History of origin
If you have ever dreamed of at least a little touch of the life of the ancient world, then you can do this with the help of the Saluki, because this is one of the most ancient breeds of dogs, the history of which goes back not even centuries, but millennia. The first mention of dogs similar to these greyhounds is more than 9 thousand years old! Studies by genetic scientists also confirm the antiquity of this dog – the Saluki has the maximum number of common genes with the African wolf, which is also thin-legged and lean.
Today, the Saluki is called the Persian Greyhound, but these dogs lived side by side with humans in Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Asia Minor. Even their Chinese images, dated to the XNUMXth century AD, have come down to us.
Saluki reached its peak with the arrival of Islam in the East. According to legend, none other than Suleiman ibn Daud, that is, King Solomon, gave her a sophisticated look. Unlike all other dogs, Salukis were considered by Muslims not just as clean animals, but were also revered as a gift to the people of Allah himself. Salukis were family members for the Eastern man along with wives, children and Arabian horses, and usually lived with them in a house or tent. And these dogs sometimes ate better than people. Their diet necessarily included meat, as well as a vitamin mixture of dried dates and camel milk. Selling and buying Saluki was considered almost a crime against morality. They could only be presented as a precious gift to close or respected people.
The task of the Saluki was to catch up with any swift-footed game – most often a gazelle or a hare, to catch and hold without killing, until a person arrived in time and killed the prey in accordance with the requirements of Sharia.
The Saluki came to Europe in the Middle Ages, although, perhaps, single specimens of this breed were brought by knights returning from the Crusades. Actually, it was the Saluki that became the ancestor of all other greyhounds – both Asian and European.
Today, the Saluki is much less commonly used for its intended purpose. More often than not, these beauties are brought in as family favorites, but they still participate with great passion in the race for a mechanical hare.
Breed description
The Saluki is a graceful dog with a structure typical of all greyhounds: high paws, narrow muzzle, tucked up belly. The dog is quite large, although its growth depends on the type: mountain dogs are the largest, and desert ones are much smaller.
The muzzle is long, the back of the nose has a smooth hump, the nose is black, regardless of color. The eyes are large and friendly. Ears are large, hanging. The back is almost straight, the Saluki is much less “humped” than the same Greyhound. The paws are high and rather thin. The tail is long, bent at the end and lowered down. Often held between the hind legs.
The coat is very soft, silky, without undercoat. There are several types of Saluki, distinguished not only by height, but also by the length of the coat. So the mountain type has rich feathering on the tail, ears and underside of the body and paws, and the desert type differs only slightly from the smooth-haired Arabian greyhound.
Despite the rather slender build, the dog is very hardy – they are record holders for running long distances. According to the Guinness Book of Records, a Saluki can run several kilometers at a speed of 70 km per hour.
Any colors are allowed, except for brindle: the most common is fawn (the color of sand in the desert), black and tan, but a variety of colors are acceptable, up to piebald.
Photos
Character
Saluki is a sophisticated aristocratic creature, reminiscent of a character in oriental fairy tales. They are wonderful family friends, they adore children, but it is worth making sure that they do not offend their four-legged friend – these sheikhs of the canine world cannot stand rough treatment. Salukis bark very little, which makes them suitable for keeping in city apartments. All their behavior is full of delicacy and tact, they are calm and unobtrusive. But at the same time, you should never forget that this is still a greyhound, that is, a hunter to the marrow of bones. So, if your family already has some pets, you should start a Saluki with great care – the dog may mistake your cat or parrot for game.
Salukis are big sissies. They will be happy to sleep on a sofa or in a spread out bed, but as soon as they are on the street, especially somewhere in the open, they are transformed, becoming gambling runners and hunters.
Care and maintenance
The Saluki is not a difficult breed to keep. Moreover, despite the fact that they make good watchmen, it is difficult to imagine this graceful creature living in a booth on the street. They look much more harmonious reclining on a fluffy carpet or soft sofa. And given that these dogs also do not smell at all, you can call the Saluki an exclusively apartment dog. Keeping her in a yard booth is like wiping your feet on a Persian carpet.
But the Saluki needs long walks more than anyone. It is simply vital for them to be able to run around in the open from time to time, satisfying their instincts of a runner and a hunter. If this is not the case, the dog can get sick, both physical and mental illnesses.
Education and training
The Saluki is a very intelligent yet stubborn dog. However, like most four-legged hunters. From time immemorial, her job was to independently catch up with the beast and catch it, but the person did not take part in this process, he only drove up to kill the prey. Therefore, over the millennia, the Saluki have learned to make their own decisions, and this is so firmly entrenched in their character that it can be very difficult to overthink them.
Despite the fact that the task of the Saluki is the pursuit of prey, they must be dealt with, as with all other breeds. It is necessary to teach them basic commands and, most importantly, to be confident and authoritative with them, otherwise your opinion simply will not be taken into account. But in no case do not raise your voice at them and do not show rudeness and violence – you can inflict psychological trauma on this gentle creature, and then the dog will simply close in on itself.
Health and disease
Salukis cannot be called sickly dogs, but they, like other greyhounds, are characterized by some breed diseases. First of all, these are, of course, problems with the musculoskeletal system. Like athletes, they often have limb injuries: sprains of muscles and ligaments, dislocations, herniated discs, and in old age – arthritis and arthrosis. In addition, due to the tightened structure, they may have problems with the digestive system, in particular, with the intestines. Light-colored dogs may develop allergies.
In order for your dog to be in good shape, he must have constant exercise and a balanced diet. Well, and, of course, do not neglect vaccinations and treatment of dogs from parasites.
Word to the breeder
She shared her admiration for the breed with us Karina Shavati, cynologist, breeder, owner of the Persian greyhound or saluki kennel “Shavati”: “I first fell in love with a Saluki at the age of 10. My object of love was a little bitch from Saudi Arabia. It was imported by a family of diplomats. By a rare coincidence, while studying at an art school at that time, I took a summer course with a St. Petersburg artist at her dacha, where the dog appeared to me, just coming to visit for an evening tea party with the owner. In those years, the Saluki was a rare breed for Our Country. The Persian Greyhound could only be imported from the desert. The Saluki could not be bought, it could only be given as a gift to a very respected person. The dog was similar to a small horse in appearance and manner.
To me, as a child born in the Far North and who saw mostly huskies sleeping in the snowy desert, the slender beauty born in the sand aroused great interest and delight. I remember how I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and how she carried herself with great dignity in society.
Therefore, I decided that one day I would definitely live with these beautiful animals, breed Salukis, paint pictures with their image and imprint their images in sculptures. And one day I will have a real desert beauty.
As the years passed, my Saluki family grew, as did my interest in the Eastern Greyhound. I can talk about this breed without interruption. Very little information and a lot of unconfirmed facts and mysteries. Only true connoisseurs of this wonderful breed can tell about them.”
Popular questions and answers
About the contents of the Saluki, we talked with zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.