At a glance the quick version
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, smooth coat
A lean, athletic, medium-sized dog with a short, close-lying coat. Many carry a dark patch on the upper side of the tail.2
Personality what they are like
Generally described as a gentle, bright and affectionate dog that likes to please its people. It keeps a quiet eye on its home ground and is known to get along well with children.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The short coat needs very little upkeep beyond an occasional brush.2
Company who they like around
A people-oriented dog that tends to be good with children and enjoys being part of family life.2
The story where it all began
Africanis dogs descend from early domestic dogs that spread south through Africa alongside herding and farming peoples over thousands of years. Dog remains from sites in Limpopo Province, South Africa, date back to around 570 AD. Today a dedicated society studies and conserves the remaining rural populations, including through DNA sampling.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Africanis is not a single designed breed but a landrace, a population that formed naturally within its local environment.3
- 2
It goes by many local names, such as Zulu dog, Xhosa dog and the Kiswahili mbwa wa ki-tamaduni, meaning traditional dog.2
- 3
Researchers for the conservation society have travelled more than 30,000 km through rural southern Africa to document and sample these dogs.1
- 4
Archaeological dog remains in South Africa's Limpopo Province show dogs have been in the region since around 570 AD.2
Recognised by the official bits
- Africanis Society of Southern Africa
- Conservation society for the landrace; founding year given as 1996 on the society's site and 1998 on Wikipedia. It works to keep the Africanis as one population rather than splitting it into separate breeds.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Africanis. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- Africanis Society of Southern Africa africanis.co.zaused for definition, society, research work
- Wikipedia: Africanis en.wikipedia.orgused for names, height, coat, colours, temperament, history (secondary)
- Africanis Society: The difference between a landrace and a dog breed africanis.co.zaused for landrace definition
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.