Origin: Middle East

Description:
Salukis vary in type and the variation is desired and typical for the breed.  The reason for the variation is the special place held by the Saluki in the Arab tradition and the immense size of the Middle East area where the Saluki has been used as a hound of the chase for thousands of years.  Originally each tribe had Salukis best suited for hunting the particular game in its own area, but by Middle East tradition, Salukis are not bought or sold but presented as marks of honour.  It follows that those presented as such to Europeans and brought to Europe came from a wide variation of terrain and climate and vary accordingly. The British 1923 standard was the first official European breed standard for the Saluki and was drawn up to cover all these original types of Saluki.

The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity. Smooth variety: the points should be the same with the exception of the coat which has no feathering.

The royal dog of Egypt, the Saluki may be as old as the oldest known civilization. They were named after the Arabian city "Saluki" in the Middle East, which is now vanished beneath the sands. Their bodies were often found mummified like the bodies of the Pharaohs themselves, and their pictures appear in ancient Egyptian tombs dating from 2100 BC. This breed is thought of by the Muslims as a sacred gift of Allah, so these dogs were never sold but only offered as gift of friendship or homage. The Saluki is also known as the Gazelle Hound, Arabian Hound, or Persian Greyhound, and as its appearance suggests, it is probably quite closely related to another ancient breed: the Afghan Hound. It is native to the area from eastern Turkestan to Turkey. The Saluki is a brilliant desert sight hunter capable of incredible speed and agility over rough terrain. The Saluki was used to course gazelle, the fastest of the antelopes. They have also been used to hunt fox, jackal, and hare. In the West, this breed is primarily a companion pet and show dog, although they have also been successful as racing dogs.

The appearance of the Saluki is one of total grace and balance. They have an unusual gait when they are at top speed: all four of their legs are in the air at the same time. It has a slim, greyhound-like body with long silky feathering on the ears and tail. There is also a rarer smooth variety with no feathering. The Smooth coat is generally a bit coarser than the feathered variety's silky coat. The coat comes in black & tan, fawn, white, cream, gold and red, as well as various combinations of these. Salukis with a patch of white in the middle of the forehead are thought by Bedouin tribes to have "the kiss of Allah" and is regarded as special. The head is narrow and well-proportioned, tapering gradually toward the nose. The ears are long and hanging. It has sturdy jaws and large skinny eyes that are either light or dark brown with a sweet, dignified expression. The Saluki's neck is elegant and flexible. Its body is very elongated, with oblique muscular shoulders. The feet are thickly haired between the toes for protection from rough terrain.

Urilization: Hunting and coursing hound.

Behavior/Temperament: The Saluki are even-tempered and sensitive. Gentle, affectionate, but not demonstrative. This loyal dog may become attached to one person. Good with gentle older children. They are too slim for roughhousing. The breed can't take harsh discipline or strictness. They can be trained only with love and consistency. This breed will never be perfectly obedient so do not set your expectations too high. Sensitive and friendly, but somewhat aloof, even with his family. They are fairly submissive to dominant people and dogs and are easily distracted and somewhat skittish (especially with other dogs). The Saluki do best with another Saluki. They are a pleasant and calm companion and make a good watchdog. Though not aggressive with people, the Saluki's natural instinct is to chase and kill non-canine animals. This is a proper function and this trait should not be discouraged within the breed. They may need obedience training to keep their deep-rooted hunting instincts under control, however with few exceptions it has proven impossible to train these dogs not to hunt at all. As a result, many pets such as birds, guinea pigs and rabbits are not recommended for Saluki owners. They can be good with cats if the cat is left to its own instinctive abilities. Reserved with strangers, but not nervous or aggressive. Dignified, intelligent and independent.

Coat: Smooth and of a soft, silky texture, feathering on the legs and at the back of thighs, feathering may be present on the throat in adults, puppies may have slight woolly feather on thighs and shoulders.  The smooth variety has no feathering.

Colour: Any colour or combination of colours is permissible. Brindles are undesirable. 

Height: 23-28 inches (58-71cm.)
Weight: 29-66 pounds (13-30kg.)

Health: The Saluki is prone to some genetic eye diseases and cancer. They can get sunburn especially on the nose.

Life Expectancy: About 10-12 years.

Grooming: This odor-free dog's coat is easy to groom. Just occasionally brush and comb, especially on the longer-haired parts of the dog. The ears should be checked regularly to make sure they are clean. The Saluki is an average shedder.