The Saluki is possibly the oldest known domestic dog. Early carvings
of dogs dating to 7000 B.C. in the region of modern Iraq strongly resemble
this breed. Because the desert tribes were nomadic, the breed spread across
the Middle East. He was the royal dog of ancient Egypt and later sacred
to the Moslems. Due to his great speed, the Saluki was used by Arabs to
hunt the fastest antelope, the gazelle, as well as jackals, foxes and hares.
He hunts by sight rather than smell. While being avery graceful animal,
he is also strong and sturdy. He has also been known as the Persian Greyhound.
He was introduced to England in 1840 and recognized by the Kennel Club of
Great Britain in 1923. He was recognized by the American Kennel Club in
1927 and the Canadian Kennel Club in 1938.
The Saluki is an even-tempered dog, loyal and sensitive with an aristocratic
air. Despite his size, he makes a fine indoor companion but needs plenty
of controlled exercise.
The Saluki is a streamlined greyhound type animal of grace and symmetrical
form as well as strength, endurance and speed. His head is long and narrow
with only a slight drop off between skull and muzzle at the eyes. His ears
are long, hanging close to the skull and covered with long silky hair. The
eyes are dark, large, oval, and bright with the ability to see at great
distances. His teeth are strong and level. The neck is long, supple and
well muscled. He has a deep, moderately narrow chest. The legs are straight
and long, enabling great speed and power. The toes are long and well arched
with feathering between for greater protection. The tail is long, carried
in a natural curve, with long silky hair on the underside. The coat is smooth,
soft and silky. It lies short and close to the body except for feathering
on the ears, tail, between the toes and on the backs of the forelegs. There
is a smooth coated variety that has no feathering. It may be white, cream,
fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan,black and tan, or tri-color (white, black
and tan). Average height at the withers is between 23 and 28 inches for
males with females being considerably shorter. Average weight between 31
and 44 pounds for females and 44 to 55 pounds for males.
Name withheld by request of Oregon writes
Yes, they're beautiful, loving and clean, but ...
I love this breed's looks; who wouldn't? And yes, their description
as a sensitive, clean, affectionate companion is deserved. BUT ... perhaps
this is typical of Saluki puppies, perhaps not, but mine has driven me to
my wit's end on house-training and crate training. I firmly believe in
and use positive training (clicker) to teach desired behaviours to my dogs
and did so with great success on my notoriously hard-to-house-train, stubborn
small breed. Ditto for crate training. Originally, I started my Saluki on
the "How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days" system (person at home
all day schedule) as this worked with my little dogs. That's when it became
apparent the crate was not to her liking as she spent crate time crying
nonstop, biting the crate, etc. I did not want the crate to become a negative
place for her, so I switched to the Pat Miller progam found in the Whole
Dog Journal. The crate is now for feeding time only, which she tolerates
better, but not without complaint. I hope eventually to teach her to accept
crating without complaint for short periods, as I like my dogs to travel
by crate while in the car. This brings me to house-training. I've basically
got her with me at all times under constant surveillance and her accidents
have greatly diminished, but she has been incredibly slow to pick up on
going outside as the desired place to eliminate. Sometimes she notifies,
more often not. It seems to take a trained eye to pick up on the subtle
Saluki signals for "I need to go outside and potty." After talking
with some other Saluki owners, I have come to find out that it is common
for many of them to be housesoilers well into adulthood, so I anticipate
our house-training schedule to go slow and take well into her first birthday.
I'm an imperfect human, so I have to admit, her house-training has frustrated
me enormously at times. On the plus side and to her great credit, she wants
to be with people and is happy to curl up with anyone, is not a fussy eater,
was quick to learn walking on a loose lead (quicker than my small dogs),
has no qualms on meeting new people p; she insists (no "Saluki
shyness" here) and is incredibly calm about strange, potentially frightening
noises (garbage trucks, vacuums)... much more so than my small dogs who
bark like crazy at them. She does not bark without reason and has gotten
along great with smaller dogs and cats. Also, she has almost always been
willing to go outside with me when it's cold and rainy out (Salukis don't
like to get cold and wet). She figured out the "sit for clicks"
game immediately, but after we started it, her house-training started to
backslide, so I've put that on hold until house-training is more firmly
grasped. At this point, it is likely that she will be my first, last and
only Saluki. I'm in no way saying this is a "bad" or "awful"
breed. The breed has many positives, but one must understand they are sensitive
creatures, their feelings can be hurt (sometimes quite easily) and great
patience is needed to get them through their slow learning periods.
bobwhite7@juno.com of San Dimas, California writes on 10/1/99:
This breed is absolutely charming - clean, sweet, easily housebroken,
gentle temperament, great with other dogs.
I recently obtained a Saluki puppy bitch, after having English Cockers for
25 years. I had always wanted one, but never seemed to have the opportunity
to own one. With my English Cocker special being shown on the East Coast,
I found myself at loose ends and wanted to try something "new".
Into my house came this deceptively delicate, whimsical, humorous, sometimes
naughty, absolutely charming little lady.
My other dogs love her, and she is kind, though mischievous, to them. There
isn't a mean bone in her body, and she seems to love every person she meets,
if they give her a chance to get acquainted. Though she does have a mind
of her own, I have found her to be exceptionally giving and willing to do
what I want her to do. In addition, she is a "wash and wear" showdog!
Something that is a real pleasure after the intense grooming required for
an English Cocker.
I think Salukis are a true "undiscovered country" in the pet world,
especialy in a situation where they have the opportunity (a big back yard
is required) to exercise themselves as they wish.