Saluki: temperament, size, care and health

About the Saluki

The Saluki is a lean, graceful sighthound with a long narrow head, a deep chest, a tucked-up waist and long legs. The ears hang with silky hair and the tail carries feathering. There are two coat types, feathered and smooth, and the colors range widely, including white, cream, fawn, red, black and tan, and tricolor. Dogs stand twenty-three to twenty-eight inches tall, and females are smaller.

The breed was developed by desert peoples of the Middle East to chase gazelle, hare and fox over open ground. It is built for speed and for endurance over long distances, which sets it apart from some other sighthounds that sprint and tire. In the house it is gentle and reserved, with a cat-like habit of finding the softest, highest seat in the room.

Temperament and family life

A Saluki is devoted to its family but not demonstrative, preferring to lie nearby rather than demand attention. It tends to be reserved with strangers, and it is neither aggressive nor a guard dog. The breed is sensitive and may respond to scolding by withdrawing. It does not bark often and is easy to live with indoors.

Children who are calm and respectful can live well with a Saluki, but the dog does not enjoy rough play and can be injured by it. It often does well with other dogs. The pursuit drive is very strong: anything that bolts, from a squirrel to a cat in the yard, will provoke an instant chase. Some Salukis live peacefully with cats they know, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Exercise and training

The Saluki needs a daily walk and regular opportunities to run flat out in a fully enclosed area. Because it can reach very high speed and has a keen eye, it should never be off leash in an unfenced place, and fences need to be tall. Lure coursing is an ideal sport, and some owners also join fast, loose-lead hiking.

Training should be gentle. The breed is smart, but independent, and it does not take to repetition or pressure. Short, positive, varied sessions work, and early socialization helps the dog be calm with strangers. Recall is unreliable. House training is usually uncomplicated, as the dog is a clean animal. It needs a soft bed because its thin coat and bony frame make hard floors uncomfortable.

Grooming and shedding

Grooming is lighter than it looks. The feathered coat needs combing once or twice a week, particularly in the fringes behind the ears and on the legs, where tangles can form. The smooth variety requires only an occasional brushing. Shedding is light to moderate. A bath is needed only now and then because the coat does not hold much dirt or odor.

Nails should be trimmed and teeth brushed. The thin skin and minimal body fat mean the dog feels the cold and wants a coat in winter, and it should be watched for cuts on rough ground.

Health

Salukis are generally healthy and long-lived for a large dog. The conditions that matter include heart disease, especially cardiomyopathy, and hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the blood vessels. Others are hypothyroidism and eye problems. Like other sighthounds, Salukis have low body fat and react differently from many dogs to some anesthetics, so the veterinarian should know the breed. Responsible breeders commonly screen the heart, thyroid and eyes. This is general information about the Saluki, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The Saluki is among the oldest known domestic breeds, and dogs of similar type appear in ancient art from the Middle East. It was kept by nomadic tribes, who valued it as a hunting partner and rarely sold it. Western contact came in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries through travelers, and the American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1927.

Is the Saluki right for you?

A Saluki suits a quiet household with an adult or older children, a securely fenced yard and a love of independent, elegant dogs. It is a poor match for anyone wanting a dog that is obedient off leash or eager to greet everyone, or for a home with small animals that may run.

Compare the north African Sloughi, which is similar but shorter-coated, and the heavily coated Afghan Hound. For a more social and easier sighthound to manage, look at the Whippet or the Greyhound.