Aidi
About the Aidi
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Medium (25-50 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 20-24" |
| Weight | 50-55 lbs |
| Coat Type | Double |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
High (60-90 min/day)
60 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Regular - 2-3x/week
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $500-$1,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,100/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Aidis may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Active Owners
- Guard Dog
May Not Be Ideal For
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Aidi
The story behind the Aidi
The Aidi, also called the Atlas Mountain Dog, developed among Berber communities of Morocco and the wider Atlas range, where it worked for a very long period before any written standard existed. Its job was protection: staying with flocks, tents and villages, deterring predators and warning of intruders rather than herding stock. Unlike many mountain guardians it is a moderate-sized, agile dog rather than a heavyweight. Hunters also used the breed alongside Sloughis, letting the Aidi find and push game toward the faster hound. Moroccan authorities and European kennel bodies documented the type during the 1900s, and an FCI standard now exists. The Aidi remains largely a working dog in its homeland and is genuinely rare elsewhere, with very few examples outside North Africa beyond a handful of European kennels.
Originally bred for: Livestock guardian, Guarding, Hunting. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Aidi
An active outdoor guardian does best on a balanced adult food carrying enough fat and protein to sustain patrol work, adjusted seasonally since demand rises in cold weather and falls when a dog is kept quiet. Steady body condition matters far more than a rigid feeding routine.
Watch for: This guardian carries no widely documented breed-specific food sensitivities, though individuals differ. Dogs raised on regional rural diets may need a slow deliberate switch to rich commercial products, and a veterinarian should oversee any change and monitor how well it is tolerated.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Aidi
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.