Saluki
An ancient, graceful sighthound with feathered ears, gentle and reserved, and built for distance running.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 58–71 cm · Females 56–66 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–29 kg · Females 16–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Silky, Smooth, short, medium
- Colours
- White, Cream, Fawn, Gold, Red, Black and tan, Tricolour, Grey
- Bred for
- Hunting by sight, Companionship
- Country of origin
- Iran
- FCI
- Group 10, no. 269 · Sighthounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 1/5 – Very low |
| Shedding | 2/5 – Low |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 5/5 – Very high |
| Copes with cold | 2/5 – Low |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- are active and enjoy long outings
- want a quiet, elegant dog at home
- can provide very secure fencing
Think twice if you …
- keep small pets or cats
- want an obedient off-lead walking companion
- want a dog that welcomes every visitor
Care
Temperament
Gentle, dignified and independent, the Saluki bonds deeply with its family but often stays reserved with others. It is sensitive and dislikes rough handling.
Exercise
It needs daily long walks and frequent free running in a large, fenced area. Lure coursing and canicross suit its endurance.
Grooming
The smooth or lightly feathered coat needs a weekly brush, with occasional combing of the ear and tail feathering. Shedding is light.
Training
Salukis learn but are independent thinkers; short, patient, positive sessions work best. Off-lead recall is unreliable.
Health
Salukis are generally healthy, but heart disease, certain cancers such as haemangiosarcoma and hypothyroidism are reported in the breed. Ask the breeder for heart, eye and thyroid results on the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Heart
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Saluki comes from the wide region stretching from the Middle East to Central Asia, where nomadic peoples have hunted gazelle and hare with it for thousands of years. It is often counted among the oldest recognised breeds, and the FCI places it under its own patronage rather than a single country.
It is a quiet, gentle and somewhat aloof dog, devoted to its people but not demonstrative with strangers. Its endurance is remarkable, so it needs more running than many people expect. Secure fencing is essential; Salukis can jump and are extremely fast.
Did you know?
Mummified dogs of Saluki type have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs, and similar hounds appear in early Middle Eastern art.