The Saluki – Regal and Graceful

The Saluki is the “Persian Greyhound” and widely regarded as the oldest purebred dog in all of history. This dog breed is closely related to the Afghan Hound and Arabian Greyhound.

The Saluki has long been coveted by Arabs for its ability in hunting, especially gazelles, and its ability in following horses. We can probably thank the Celts for introducing this dog breed into Europe.

While Salukis were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1929, they have been around since the days of ancient dynastic Egypt, and perhaps even farther back in time. Depictions of the Saluki and their mummified bodies have been found in Egyptian tombs. And carvings depicting what seem likely to be Salukis have been found in the ruins of the ancient Sumerian civilization from nearly 6000 years ago.

The Saluki resembles the Greyhound – slim and sleek with a powerful hind-part. The average Saluki will be 23-29 inches in length and 30 to 66 pounds in weight.

In color they range from black to tri-color, and may also be tan, reddish, brownish tan, or even white. They don’t shed overly much and do not have that “dog” smell. They do have feathers of silky fur on their ears, legs and tail. Their tail has a cute curl.

While the Saluki is related to the Afghan Hound, it is more graceful and symmetrical. It has an explosively powerful rear and hocks that are low to the ground, giving it great leaping and turning ability.

The Saluki dog breed can get up to speeds of 40 miles per hour! With this speed and symmetry, they have a carriage that is regal and graceful.

They are gentle with children, especially well-behaved children. However, because they are extremely responsive to sudden movements, and since children are prone to making rash movements, it is advised that if you own a Saluki you should not leave him alone with young children.

Salukis are obedient, but also independent. If you try to call your Saluki to you it will come . . . unless it gets distracted by some kind of movement, in which case its hunter instinct kicks in and it goes all-out for the pursuit.

They should be regularly brushed. Their fur is not overly fluffy so this is not too difficult, especially since they enjoy being brushed. This is also a way of emotionally bonding with, and keeping tabs on, the dog.

Overall, Salukis are very loyal and protective, but many say that they are also not overly affectionate. They can be easily trained into certain dog tricks, but their high intelligence causes them to become bored with them after a short play time. They can be very well trained in dog behavior and do not need to be overly scolded, but they can be stubborn when first being trained to sit, stay, lie down, etc, so patience is required at first.