Saluki

Other name: Persian Greyhound

Photo: adult dog of Saluki breed
© Svetlay / Shutterstock
Photo: adult dog of Saluki breed
© Natalia Fedosova / Shutterstock

The Saluki is such a graceful canine, with strength, endurance and great speed capabilities. Because of these characteristics, it is a great hunter, skilful at chase, hunt and kill any prey over many terrains. Individual features vary in each dog, but all Salukis have a greyhound-like appearance, with a deep chest and narrow body, slender, long legs, a tiny waist and a long tail. The deep eyes of the dog have a faithful, soul-searching look. Overall, the Saluki is a dignified, gentle breed.

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Life expectancy

The Saluki has a life expectancy of between 12 and 14 years

Temperament

Size

Medium

Adult size

Female Between 23 and 28 in
Male Between 23 and 28 in

Adult weight

Female Between 33 and 55 lb
Male Between 33 and 55 lb
Coat colour
Black White Brown Blue Red Sand
Type of coat
Long Very short
Eye colour
Brown

Purchase price

The Saluki costs between £300 and £600

Good to know

This is one of the very oldest breeds of dog known, having a very graceful and agile appearance.  Noblemen in Egypt gave it the name of the “Royal Dog” as they thought it a great companion and honoured canine breed. Arabian tribesmen paid great attention to their Saluki hunting dogs, prizing not only their endurance but also their speed. It is very difficult for any human to match and keep up to the speed of a Saluki dog.

More details about the Saluki

Saluki: Origins and history

Originally called the Gazelle Hound, or the Persian Greyhound, the Saluki is understood to be an ancient breed, possibly dating back to the first dogs known to man. Images of dogs that have the appearance of a Saluki appeared on the tombs in Egypt, dating back some 4000 years to 2100BC.

Egyptian Pharaohs used Salukis for hunting hares and gazelles, often working alongside falcons. Many mummified Salukis have been discovered showing how honoured they were as a breed. The first dogs to have been noted in the UK arrived around 1840, however they weren’t recognised as a breed until after the First World War, when many officers brought them home from the Middle East, as their pets.

FCI classification of the Saluki

  • Group 10 - Sighthounds

  • Section 1 : Long-haired or fringed Sighthounds

Saluki: Varieties

  • Short Haired Saluki
  • Long haired Saluki

Training a Saluki

Because of his intelligence and sensitivity, any Saluki training needs to be done in a respectful, gentle and calm manner so as not to make the dog anxious. Lots of patience on your part is needed, together with positive reinforcement towards the dog. However with considered patience and a controlled environment, the majority of this breed can understand and commit to most obedience commands.

Saluki: Purchase price

The initial cost to buy a Saluki dog will be around £600 for KC Registered and £300 for Non KC Registered dog.

In addition, if your dog has no prior medical issues, but you take into account routine medical checks, neutering and vaccinations, you will need to budget between £50 to £70 per month. Add in the cost of a high quality dog food at £30 each month, and the average costs for keeping a Saluki are between £80 to £100 per month.

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