Dog of the Week: Saluki

    The Saluki is a very graceful medium to large sized dog that weighs around 31 to 60 pounds.  They stand anywhere from 21 to 28 inches off of the ground and have a life expectancy of about 10 to 12 years.  The Saluki is a very long and slim dog.  They have a long and slim face, a long neck, a long and slim body, as well as a long and slim tail.  Saluki's have ears that hang down by the side of their face and large oval shaped eyes. These dogs are pretty similar to grey hounds.  They can come in two coat varieties, either a short coat with long, feathering hair around the ears, legs and tails or a short coat that has no feathering.  They can be a variety of colors including white, fawn, red, black, white, cream, tan, gold or a mixture of colors.
    The saluki is a very old breed of dog that is thought to be related to the Afghan hound and is native to the Turkey area.  In Egypt the Saluki was known as a royal breed and is one of the oldest domesticated breeds known.  The name of the dog derived from an ancient Middle Eastern city that no longer exists.  Salukis were recognized by the AKC in 1927.
    The Saluki is a very active dog and would need an owner willing to put in a fair amount of time training it and who lives an active lifestyle that the dog could be a part of.  These dogs need a large fenced in yard to run around in.  These dogs can run up to 35 miles per hour so it is important to either have them inside the fence or on a leash because they tend to run after things due to hunting instinct and can be hard to catch.  It is also important to make sure the fence is high enough because these dogs are very good at jumping as well and could probably hop over a 5 foot fence.  These dogs can be hard to train but if you have patience and put the time that is necessary in you can have a well trained dog.  These dogs are very gentle and will have a great and loving relationship with their owners.  Being a very active and intelligent dog, the Saluki can do very well at sports like flyball, agility, racing, and tracking. After running around all day the Saluki will love to sleep in their owners bed and are very fond of curling up in the pillows and blankets. Salukis can do well with children and some cats, but are not recommended to be with small rodents again due to their hunting instinct.  These dogs are average shedders and just need the occasional brushing, bath, and ear cleaning.  The Saluki is a very active and sweet dog a nd would make a great addition to an active family.

Info from:
http://www.dog-breed-facts.com/Breeds/saluki.html
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/saluki.htm
http://www.justdogbreeds.com/saluki.html

Picture From:
http://www.greatdogsite.com/photos/gallery/Saluki/?index=7