Dog breed

Saluki

The Saluki, also called the Persian Greyhound, is a slender, elegant sighthound from the Middle East and one of the oldest hunting breeds. It has long legs, a narrow head and usually feathering on the ears and tail. At home it can be quiet and gentle, but in open country it turns into a tireless hunter that chases anything that runs.

Permit needed in Poland
FCI Group X · Sighthounds · standard no. 269

Weight: 18–29.5 kg
Height: 58–71 cm
Lifespan: 10–17 years
Origin: Middle East

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Photo: nieznany autor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sighthounds need a permit in Poland. Keeping a purebred sighthound or a sighthound mix there requires a permit from the district office (starosta), under Article 10 of the Polish Hunting Law. All sighthounds.

Temperament

The Saluki is sensitive, gentle and deeply devoted to its family; the AKC gives it top marks for affection and the lowest score for watchdog instinct. It can be reserved with strangers but is rarely aggressive. At home it likes soft places to lie and peace and quiet, and it accepts children as long as they're gentle. It's independent and thinks for itself; shepherd-style obedience isn't in its nature, though it responds well to gentle, reward-based training. It has a very strong chase instinct: the neighbor's cat, a hare or a squirrel can make the dog vanish within seconds. The AKC rates its need for mental stimulation at the top of the scale, so boredom quickly takes a toll.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Saluki for?

The Saluki suits calm, patient people who appreciate an independent, elegant dog and have access to a securely fenced area or want to try lure coursing. It's happy in a home where it gets a soft bed and quiet. It's not a good choice for a home with cats or small animals, for people who expect off-leash obedience, or for anyone looking for a guard dog.

Pros

gentle and quiet at home
elegant and clean, with almost no doggy odor
handles heat well
long-lived for a large breed

Challenges

very strong chase instinct
poor recall
gets cold in winter
needs space to run at full speed

Size and looks

Size and looks: Saluki
Height at the withers	males 58–71 cm
Weight	males 18–29.5 kg, females 18–29.5 kg
Lifespan	10–17 years
Coat	short
Colors	cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, black and tan, tricolor, white
Country of origin	Middle East
Classification	Group X: Sighthounds
Also known as	Persian Greyhound, Gazelle Hound, Persian Saluki

Care and exercise

120–150minof exercise a day

1/5grooming needs

2/5shedding

The Royal Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day. Above all, a Saluki needs the chance to run flat out in a safe, fenced place, such as a dog run, a fenced meadow or a lure coursing field. Outside such areas, keep it leashed, because recall rarely beats the sight of game. Sighthound racing and coursing events run by breed clubs are a good outlet. The short, silky coat needs brushing once a week, and the feathering on the ears and tail needs gentle combing. The breed is very lean with little body fat, so in winter it needs a coat, and indoors a soft bed. After meals, wait at least an hour before any hard running.

How much should the Saluki eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC considers the Saluki free of serious genetic diseases but lists problems worth knowing about: valve disease, rhythm disorders and an enlarged heart; cancers (hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma, mammary tumors); some autoimmune and blood disorders; and bloat after hard exercise right after a meal. Recommended tests are heart and thyroid evaluations. The Royal Kennel Club requires imported dogs to have a DNA test for neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis so the disease isn't introduced into the population. It's worth choosing a vet who knows sighthounds. The AKC gives a wide range for life expectancy: 10–17 years.

heart diseaseThe AKC lists valve disease, rhythm disorders and an enlarged heart; a cardiac exam is recommended.
cancerIncluding hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, lymphoma and mammary tumors.
neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Sal-NCL)A neurological disease; the Royal Kennel Club requires a DNA test for dogs imported into the UK.
bloat (GDV)Hard running and play right after eating increase the risk.
autoimmune and blood disordersReported in the breed occasionally.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

cardiac exam (heart echo)
thyroid testing
Sal-NCL DNA test

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The Saluki is one of the oldest breeds; the AKC mentions that its history may go back as far as 7000 BC, and sighthounds of this type were prized by Egyptian pharaohs and Alexander the Great. The FCI standard stresses that Salukis vary in appearance and that this variety is typical of the breed. It stems from the vast expanse of the Middle East and the Saluki's special place in Arab tradition: each tribe had dogs best suited to hunting the game in its own terrain. By tradition, Salukis were never bought or sold but given as a mark of honor. The first official European breed standard was written in Britain in 1923.

Fun facts

In Arab tradition, Salukis were never sold but given as a mark of honor.
The first official European Saluki standard was written in Britain in 1923.
The FCI standard allows any color, though it considers brindle undesirable.
The standard provides for two varieties: feathered on the ears and tail, and smooth, without feathering.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Saluki be off leash?

Only in a securely fenced area. Salukis have a very strong chase instinct and can reach high speeds, so in open country one can easily take off after game or run into the road.

Can a Saluki live in an apartment?

Yes, it's calm and quiet indoors. The condition is daily exercise, including regular chances to run freely and fast in a safe place.

How long do Salukis live?

The AKC gives 10–17 years, and the Royal Kennel Club places the breed among dogs that live more than 12 years. For a dog of its size, the Saluki often reaches a ripe old age.

Is the Saluki the same as the Persian Greyhound?

Yes, the breed is sometimes called the Persian Greyhound. The FCI gives its origin broadly as the Middle East, because dogs of this type were bred across a huge region, and each tribe had its own type adapted to the local terrain and game.

How much does a Saluki weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 18–29.5 kg, females 18–29.5 kg. Height at the withers: 58–71 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.