Saluki

The Saluki is one of the most ancient sighthounds — a slender, graceful desert hound long kept across the Middle East to course game by sight.

History

It was the hunting companion of nomadic peoples of the region, used to run down gazelle and hare across open desert and so prized that it was treated as a treasured member of the household rather than mere livestock. Its build has changed little over centuries.

Temperament

The breed is known for being gentle, dignified and reserved — devoted to its own people but aloof with strangers, sensitive and quietly independent. Like other sighthounds it carries a strong, quick instinct to chase.

Care and training

It needs regular opportunities to run in a secure, enclosed space, and a soft, patient approach to training suits its sensitive nature. The smooth or lightly feathered coat is easy to keep.

Health

The breed is generally healthy and long-lived for its size; its main considerations are heart conditions and the anaesthetic sensitivity common to lean sighthounds. These are patterns for the breed rather than a verdict on one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.