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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Saluki
The Saluki has the appearance of total grace. Known for their speed, they are one
of a few breeds that at their top speed, all four legs are in the air at the same
time. They have a typical Greyhound body with feathering on the ears and tail. The
coat comes in many colors, including fawn, white, black and tan, cream, gold and
red. Salukis with a patch of white on the forehead are regarded as special as they
are said to have "the kiss of Allah". The well-proportioned head is narrow and tapers
towards the nose. The ears hang down long and are usually feathered. The eyes are
thin and are either light or dark brown. The neck is flexible and the body is elongated.
The shoulders are very muscular and the feet are covered with thick hair that helps
protect their feet from the rough terrain.
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Temperament
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The Saluki is sweet, dignified, even-tempered and sensitive. This loyal pet is very
affectionate, but may become attached to one person in the family. They are good
with older children as their slim size make them too fragile for rough play. Train
this breed with lots of love, as they do not respond to harsh discipline. They can
be somewhat aloof and are submissive to dominant people and dogs. This breed does
best with its own breed. They are a calm companion dog, but make good watchdogs.
Their natural instincts are to chase and kill small animals so they should not be
in the house with non-canine pets. This breed needs obedience training at an early
age to keep their hunting instincts under control.
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Height, Weight
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Height: 23-28" ; Weight: 29-66 lbs.
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Health Problems
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This breed is prone to cancer and eye diseases. They can get sunburned on the tip
of their nose.
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Living Conditions
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Saluki should not live in an apartment and do best with lots of acreage. Do not
let this breed sleep outdoors as they become very uncomfortable in extremely hot
weather.
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Exercise
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This breed needs lots of exercise as it is a natural athlete. They are very happy
when they are running, but care must be shown so that they are not injured or killed.
Only let this breed off their lead in an enclosed and safe area as they will not
respond to your calls when there are on sight. Though not good jogging companions,
they do great jogging alongside a bicycle. Some claim that the Saluki is able to
outrun any other land mammal over a three-mile course.
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Life Expectancy
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About 10-12 years
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Grooming
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This breed is easy to groom. They are virtually odor-free and only need occasional
combing and brushing paying close attention to the ears and tail. Check ears often
to make sure they are clean. They are average shedders.
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Origin
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The Saluki and the Sloughi have parallel history and most likely date back to the
same stem in the ancient Middle East. They have been known as the Arab Gazelle Hound,
Arabia Hound, Eastern Greyhound and the Persian Greyhound. This breed was especially
prized by the Arabs for their ability to keep up with horses and to hunt gazelle
with the help of a falcon. Some of the very earliest representations of running
gazehounds include those with the attractive fringing of tail, ears and thighs.
The breed's ancient name may have come from the long-disappeared southern Arabian
city of Saluk, with its reputation for fine armor and dogs, or it may be derived
from the town of Seleukia in the old Greek empire of Syria. This breed is recognized
by the AKC and the UKC.
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Group
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AKC Hound, UKC Sighthound and Pariah Dog
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