Saluki
Arabian Hound, Gazelle Hound, Persian Greyhound, Persian Sighthound, Tanji
The Saluki is a sighthound that could be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, surviving breed of dog. The name Saluki may derive from either the former Arabian city of Saluk or from Seleukia of ancient Syria. Also referred to as the Royal Dogs of Egypt, dogs bearing a striking resemblance to today’s Saluki grace many Egyptian relics.
An adapt courser, Salukis are used to hunt a wide variety of prey such as gazelles, jackals and hares, often working in tandem with falcons. The falcons will search the air for their quarry. After circling their location the dogs are released and a small pack of two to six will race across the sands, sometimes for miles to the waiting prey. By the time the tribesmen have arrived they have caught the animal, holding it for the hunter to make a ritualistic kill.
An adapt courser, Salukis are used to hunt a wide variety of prey such as gazelles, jackals and hares, often working in tandem with falcons. The falcons will search the air for their quarry. After circling their location the dogs are released and a small pack of two to six will race across the sands, sometimes for miles to the waiting prey. By the time the tribesmen have arrived they have caught the animal, holding it for the hunter to make a ritualistic kill.
Saluki Standards
- 22-28"
- 31-55 lbs
- large sighthound
- long ears covered with silky hair
- tail is long and curved, well feathered
- smooth, soft coat with or without feathering
- any color except brindle
History of the Saluki
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The Saluki originated in the Middle East, most likely either in Mesopotamia or Egypt. The earliest Egyptian carvings showed dogs similar to the Mediterranean sighthounds, known as the Tesem. In later years they became more recognizable as a true sighthound, the Saluki. Depictions resembling today’s breed date back as far as 7000 BC. There are even stone inscriptions of King Tutankhamen hunting with a pair of these dogs and several mummified bodies have been found.
Over the centuries the Saluki spread throughout the region, eventually finding a ‘home’ with the nomadic Bedouin tribesmen. Traditionally dogs in general are considered unclean in the Islamic culture. However, to the Bedouins, the Saluki is a holy gift from God. They are prized, and known as the 'Noble One', even allowed to sleep in their master’s tents. Their people held them in such high regard that to protect their feet from the hot sand they were carried to the hunt on camels. Salukis were never bought or sold; instead they were given as gifts of friendship or homage.
Over the centuries the Saluki spread throughout the region, eventually finding a ‘home’ with the nomadic Bedouin tribesmen. Traditionally dogs in general are considered unclean in the Islamic culture. However, to the Bedouins, the Saluki is a holy gift from God. They are prized, and known as the 'Noble One', even allowed to sleep in their master’s tents. Their people held them in such high regard that to protect their feet from the hot sand they were carried to the hunt on camels. Salukis were never bought or sold; instead they were given as gifts of friendship or homage.
Is the Saluki Right for You?
- gets along well with children
- can be difficult to train
- does best with a yard
- adjusts well to hot climates
- short coat requires little care
- has a high activity level
- lives around 12 years