ALSO known as the ‘Persian Greyhound,’ this ancient and regal dog is a sighthound or gazehound.
Named in Arabic, possibly after ‘Saluk’, once an ancient city of Yemen, Egyptian tombs and Assyrian temples depict these dogs as early as 5,000 BC.
The Saluki was a prized dog for its speed, beauty and hunting ability, it was used by Arabs to hunt fox, jackal, hare and gazelle.
Bedouins would hunt (some still do) with Salukis in packs of two to six hounds, the dogs are trained to work with falcon birds who would spot and hover over potential pray.
The dogs speed towards the falcon’s target while humans follow on camels or horses.
Salukis are a proud symbol of national identity.
Although related to the greyhound dog there are a few differences in purpose, appearance and character.
The Saluki is not as large as the greyhound, it has a smooth coat with extra-long hair on the legs, tail and sometimes the throat.
They are suited for long distance tracking with speed, whereas the greyhound is suited for short fast sprints.
A fit Saluki can cover distances of 17-24km at a constant speed of around 57km per hour, then move up a gear to 64km per hour when advancing on their prey.
Character wise; Salukis are very gentle, affectionate and sensitive, becoming attached to mainly one person.
They may not be suitable around small children and other small animals because of their strong prey drive, however, they are intelligent and trainable.
This breed can live between 12-17 years, reach 50-70cm in height and weigh between 19-27kg.
They are low maintenance and prefer to be inside, traditionally they slept inside tents with their humans.
Salukis as a bred do have a history of possible heart disease, hip dysplasia, and eye diseases.
There are Saluki breeders in Australia, but they are not a common pet.
There was a beautiful Saluki dog on the mountain that visited the dog park a few years ago.
By Pam Brandis
