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August is Africanis Month, a time to celebrate a breed whose story is deeply connected to the African continent.

Long before the Africanis became a familiar companion in South African homes, its ancestors survived alongside people in some of the continent’s harshest environments, gradually developing into a dog known for its intelligence, strength and adaptability.

August is Africanis Month, a time to celebrate a breed whose story is deeply connected to the African continent and whose characteristics were shaped largely by nature rather than intensive human breeding.

“What makes the Africanis unique is that the dog is mainly a result of natural, not human, selection,” the SPCA said.

Unlike many Western dog breeds, which were deliberately bred to meet specific physical standards, the Africanis evolved according to the conditions around it. Its survival depended on its ability to adapt, remain alert and live alongside humans.

The breed's history stretches back thousands of years. The SPCA said the Africanis was descended from dogs depicted in ancient cave art and Egyptian murals.

The earliest remains of a domesticated dog in Africa were found in the Nile Delta and dated to 4 700 BC.

Evidence of domestic dogs later appeared further south on the continent. The earliest record of a domestic dog in SA dates back to 570 AD, at Diamant farm in the Ellisras district near the Botswana border.

Domestic dogs were also recorded south-west of Francistown in Botswana around the same period.

By 650 AD, dogs had reached the lower Tugela Valley, while by 800 AD they were recorded at a Khoisan settlement at Cape St Francis.

Over centuries, these dogs adapted to the African environment, developing physical and behavioural characteristics that helped them survive.

“The beauty of this dog is embodied in the simplicity and functionality of its build,” the SPCA said.

The Africanis is a medium-sized, slender and well-muscled dog. It is agile, supple and capable of running at great speed. Its physical appearance can vary considerably, with dogs found in a wide range of colours and with or without markings.

Its ears may be erect, half erect or drooping, while a ridge of varying form can sometimes appear along its back.