Table of Contents

Saluki Dog Breed Description

The Saluki dog breed is graceful and well-balanced. Their gait at top speed is unique – all four legs are suspended in the air at once. These dogs have a greyhound-like body with silky feathering on the tail and ears.

There are two varieties of Salukis – the smooth coat and the long coat. The smooth-coated dogs have courser hair. The coat may be red, gold, cream, white, fawn, black and tan, or any combination of these colors. Dogs with a patch of white on their foreheads are considered special.
The ears are long and hanging. They have large, skinny brown eyes that have a dignified but sweet expression. The neck is flexible and elegant. The feet have thick hair between the toes for protection.

Saluki Dog Breed

Temperament

Salukis are sensitive, even-tempered, affectionate, and gentle. They are very loyal, and can become too attached to one person. They are good for older children, but do not do well with roughhousing. They can be aloof with strangers and sometimes even with family. They are easily distracted.
Owners should be confident, consistent, and firm; these dogs are not able to take harsh discipline. They need to know that you are in charge, and they are happiest when they know what is expected from them.
Salukis do not do well with non-canine animals – they have a strong hunting instinct to chase and kill small prey.

Height and Weight

Adult dogs tend to be 23-28 inches tall and weigh around 29-66 pounds.

Living Conditions and Exercise

The Saluki dog breed does not do well in an apartment setting. They do best with acreage.
These dogs are naturally athletic and need lots of room to run and play. Keep in mind that these dogs are very fast and have a strong hunting instinct, so they should never be allowed to run free unless they are in a scouted, isolated area.
Salukis can reach speeds of 40 mph, and they also have incredible endurance. They generally do not make good jogging companions – they are simply too fast – but they do well with bicyclists.

Life Expectancy

Well-cared for dogs can be expected to live 10-12 years.

Grooming

The easy-to-care-for coat requires occasional combing and brushing, paying particular attention to the longer parts of the coat.
Check the ear regularly.
They are average shedders.

History

The Saluki dog breed may be as old as known civilization. The royal dog of Egypt, they were named after an Arabian city in the Middle East, which has since disappeared under the desert. Pictures of Salukis appear in Egyptian tombs from 2100 BC.
The breed was considered a sacred gift from Allah by Muslims, so they were never sold, only offered in friendship or as a gift of homage. They are known as Arabian Hounds, Gazelle Hounds, and Persian Greyhounds.
These dogs are exceptional sight hunters in the desert and are known for their incredible agility and speed in rough terrain. They were used to hunt gazelle, fox, hare, and jackal. In the West, they are used primarily as show dogs, companions, and, occasionally, racing dogs.