Saluki history
The Saluki, also known as the Gazelle Hound or Persian Greyhound, was once considered the “Royal dog of Egypt.” They are regarded as the oldest known breed of domestic dog. The Saluki's history is rich and dates back some 9000 years. They have remained the same today as they were in ancient times. To the desert Arabs, they are known as “El Hor-The Nobel One” and are held in very high regard. Never being sold they were rarely given as gifts and only to those who were deemed truly worthy.
The distribution of the saluki can only be credited to the nomadic desert Arabs, known as Bedouin, which travelled the desert as a means of livelihood. Still today this tradition remains. These nomadic caravans are said to have introduced the Saluki to Egypt for trading purposes. They would exchange their beloved hounds for copper, turquoise, and myrrh. Remains of relics, mummified Salukis, paintings and sculptures were often found in tombs.
The Bedouin’s bred the Saluki in the likeness of the mighty Arabian horse. Grace, speed, endurance and beauty were never compromised and to this day are still the most prominent characteristics of both species. They are clean-cut with silky hair, deep chests and long legs.
Salukis are considered holy and often revered as “a sacred gift of Allah”. The Bedouin’s believe that the “Saluki is the hound of Allah; and must therefore be perfect.” Because the saluki was considered holy they were allowed to live among the tribe in the tents. No other dog or creature was even allowed this privilege.
Salukis are known as sighthounds or gazehounds meaning they hunt by sight and speed. The Bedouin’s bred the Saluki to hunt down small animals such as the hare or fox, as well as large game like the desert gazelle.
In the beginning of the hunt, the hound was carried on horse or camelback to maintain is strength for the impending chase. Sometimes a hawk and a saluki were used together to hunt. The hawks were trained to sight the target and strike the prey to slow it down or to circle around it at close range. Once a target was determined, the hunter would release the Salukis. Their primary objective was to race toward the hawks, identify and capture its prey. The best-trained Saluki’s though could find and take the prey down without the assistance of the hawk. The chase could be short and fast or could last for miles. Thus the Bedouin bred the Saluki to possess great stamina and speed.
The Saluki was bred to withstand the roughest of environments. Native hounds get no pampering and live hard. The have firm partially webbed feet with hair between the toes for protection. This enables them to run over rough terrain at great distances without injuring their pads.
Adult Salukis should appear solid with well-defined muscle. Their coats should be shiny and the first two or three ribs should be visible. The high loin bones are a feature to the breed that should also be seen. They are sleek and long-legged with an elongated narrow face and bright almond shaped eyes.
The Saluki is an athletic dog and is slim and fine-boned. There are two types of coat, smooth and feathered. The feathered variety has long hair on the ears, tail and legs. A Saluki can vary in size depending on its bloodline and region of origin but the standard for a male is between 50-60 lbs and for a female 35-55 lbs. Any colour variation or combination is accepted. Grizzles, black and tan, white, cream, fawn, and red are just a few.
Saluki are generally quiet natured and will usually bark only to give warning to a stranger. They make great companions and are completely devoted to their family. They tend to be aloof to strangers, as the Bedouin bred this characteristic into them.
A lot of patience and understanding in needed to teach Salukis what is expected. Obedience is important and should be started as a young puppy. They should be treated in a gentle manner, and should be praised with the correct response. If treated harshly they can become timid and nervous.
Salukis are slow maturing both mentally and physically. On average they will reach their maturity at around three years of age. As adult they have small appetites and don’t eat much. Because of their long legs it is a good idea to feed them from a bowl raised from the ground. They have no doggy smell and require little grooming. It is extremely important to brush the feathering on the ears to keep from matting.
The Saluki is not for everyone. They require a lot of daily exercise. They prefer free runs off lead, but if this is not possible they should be walked at least two miles daily. When exercising off lead it is important to do so in a safe and secured area. Due to their natural instincts, if they see something interesting and run off you may have a hard time retrieving them. A Saluki that is kept in good condition will enjoy a long, happy, healthy life.
Salukis are active, alert, affectionate, elegant, graceful, gentle, intelligent, independent, aloof to strangers and can be quite sensitive. The Saluki is an all-purpose hound designed for speed, a strong desire to hunt, an unsurpassed loyalty to its owner and yes, even obedience.
As Saluki owners our knowledge of the breed has grown. We have created this website to enlighten those of you who are unfamiliar to the breed. Most of the information on this site has come from various books on Salukis, mostly from The Saluki in History, Art and Sport written by Hope and David Waters. Of course we also share our own knowledge gained through the experience of owning such a wonderful breed. We hope you enjoy this site and that our love and respect for the Saluki is shared by all.
The Saluki is one of the most ancient breeds of hunting hounds. Paintings of and references to Salukis have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, Sumerian buildings, and Assyrian temples. This places the age of the Saluki, as a distinct and domesticated breed, at approximately 7,000 years and it has remained relatively unchanged to the present day. From ancient to modern times the Saluki has been used to hunt gazelle, hare, bustard (a type of bird), jackal, fox, and wild ass. The hunting style of the Saluki is to sight and run the game down, catch and retrieve it. It is a multi-game, multi-terrain coursing hound. In more recent times (the past 2,000-3,000 years) the Saluki has been kept by the nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Middle East to hunt game animals to provide meat for the cook-pot. With the advent of Islam, dogs were, and are, considered unclean beasts. However, in the case of the Saluki an exception was made. By the Bedouin, Salukis are considered the Gift of Allah to his children. They are allowed in the tents and considered special companions. It has been said that the Bedouin will never sell a Saluki, but will give one as a special and precious gift.
The questions that might come to mind in regards to the Saluki are:
- What do the Bedouin look for in a Saluki?
- Why do the Bedouin want a particular look or type?
- What do the Bedouin consider good function?
- What types do different Bedouin tribes have and breed for?
- For what purposes are the different types used?
Most of these questions can be answered by studying the terrain, climate, and game available in the various regions that Salukis are found. It must also be kept in mind that Salukis do not have a "Country-of-Origin" per se, but rather a "Region-of-Origin." Historically Salukis can be found ranging from Iran, Iraq and Turkey in the North, throughout the Arabian Peninsula in the South and East, and into Egypt and across North Africa in the West. Interestingly enough, the overall picture of Saluki structure is consistent throughout these areas with a wide variety of breed types.
In the following sections are points found to be consistent throughout the region and can be interpreted as the "Region-of-Origin Saluki standard," as well as Bedouin lore from the various sources listed in the references. In considering the qualities listed throughout this guideline: Imagine yourself at the edge of an Arabian desert where you will be camped for three weeks. You have all of the general camping gear you need but you food supply is limited to 55 gallons of water and 10 pounds of rice. Standing beside the tent are six Salukis, you have your choice of three, two of one gender and one of the other. Keep in mind you will use these Salukis to provide meat for your cook-pot as well as their sustenance. Which ones do you feel can do the job that they were bred to do; hunt by sight, run the game down, catch and retrieve it?
Material are from: http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/salukis.html