Last Updated on October 31, 2022 by Pets Feed
A graceful and harmoniously built dog does not run, but seems to float in the air. Saluki is sensitive, laconic and quick – a breed of dogs of a pronounced oriental type.
The Persian greyhound, like an unread book, constantly surprises. He is admired for her plasticity, hunting skills and rare attractive appearance.
The Saluki is a tall, elegantly lean greyhound bred for unarmed hunting for small game and long-distance dog races.
| Breed name | Saluki |
| Country of origin | Middle East |
| Weight | 18 – 27 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 58 – 71 cm |
| Life expectancy | 12 – 14 years |
| Size | Middle |
The Saluki is a different breed from the Arabian Greyhound – Sloughi
Saluki photos
Saluki do not suffer from heat, but they are very afraid of cold.
Breed standard
The Saluki is a medium-sized, graceful and athletic sighthound. The breed has a soft, smooth coat, often with feathering on the legs and ears, and sometimes on the neck. The Smooth Haired Saluki has no feathers. All colors or color combinations are possible, with the exception of stripes. The height of adult males is 58-71 cm and weighs 18-27 kg, females are slightly smaller with 54-68 cm and 15-22 kg.
Distinctive features
- Head: The head is flat, elongated, of a refined and delicate constitution. The transition line from the forehead into the muzzle of a soft character.
- Jaws: The teeth are strong and strong with powerful jaws. Scissor bite.
- Ears: The ears are elongated, hanging type. Landing high with a perfect fit to the head.
- Eyes: The eyes are large, perfectly almond-shaped, but without bulging. The color of the iris ranges from light brown to dark brown. Look noble, attentive.
- Body: The physique is graceful and light, ascetic with minimal body fat. The neck is elongated, strong, muscular. Chest of pronounced depth. The back is strong, robust with arched loins. The croup is quite strong. The belly is thin.
- Limbs: The legs are long and very thin. The hind legs are more developed. Legs of an unusual type, massive, but with an elegant flexibility. The fingers are long, with the two middle fingers much longer than the others. Oversized pads. The animal moves smoothly, making gentle swings, intensively pushing the ground.
- Coat: The hairline is smoothed, delicately silky texture. The undercoat is missing. The long hairs have “coats” in the tail, ears and back of the limbs. The color of a wide range of colors: red, dark brown, cream, white-red, snow-white-black, black and tan and pure white.
Behavior and character
Salukis are true intellectuals with a balanced character, but very proud and proudly independent. They have a very thin and vulnerable soul. They react extremely painfully to even the slightest negative, and it doesn’t matter if the high tone is directed in their direction or if people are just sorting things out between themselves.
They love and adore their master, they absolutely cannot bear to part. Although they show tender feelings for the household, they unquestionably obey only the leader of the “pack”. Tenderness is shown to all family members, but with tact.
The Persian Greyhound is not particularly aggressive. He is a rather peaceful, capricious and independent dog. Devotion and friendliness are shown to all family members. Saluki likes to play, jump, run with the owner and other family members.
With the children
Children are treated with kindness and friendliness, they are ready to play with them. A Saluki will not offend a small child, but parents should teach children how to properly handle a hunting dog. In families with preschool children, it is not recommended to have Saluki. The Persian Greyhound gets along well with school children and teenagers, playing various games with them.
With other animals
Small pets (rodents, turtles, birds) can become prey for the saluki at any time. His hunting instinct is too developed.
Health
The owner of a saluki dog should be aware of some health problems:
- Intolerance to anesthesia – if anesthesia cannot be avoided, it should be used very carefully, given the sensitivity of the Saluki to it. The intolerance is explained by the fact that the representatives of the breed have almost no body fat. The amount of anesthesia is taken in less quantity than for other types of dogs.
- Hypothyroidism is a dysfunction of the thyroid gland. The disease is difficult to diagnose.
- Cardiomyopathy – there are changes in the structure and functionality of the muscle tissue of the heart.
Life expectancy
The average life expectancy of a Saluki is 12-14 years. It depends on the owner whether his pet will become a long-liver. It is the owner who must provide proper nutrition, proper care, and decent living conditions.
Basic care
The Persian Greyhound (Saluki) needs weekly brushing, but this should be done with care, as thin skin and a small amount of subcutaneous fat contribute to high sensitivity.
Be sure to clean the eyes and ears of dirt and deposits, bathe the dog once or twice a month, and clip the nails once every 10 days.
Interesting Facts
- The Persian greyhound is on the list of the very first breeds bred by man.
- The Bedouins claim that the dog of the Saluki breed was given to them by Allah himself.
- The Persian greyhound is so hardy that it is capable of chasing prey at high speed for several hours without rest.
- Saluki can reach speeds of up to 70 – km / h.
- The Persian Greyhound is the record holder in long distance running.
- In the nomadic tribes, the Saluki lived in a tent with the owner, he was considered a member of the family.
- In terms of value, the Saluki ranked second, with the Arabian horses in the first place.
- During the hunt, the greyhound had to find, catch up with the prey and keep it alive until the owner arrived. The hunter had to kill the game himself according to Islamic traditions.
- The Saluki did not run to the place of hunting on its own; it was brought there on horseback on a camel or on a horse.
- Among the Arabs, it was not customary to sell Saluki; it was possible to present it to a worthy person as a precious gift. Once the owner presented his saluki to a friend, who took the dog two thousand kilometers away. After a while, the dog returned home, having overcome a huge distance in the desert.
- The Persian greyhound does not have a specific dog smell. This is due to the fact that its coat is covered with a slight layer of grease, unlike the wool of other breeds.
Breed history
The Saluki is considered one of the oldest dog breeds. On Egyptian tombs dating back to 2100 BC. e., images of dogs similar to the Saluki were found: with a greyhound body and feathers on the ears, tail and legs. The same dogs have been found among older carvings from the time of the Sumerian Empire (7000-6000 BC).
Pharaohs hunted gazelles and saluki hares, which often worked in partnership with falcons. This breed was called the royal dog of Egypt. The Egyptian nobility was very respectful of the Saluki, mummifying them after death, like the pharaohs themselves. The remains of these greyhounds were found in the tombs of the upper Nile.
The Arab nomads highly valued the saluki, considering them a gift from the gods and calling them “el-khor”, which means “nobility”. Tribal members paid as much attention to the breeding of the Saluki as they did to the breeding of the Arabian horses. Dogs were carefully selected for speed, endurance and hunting instinct. Salukis were the only dogs allowed to sleep in tents. These greyhounds are still used in the Middle East for hunting.
Persian greyhounds were widespread in the Middle East, in the territory of Persia (modern Iran), Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Arabia. The first recorded occurrence of the Saluki in Great Britain occurred in 1840. But it wasn’t until after World War I, when many British officers returned from the Middle East with these dogs, that the breed began to spread across Europe.
In USA, the Saluki Club was founded only in 1927, in the same year the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. The first Saluki registered with the AKC in 1929 was a dog named Jinniyat Grevel.
