Saluki

COUNTRY: Iran
HEIGHT: Males 23-28 inches; bitches may be considerably smaller
COAT: Smooth and silky, with feathering on legs, back of thighs, under tail and on ears; or a smooth variety which is void of feathering
COLOR: White, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle/tan, tricolor, black/tan
OTHER NAMES: Persian Greyhound
REGISTRY: FCI, AKC, UKC, TKC, CKC
GROUP: Southern


The Saluki and the Sloughi have parallel histories and most likely date back to the same stem in the ancient Middle East. Some of the very earliest representations of running gazehounds include those with the attractive fringing of tail, ears and thighs. A painting at Hierakonapolis, dated 3600 BC, shows a Salukilike dog. The breed's ancient name may have come from the long-disappeared southern Arabian city of Sa-luk, with its reputation for fine armor and dogs, or it may be derived from the town of Seleukia in the old Greek empire of Syria.
A translation from the Diwan of Abu Nuwas, court poet and jester, 800, AD says: "It is as though behind the place where his eyelashes meet there are burning coals constantly kindled . . . Like a hawk swooping on sand-grouse, he peels the skin of the earth with four feet. He runs so swift! They do not touch the earth as he runs ..."
These graceful dogs were esteemed by sheiks of the desert throughout the centuries and called El ffor, the noble one. The Salukis coursed gazelles and other game, either alone or as an adjunct to the falcon. Like their near relative, the Azawakh, they were slipped loose when near the quarry, enabling them to run down game and hold it for the arrival of the master who made the kill. Training for their part in the hunt began when the pups were four months old.
These dogs held places of honor in the tents of the Bedouins. The breeding of fine Arabian horses and gazehounds was an art taught to sons by their fathers. Pedigrees, kept pure for thousands of years, were never written down but were committed to memory and passed to each new generation by word of mouth. A Saluki was never sold, but given as a treasured gift or as a trade for favors. Some were obtained in this fashion by Europeans during the Crusades (llth-13th centuries), but were absorbed into the native dog populations when returned to Europe.

A pair of these desert hounds was presented to Lady Florence Amherst in the late 1800s, and she was so taken with the dogs that she strove to have the breed recognized in England. But it wasn't until after the end of WWI that the breed made any headway in the British Isles, with the Saluki recognized there in 1923. Breeding stock came to the USA from England at this time and the AKC recognized the breed in 1927. In the late 1930s, Esther Bliss Knapp of Ohio took up the breed and imported many lovely specimens from England, Arabia, Egypt and Persia into her Pine Paddock Kennels. This stock, directly from the desert, was the basis for quality breeding programs that have continued in America. Canada followed with recognition in 1938. In fact, such good specimens are produced in America and in England that oil-rich sheiks have been known to come to the Western World today to buy Salukis. Despite the modern trap- pings of luxury cars and business suits, these desert men can still compare the current pedigrees and the dogs to those legendary ancestors of yesteryear.

One of the common practices in the desert was the cropping of Saluki ears. While the thought of chopping off those lovely graceful appendages seems a crime, it was done to prevent injury and infection in a climate where flies and disease abound. Many of the first specimens brought in from the deserts were cropped, thus precluding their being shown in the States. It was their offspring who first made appearances in American dog shows.
Like all sighthounds, the Saluki is a fine pet and companion but not for everyone. Exercise is a must, but so is control over their excursions. They are generally very hardy dogs, having been selected by nature's cruel "survival of the fittest" for so long. Indoors they are like cats, clean, quiet and enjoying attention when they feel like it. Heavy feathering between the toes protects the feet from the heat of the sand. The smooth version is sometimes called Shami, although it was also called slughi at one time.

Temperament

A true Saluki retains the qualities of hunting hounds and may seem reserved and aloof. They learn quickly but can get bored with repetition, so training sessions should be short and varied. Sensitive and intelligent, the Saluki should never be trained using force or hard-handed methods.

Salukis need regular exercise, but can behave quietly indoors. They are usually quiet and don't bark unless there is a reason, but they will "sing" (a high pitched howl, with oscillating volume) when they feel that something is wrong or when a member of the family is away for a long period of time. This "singing" can also be for bonding in the family (pack) group. There are salukis that have been taught to "sing" on cue. Salukis can get along well with children and can become protective, but the family must respect the dog's need for quiet and peaceful time alone to rest. Salukis have a fairly long life span, living an average of 13-16 years.

According to the National Veterinary Scholars, Salukis should not be allowed off leash. Salukis can have a strong prey drive as they are sighthounds and have an ancient heritage of hunting by sight (over 7,000 years). However, this does not mean that they cannot get along with smaller dogs, cats, or other small pets. Training and understanding of the individual saluki come into play when integrating a household of mixed species. The Saluki Club of America recommends a fence of at least five feet tall, as a Saluki can very easily jump anything lower than that.