Ask to fill out an application in case one happens to come in.
You may have more luck finding Aidi rescue dogs through a rescue group. However, even there you may find slim pickings since there are few or no groups dedicated to this breed.
Do not forget to check national adoption websites like Adoptapet.com or Petfinder.com.
Aidi Breeders
Because the Aidi is a rare breed in the U.S., you may find it will take you a while to find an Aidi puppy for sale from a reputable breeder.
Just be patient and be sure to do your research to ensure that your Aidi puppy comes from an ethical source and not an unscrupulous breeder or puppy mill.
To double- and triple-check that you’re not getting your puppy from a puppy mill, never purchase an Aidi puppy over the internet or from a pet store.
You can start by asking for a referral while at a dog show or sporting event. Then, once you’ve found a breeder you like, make an appointment to visit her home in person.
Once you get there, inspect the premises to make sure the breeder is keeping her dogs in a clean and humane environment.
Don’t just exchange pleasantries with the breeder. Actually talk with her, not just about her litter but also about the breed in general, including those diseases and conditions that can specifically affect the Aidi.
The breeder should ask you a few in-depth questions, too. A good breeder wants to make sure her puppy is going to a good family who will love and care for the dog. The last thing the breeder wants is for you to be unhappy, because then you’ll return the dog, and she still won’t have a home.
Conclusion: Why the Aidi Temperament?
The Aidi temperament is a pleasant one. This active dog is both clean and quiet, and if you have a large yard and a fence that is at least five feet tall, then you’re already more ready than you thought you were to become an Aidi owner.
Do not get this dog if you are not an active person and never intend on becoming one. She needs someone who can push her to the max every day. If you can’t do this, then you aren’t a good match for her – plain and simple.
However, if you have kids, then you practically have an exercise regimen already built in for her. They can run her ragged so you don’t have to, and they’ll both keep each other busy so you can get those other things you need to do done!
Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.