This breed stands 23-28 inches high and weighs 29-66 pounds. The ideal Saluki has a slim body and a narrow head that tapers gradually toward the nose, which is black or liver in color. It has a short coat with long silky feathering on the ears and tail. Coat color is white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, or a tricolor blend of white, black and tan. Bred for hunting, the Saluki can reach a speed of 40 mph for short spurts, but also has exceptional endurance. When running at full speed all four legs will come off the ground at the same time.

The Saluki is one of the oldest dog breeds known to man, appearing in Egyptian tomb paintings dating from 2100 B.C. It probably originated with the Bedouins of that time period, who used the breed to hunt gazelle, fox, jackals, and hares. It was named for the ancient Arabian city of Saluki, which no longer exists. The Saluki was recognized as a distinct breed by the American Kennel Club in 1929.

Salukis are gentle, friendly and even-tempered dogs that can be extremely devoted to their owners. They make pleasant and calm companions and good watchdogs, but are easily distracted. They get along well with children who do not roughhouse with them. Since it was bred as a hunting dog, the Saluki will instinctively chase and kill any non-canine animals, and will completely its owner if engaged in a chase. It will, however, tolerate a cat in the household if the cat is allowed to assert its dominance over the dog. Salukis require a lot of exercise, so are better suited to wide open spaces than to city life. The average life span of a Saluki is 10-12 years.

Questions or comments about this page?

American Kennel Club. www.akc.org/breeds/saluki/index.cfm
Dog Breed Info Center. www.dogbreedinfo.com/saluki.htm
Saluki Club of America. salukiclub.org

This page was last updated on 12/16/2009.