Dog
Group:
Hound 
Saluki Champions
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Pronunciation:
suh-loo-kee
Breed Description:
The Saluki breed of dog is an athletic dog that should be long and lean. They should be medium in size with a slightly longer body than their height. They should have a level top line and a graceful gait and build. The head should be long and wedge shaped and the long ears should hang. The long tail should be low set.
There are two coat types for the Saluki:
Short: This is the least desired of the two coat types and should consist of short hair on the entire dog. It should be dense and should lay flat on the dog creating a smooth line. There should be no excess hair or feathering on the ears or tail.
Long: The majority of this coat is the same smooth, short coat that is seen in the other coat type. The hair should lay flat on the dog and there should be a smooth outline. The main difference with this coat type is that there is long hair on the ears and tail which is feathered. The hair on the ears and tail should be silky.
The Saluki can be found in a number of colors including white, red, fawn, grizzled, white, black and tan; black, tan and white or gold. The coat can be solid, bi-colored or tri-colored.
Temperament:
The Saluki breed of dog is an intelligent and calm breed that is usually very even tempered and good natured. They are known for being a wonderful family dog that is affectionate and laid back. Tehy can be reserved with strangers and their type of affection is more of a companionship than a clingy endearment. The breed is usually very level in temperament and is usually excellent with children. They learn quickly but tend to be more of a single person dog than a family pet. The breed does well with dogs but their high prey drive makes them unsuitable for homes with small non-canine pets.
Height:
The average height for a Saluki is between 23 to 28 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Saluki is between 29 to 66 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Saluki breed of dog is a very healthy breed and they are not known to suffer from many health problems. One thing to note is the Saluki often has a higher body weight to fat ratio, which makes them susceptible to an anesthesias so it is important that your vet is aware of this before your Saluki undergoes any type of surgery. Some health problems the breed can suffer from are Hemangiosarcoma, Cardiomyopathy, Anesthesia Sensitivity and Hypothyrodism.
Living Conditions:
The Saluki breed of dog is not recommended for apartments since they tend to be very active and really need a fair amount of space to run. They do better in a home with a large fenced yard and it is important to provide them with a secure area to play outside since they do have a high prey drive and will chase after other animals. The breed should not be an outdoor dog since they thrive when they have human interaction. In addition, if you live in colder climates, it is important to bundle the Saluki up since they can be susceptible to cold.
Exercise:
The Saluki breed of dog is a very energetic breed and requires at least 60 minutes of exercise per day. They do have excess stores of energy and if they are not properly exercised they can become very destructive. Saluki make excellent jogging companions. One thing to note is this is a breed with a high prey drive. They should be exercised on leash when not in a secure location since they will run off after "prey" and they can run very quickly, making it next to impossible to bring them back.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Saluki breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog two or three times a week to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and nails should be clipped once or twice a month. This breed does not have a strong doggy odor.
Origin:
The Saluki breed of dog is also known as teh El Hor or The Noble and the breed has been traced to Middle East, however, the actual origins or use of the breed has not been identified. It is believed that the Saluki was developed over 8000 years ago and may even be one of the oldest breeds of dogs alive today. In addition, the breed may be the same sight hounds that were documented in Ancient Egypt. Further evidence has pointed to the dog being used as hunting dogs. What we do known for sure is that the breed was found in many countries in the Middle East including Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine. There the breed was treasured and were considered to be the only clean breed of dog by Nomadic Muslims. The breed was unknown in the rest of the world until the 1840's, when the breed was first imported into England but the breed has remained rare outside of the Middle East even to this day. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
