Saluki – Price, Temperament, And Dog Breed Information

The Saluki is considered one amongst the oldest dogs. Experts claim these dogs might be as old as 7000 b.c.

They were king’s special dogs- right from Alexander the Great, Egyptian pharaohs, and on through different passages of history.

The present breed is remarkably cute in personality and shape to its forefathers. Dog lovers can still wonder at the natural dignity and sleek lines that amazed royal dignitaries of Asia, Egypt, and the Middle East since before the ancient marvels were built.

Research has proved that this dog breed emerged as a local breed in Mesopotamia, now Iraq, in the regions between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.

Artifacts showing canines that nearly resemble the new breed have been discovered at least some 6,000 years ago.

In 1987, the remains of a dog were dug up from a place called Tell Brak. When analyzed by scientists, these bones were almost identical with the bones from the first Salukis.

From Syria and Iraq, they spread in all directions, through Turkey and also into Iran, right into Central Asia, and all the way to the Arabian regions.

It is believed that the first Salukis might have entered Europe through Soldiers returning back from the Crusades.

Saluki  Height And Weight

• Height- Male- 23-28 inches, Female-21-24 inches
• Weight-Male-40-65 lbs, Female-35-45 lbs

Saluki  Lifespan

The average lifespan of this dog is between 10-17 years. With extra care and proper maintenance, they can live a longer life.

Saluki Appearance

The whole look of this dog should give a feeling of elegance and grace and of unimaginable endurance and speed coupled with activity and strength.

The breed should be strong enough to kill gazelle and another quarry over rocky terrains. They should be gentle and dignified with far-seeing, faithful, powerful eyes.

• Head – Narrow and long, frame moderately wide, not domed. Nose liver or black.
• Ears – Protected with long silky hair sticking close to the mobile and the skull.
• Eyes – Not over powerful but oval and large; Bright and dark to hazel
• Teeth – Balanced and powerful
• Neck – Long, well built
• Chest – Moderately narrow and deep
• Forequarters
  • Forelegs long and straight from the elbow all the way to the knee
  • Well muscled and no coarse appearance
• Hindquarters
  • Powerful, well-built hip bones
  • Displaying jumping strength and galloping
• Feet – Not slayed out, of medium length, toes well arched and long
• Tail – Not bushy, well feathered with long velvet-like silky hair

Saluki Coat And Colors

The coat appears soft, silky, and slight to minimal feather on the dog’s legs. The dog has a woolly feather on its shoulder and thigh.

Popular colors of this breed include-

• Black and Tan
• Tricolor with white, black, and tan
• Grizzle and tan
• Red
• Golden
• Fawn
• Cream
• White

The Smooth Appearance

In this type, the points can appear the same with different criteria- the coat is free from feathering.

• The Saluki is mostly a one-family pet, shy with strangers, tending to be totally aloof with strangers. They are devoted, but not like Shi Tzus, who steal every opportunity to sit on your lap.
• These dogs are widely good and gentle with children and other pets. They make a brilliant keeper and overseer dogs. They are not known for their protective capabilities.
• These dogs always need a chance a run and train hard. They are somewhat obedient.
• Salukis can live harmoniously with cats if early socialization is part of their daily upbringing.
• These dogs love to lounge but live to exercise. Make no mistake about it, this gentle sprinter is a brilliant runner and hunter at heart.
• Prefer any game that included high-velocity running, Salukis are exciting to watch when they run.
• If you expect Lassie-dog-like love and obedience, you are wasting your time with this breed. They don’t drive you down the road, jump vigorously, or bark incessantly. Salukis love digging.
• Looking for calm inside, quiet, and elegant dog, these dogs are devoted but not fawning.
• They consider creature comforts a big plus.
• These dogs are highly smart, able to survive and work in different climates. They are brilliant pets but having one is a not for the weak hearted.

Basically, they have two different types of coats, smooth and feathered and they can be well-maintained with weekly brushing.

However, dogs with tail feathering or a long ear may require a lot more attention.

They are naturally clean dogs. These dogs seldom produce a bad doggy odor. Bathing need be done if these dogs get nasty or you have a dog competition to attend.

Being low-shedding dogs, they can look chic and clean with a wipe down using a wet cloth.

Other grooming needs may include nail care and dental care. You should never forget to brush your dog’s teeth at least a couple of times to remove the bacteria and tartar formation. Daily brushing is recommended.

Trim your dog’s nails once or twice as required. If you happen to hear the nail scratching on the floor, it means it’s time to groom. Short nails are healthy and will not hurt the visitors when your pet jumps up to cuddle them.

Saluki Training

This dog will reap rich rewards with three forms of training-

1. Mental training

For proper mental exercise and stimulation, canine activities such as agility, flyball, and lure coursing are all good choices.

2. Obedience training

Basic obedience training helps the dog pick up manners in the community and home. Well-trained dogs are loved almost everywhere.

3. Basic crate training

The crate training is necessary when the dog requires to be neatly restricted in the home.

If started early, it is simple to train Salukis for daily teeth brushing and nail trimming.

When is the right time to start puppy training?

Start training your dog the very first day you bring him home. At 8 weeks of age, these dogs are strong enough to learn everything you teach them.

Don’ t postpone the training until your dog is six months of age otherwise you will have to deal with a stubborn dog.

If possible, start the puppy training sessions when she is not more than 10-12 weeks. You should be aware that many training sessions require shots to be on time. Many experts also advice minimal exposure to public places and other dogs until vaccines have been done with.

These vaccines are provided to protect the dog from parvovirus, distemper, and rabies.

If home training is your forte, you can start house training as soon as possible and socialize him until vaccines are completed.

These invaluable lessons will aid her to develop into a calm, sensible adult dog in the long run.

Saluki Exercise

They need daily exercise to remain hale and healthy. The daily walks on a leash can help both the owner and hound stay in top form, both mentally and physically.

They love to sprint and should be safely maintained in a well-secured area to protect them from oncoming traffic.

Like most other dogs, these dogs are expert chewers and can act destructively when unhappy and bored at home. Therefore, good quality chew-bones, safe toys, and good fencing are a must.

These dogs are known for their liking for creature comforts, a cozy room, and a good, nice bed. If providing these things, they are happy to lounge.

However, they need to move out and work their butts off at least twice a day.

Their reluctance to come, combined with their ability to chase after wildlife, and their belief that all cars will definitely stop for them, make allowing a Saluki free on its own in an insecure environment a big risky step.

They are mostly thin and prefer to eat only selected foods. If you can’t bear to take the blame for not feeding your pet enough, forget this breed.

The minimum maintenance for the feathered dog breed mostly consists of cleaning the long feathers at least a couple of times. The reason is matted locks can form between the toes and in the ears where the hair grows long.

Dogs having very long feathering in the ear may do good with a snood. Feathered Salukis are mostly long-coated canines.

Even spayed Salukis are known to have long body hair. This will need additional clipping to maintain it’s original appearance.

As a breed, these dogs are ideally free and safe from major genetic diseases.

Some dogs may have heart problems including arrhythmia or valve disease, an enlarged heart condition is also found.

A certain type of cancers can be seen in this breed such as mammary or lymphoma, and osteosarcoma or hemangiosarcoma can occur. Some blood and autoimmune conditions have also been associated with this breed.

Continuous playing and running after consuming food can lead to bloat, or simply gastric torsion. At times, these conditions need immediate medical help.

In most cases, they lead a happy and healthy life right from birth to golden age.

Most common health tests recommended for these dogs include-

• Thyroid checkup
• Cardiac examination

Major Health Concerns 

1. Arrhythmia

This condition is caused due to an irregular variation mainly in the cycling that maintain the heart’s regular motion, leading to an irregular heartbeat.

The heart may skip beats or beats too slow or fast. An occasional heartbeat issue may not increase the risk of heart failure.

Types and symptoms

• Symptoms are mostly seen in a nonrespiratory way than in a respiratory
• Physical problems may increase if gaps between heartbeats are very long. In some cases, loss of consciousness is witnessed.
• The basic sign is a heartbeat too fast or slow.

Causes

• Increase in issues affecting the vagus nerves
• Digitalis therapy
• Brachycephalic conformation
• Cerebral disorders
• Respiratory disease
• Gastrointestinal disease

Treatment

If the dog is having respiratory issues, then vets may suggest hospitalization.

Vets will not recommend for a restriction in the dog’s activity unless really called for. Caloric intake will be monitored and medications will be given to treat the main underlying cause.

2. Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most popular bone tumor widely seen in dogs. They are mainly seen in big dog breeds such as Saluki, Great Dane, etc.

The disease can spread fast into other parts in a short span of time and the exact prognosis is actually poor.

Symptoms of Osteosarcoma in Dogs

• Bone pain
• Lameness
• Swelling
• Signs of anorexia
• Mass growth or an inflammation

Causes of Osteosarcoma in Dogs

• Dogs prone to blunt bone injury are more susceptible to osteosarcoma in dogs.
• This disease is seen mostly in large or giant dog breeds.

Treatment

Chemotherapy is the main method of treatment. Vets may recommend amputation to completely stop the bone tumor from spreading further.

A suitable pain management plan is suggested following surgery. At present, there is no way to stop or prevent osteosarcoma.

The Salukis love high-quality foods, whether home-made or commercially manufactured. Any food should be suitable for the dog’s age (Senior, adult, puppy).

Talk to your vet to know whether your dog’s diet and weight are actually matching or not.

Remember to supply fresh, clean, drinking water at all times. Their normal appetites can be both, either gluttonous or skimpy.

Dogs with a gluttonous appetite will eat their own as well as other dog’s food. Therefore, they might have to be kept at different places at mealtimes to stop becoming obese.

Favorable Foods

Some foods you can feed your dog-

• Spinach
• Fish
• Pumpkin
• Meat
• Cantaloupe
• Lettuce
• Rice
• Carrots
• Bananas

Must – avoid foods

• Garlic
• Nuts
• Chocolate
• Pomegranate
• Beer or any alcoholic beverages
• Grapes
• Avocado
• Onions
• Walnuts

Foods you can feed in moderation

• Bread
• Apples
• Mushrooms
• Potatoes
• Broccoli
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Tomatoes
• Pineapple
• Hot dogs
• Cheese

Foods not recommended

• Marshmallows
• Corn
• Peppers
• Cherries
• Celery
• Almonds
• Shrimp
• Popcorn
• Peppers

What would the name of my new puppy be? This may be the most exciting discussion at home today. Good news for new Saluki parents… We have made the dog name search simply for you.

Here is the compilation of perfect and novel names for your new pup. You can choose from the powerful male dog names and graceful female names.

Recommended Read:

Most Popular Dog Names Research Analysis

Names For Small And Large Dogs

Interesting Facts

• On average, these dogs can run at a top speed of 42 miles per hour.
• These dogs are sighthounds. They use their vision and track down their preys. These dogs do not use sound or smell like other dogs.
• Considered as the royal pet of the Egyptian Pharaohs, the skeletons of Saluki have been discovered in the tombs located in the upper Nile.
• Arab tribesmen called them “el hor” meaning noble. They regard them in high aspect like they loved their horses, endurance, prizing speed, and excellent hunting instinct.
• The delicate and grace of this breed contradict its strength and stamina.
• These dogs love living a life filled with luxury.

You can adopt one than purchasing one from a breeder at a higher cost. The average cost to adopt is $300.

In general, they are sold by premium breeders usually cost between $1000-$3000.

There are rescues and shelters that concentrate on finding suitable homes for Salukis.

Rescues and Shelters

• Whiskers, Tails, and Ferals- Napa
  A-1370 Trancas St 206,
  Napa,
  California- 94558
  www.whiskerstailsandferals.org

Popular Saluki breeders in America

• Madeleine Burdette
  Johnson City, TN 37601
• Aeolus Salukis and Whippets
  Kevin and Dawn Carlson
  Racine, WI 53404
• Afton Blake
  Los Angeles, CA 90065