Saluki

History of the Saluki breed

It is almost impossible to determine the exact age of the saluki, therefore, with regard to this breed, experts prefer to get off with formulations like "one of the oldest types of greyhounds". Nevertheless, the images and remains found during excavations indicate that saluki were purposefully bred in Egypt and Iran 5000-6000 years ago.

Persian greyhounds owe their modern appearance to Arab nomadic tribes. The Bedouins, who from ancient times did not complain about dogs and considered them to be the devil's spawn, for some reason showed interest in the ancestors of the Saluki, declaring them sacred pets and taking an active part in their breeding. Pretty soon, the animals turned into real spoils of fate. They were not kicked out into the street, providing a cozy corner in the tent, pampered with delicacies and showered with caresses. What is it! The saluki even had its own ceremonial exit – a camel or a trotter, taking them out to hunt.

The golden age of the breed lasted long enough. The inhabitants of the desert considered the sale of their wards a mortal sin, so they only occasionally presented greyhounds to each other as a present. The Bedouin tribes rarely had contact, and centuries of isolation benefited the animals. Saluki evolved into strong, healthy hunters who masterfully chased not only hares and foxes, but also elusive gazelles.

Since the VII century, the breed began to expand its habitat: along the Great Silk Road, the ancestors of Persian greyhounds first came to China, and then with legions of crusaders to Europe. In particular, one of the early images of the breed can be seen in the painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder "Henry IV of Saxony" (approximately the end of the XV – beginning of the XVI century). However, medieval breeders failed to breed dogs en masse due to the fact that the Arabs were in no hurry to part with their pets and stubbornly refused to sell them.

The official history of the breed in the West began only at the end of the XIX century, after several purebred Saluki were brought to England in 1895. The pioneer in this case was the daughter of one of the members of the British Parliament – Florence Amherst. It was the dogs from her kennel that were in high demand by the local elite.

In Russia, Persian greyhounds and their mestizos were noted even before the revolution, but we did not breed the breed purposefully. As for the registered individuals, such began to appear in the Russian Federation after 1999, when it was possible to obtain offspring from an imported male Caravan Kaniisa ibn Jiruvan and a bitch Bet Haram Sarlet.

Video: Saluki

Saluki breed standard

The existence of intra-breed types of Arab greyhounds is welcomed by breeding commissions, which is considered a rare, if not an exceptional privilege. So saluki is literally a multi–faceted dog.

At first acquaintance, representatives of this breed give the impression of graceful, but severely underfed creatures. However, external asceticism is a unique exterior feature fixed by the standard. The ideal Persian greyhound should weigh 17-30 kg, and this is with a height of 58 to 71 cm. Individuals who have overcome the established weight limit look more prosperous, but they are invariably rejected at exhibitions.

According to the type of coat, the saluki is divided into a traditional pedigree branch and a short-haired (smuf). By physique, representatives of the second variety practically do not differ from their relatives, but they no longer have glamorous feathering on their ears and paws. By the way, this type is much rarer, remaining a live exclusive, designed for a rare connoisseur.

Head

Representatives of the breed have a flat, elegantly elongated head, narrowed along the entire length, but moderately wide between the ears. The bridge of the nose (stop) is weakly marked.

Jaws and teeth

Saluki has strong, strong teeth and very massive jaws that close into a perfect scissor bite.

Nose

The standard colors of the saluki lobe are black and flesh-brown.

Eyes

The eyes of the Persian greyhound have a regular oval shape, but they do not differ in bulge. The preferred colors of the iris are the entire palette from dark brown to walnut. The dog's gaze is emphatically noble, intently scrutinizing.

Ears

The saluki's large, drooping ears are characterized by an impressive length, a relatively high fit and a tight fit to the head. The upper part of the ear cloth should be covered with thin long strands of wool.

Neck

The Persian greyhound has a long, flexible neck with well-developed muscles and a spectacular bend.

Housing

The physique of the representatives of this breed is elegant, but without an obvious bias in fragility. The strong, strong back of the dog is complemented by a slightly arched loin, a muscular croup and a moderately deep chest. The belly of the saluki is well matched.

Limbs

The front legs of the animal are long, perfectly straight. The shoulders are strongly "tightened" back and well muscled. The forearms have the same length as the shoulder blades, the pasterns are slightly inclined, flexible. The rear part of the dog's body, including the legs, is more developed, since its task is to provide springy jumps and galloping running. The hips and shins of the saluki are quite large, the metatarsals are short, the angles of the joints of the hocks are moderate.

Representatives of this breed have original paws. Massive, but flexible and elegant, they end with long fingers, of which the middle two are noticeably longer than the others. At the same time, neither the splayed (loose) nor the feline shape of the paws are characteristic of the saluki. The dog moves gently and easily with a good but smooth sweep and an intense push.

Tail

In a proper saluki, the tail is planted very low and keeps at the level of the back, or even lower. Usually the tail has a refined bend, and its back side is covered with a silky dogskin, forming a not too abundant suspension.

Wool

The body of the Persian greyhound is covered with a short silky dogskin, turning into glamorous feathering on the back of the thighs and legs. In puppies, increased fluffiness can also be observed on the shoulders and thighs. As for the smooth-haired smoofs, the type of coat they have is the same as that of the classic saluki, but without feathering.

Color

The most common types of colors: reddish, cream, white, golden-red, tricolor (black and red-brown-white), grizzly, silver-grizzly, black with red-brown. In addition, combinations of the listed suits are possible, for example, reddish / red with a black tan. The brindle type of color is undesirable.

Disqualifying vices

Saluki does not have specific exterior defects that can prevent the animal from participating in exhibition events, so if gazelle dogs are disqualified, it is solely for the vices inherent in the entire greyhound clan. As an example: bite anomalies, blurred pedigree, deviant behavior and other disadvantages common to a group of greyhounds can block the path to the championship for a pet.

Saluki's character

Saluki are intellectuals to the core: balanced, delicate, but terribly proud. In particular, they are reluctant to communicate with children and are absolutely not in the mood to let them offend pranks, so if the heirs have made it a rule to treat the animal, do not expect it to tolerate. It is important to understand that the pet's nervous system is extremely sensitive. For example, saluki do not tolerate raised tones, and it does not matter to the dog whether the owner scolds her or just finds out a relationship with someone from friends. As soon as the greyhound hears that the conversation begins to turn to a scream, she will try to leave. It's good if the animal has a place to hide from the noise drilling the brain. If not, Saluki quickly degrades into a nervous, nervous creature with whom it is impossible to agree on anything.

The Persian greyhound belongs to those dogs that obey the same owner, so it is completely pointless to demand that the pet fulfill the requirements of all family members with the same zeal. However, it is also not worth being afraid that Saluki will openly hate the household. Innate aristocratic qualities will not allow the animal to walk with a sullen look, suspecting everyone and everything in the world conspiracy. Representatives of this breed are restrained, affectionate and kind towards any familiar person. Friendliness does not extend only to persons whom the dog sees for the first time.

Saluki will never bother the owner with its own claims. Walking behind a man with a tail, sudden attacks and the demand for hugs – such actions for these "eastern grandees" are beyond comprehension. At the same time, the animal can sincerely suffer from loneliness, calming itself in the absence of the owner with not the most innocent pranks. Sometimes it seems that a Persian greyhound person is needed exclusively "for the background", and also to bring food and sometimes scratch behind the ear. In fact, Saluki may love you with all his soul, but he reserves emotions for the most important thing in his life – hunting and running.

Persian greyhounds are friendly creatures that easily fit into dog collectives, while they do not suffer at all from the inability to communicate with their fellow tribesmen. A company of four-legged friends of a person appeared nearby? Saluki will willingly spend time in their company. Do you keep only one dog, which you try to walk away from dog playgrounds? Wise "Persians" and this arrangement will suit. As for cats and other pets, it is very difficult for greyhounds to find an approach to them. Individual character traits also play an important role here. So, for example, with timely and systematic training, individuals cease to see prey in cats. Others do not compromise their own principles under any circumstances and chase purrs throughout their lives and despite the threatening shouts of the owner.

Education and training

Saluki have been perfected for thousands of years only in one type of activity – hunting, so it is not necessary to expect diligence from them in training. This does not mean that the breed is not trainable in principle. With proper patience, it is not difficult to achieve something from Persian greyhounds. Nevertheless, it is better not to annoy yourself with inflated expectations in vain: saluki will not become a champion in offense, no matter how hard you try. The breed does not respect jumping, so it is difficult for an animal to work with a frisbee disc.

Persian greyhounds are classic athletes, so choose sports for them that involve increased motor activity, that is, agility, hunting and coursing. By the way, in the latter, the breed can beat greyhounds, which, although they develop phenomenal speed, do not differ in special endurance. As for working out commands, the sooner you start it, the better. Saluki is a breed in need of early socialization and training. However, we will have to take into account that in puppy age dogs also have donkey stubbornness. According to dog handlers, this is how the baby tests the owner for endurance. Having matured – which usually happens by the age of two – saluki ceases to measure authority with the owner and turns into an affectionate attentive pet.

The main difficulty in the training and upbringing of Persian greyhounds is that you will have to work with the breed using the method of positive reinforcement. Punishments and harsh shouts of saluki frighten and offend, so carry a couple of delicacies in your pockets to butter up a proud Bedouin pet. Taking a four-legged friend for a walk without a supply of treats is not worth it. Persian greyhounds are enthusiastic natures and react to calls when they themselves want it. As a result, the only way to influence the young individual is food.

Saluki like to be talked to and explain the meaning of things and phenomena, so if you want to develop the animal's habit of certain procedures like washing or combing, try to voice each action. Clickers help to focus and redirect the dog's attention, although here everything depends on individual characteristics and the situation. Carried away by the race for a stray cat, Saluki is unlikely to listen to the clicks of the device.

Dog racing and hunting with saluki

Often breeders are afraid to drive saluki to movie theaters. Allegedly, having tried coursing, the dog will become uncontrollable in everyday life. In fact, everything is exactly the opposite: Persian greyhounds are smart enough to distinguish between sports and real life, therefore, having come off on the track, they behave with restraint and prudence on walks. The only thing is, before you start honing speed and maneuverability, learn the command "Stop!" with the ward. As for preparing for the course, everything is standard here: drive the saluki to training races, fasten to the bike (you can buy a special tow bar) and cut circles through fields and unpaved country roads.

An excellent alternative to coursing in rural areas is gunless hunting. For example, in the UAE, the breed is used mainly for catching gazelles. This process takes place with great fanfare, growing to the level of an elite sports show. In Russian realities, the best target for saluki is the hare. It is worth clarifying here: the Persian greyhound is not such a fanatical sprinter as the greyhound, and is able to chase game for a long time. Moreover, sometimes saluki deliberately chase the animal for longer, stirring up excitement in themselves, although if desired, they would easily catch the victim in a couple of minutes. Of the hunting advantages, it is worth noting the good work of the breed in conditions of rough terrain, as well as its ability to see obstacles while running and skillfully maneuver between them, which not every greyhound can do. And most importantly: saluki do not need to be pritravka. Yes, a pet can be slightly trained in hunting skills, but an innate reflex should be triggered in the pursuit of prey in a dog.

Maintenance and care

For thousands of years, adapted to the arid desert climate, saluki are sensitive to Russian frosts and autumn dankness, so in our country it is customary to keep dogs in houses, moving them into an aviary only for the summer. But the apartment maintenance is not suitable for the breed. Persian greyhounds are quite large and very frisky creatures, they feel constrained in conditions of limited space. The optimal accommodation for a dog is a country cottage with a decent fenced plot and a spacious yard. By the way, despite the high level of activity, animals behave well-mannered and calm in the house. Saluki, who receive a sufficient amount of physical activity, like to lie on something soft, so your sofas and armchairs will often be occupied by the fifth point of the pet.

Hygiene

There is no point in buying a bunch of grooming accessories for the owner of the saluki: the breed sheds sparsely and seasonally, and its wool does not exude an unpleasant smell, even when it gets very wet. However, chasing through lawns and forests, Persian greyhounds acquire kilograms of burrs, which are not the most pleasant thing to remove. If your pet has got into the habit of carrying prickly "bombs" on the combs, stock up on baby talc or conditioner for combing. Sprinkle the burrs liberally with powder or spray and walk through the strands with a rare comb. Some breeders recommend bandaging the animal's legs on walks, protecting the tail with a cloth cover attached to the lower back, and twisting the curls on the ears with papillotes. However, the method is not always effective, because while running, saluki strips off any clothes. Accordingly, if the prospect of burrs is very frightening, it is better to acquire a smooth-haired smoof, which has no adorning hair.

Frequent bathing by Persian greyhounds is contraindicated. With such a deficiency of the fat layer, traditional dog cosmetics will do more harm than good. In addition, saluki are naturally clean creatures and are unlikely to sin with "spa treatments" in ditches and "aromatization" of wool with carrion. It is recommended to wash the dog every 2-3 months with gentle shampoos with mandatory subsequent drying with a hairdryer or towel. Special attention is paid to the hygiene of the ears and claws. The first ones must be cleaned weekly from excess sulfur and manually ventilated. The second is to systematically trim and polish if the plate does not have time to wear off while running.

Walking

On the one hand, saluki are still lively, and they have a hard time without daily physical exercises. On the other hand, these "Asians", like all greyhounds, do not like to stretch the pleasure, preferring to discharge the internal battery immediately and to zero. It follows from this that walking with a dog should take place at a dynamic pace (and preferably running), but there is no need to artificially increase their duration. Moreover, in 40 minutes the average saluki runs to exhaustion and drags the owner home by himself.

Since the breed has a developed hunting instinct, it is vital to correct the behavior of its representatives on walks. Every running creature, be it a stray cat or a teenager racing on roller skates, awakens a competitive spirit in Persian greyhounds, expressed in the pursuit of a moving object. For a stray purr, such races usually end in death, and for the owner – conflicts with others. Remember, not all passers-by are thrilled that they are being chased by a huge something with a fanatical gleam in its eyes.

It is better to let the saluki off the leash where there are fewer people and animals, and even then you should not relax too much, since the dog manages to disappear from sight in a matter of seconds. And a little bit about winter walks: the cold of Persian greyhounds frighten, but it's stupid to sacrifice daily jogging and training because of this. Buy insulated overalls and a hat for your pet and boldly go in search of adventures!

Feeding

The size and nutritional value of the portion depends on what the dog is doing. For example, the diet of pets in terms of calories should be inferior to the lunch of a running or hunting saluki. However, even representatives of sports lines need unloading periods, so when the running or hunting season ends, the portion is cut by a third so that the animal does not stretch the stomach with large amounts of feed and does not get used to overeating in reserve. It is not necessary to be afraid that the pet will remain hungry in this case: saluki "watch the figure" from birth and hereditary gluttons among this family are very rare. As for the menu options, everything is standard here: natural food (the standard diet of greyhounds is suitable) or industrial feed of at least super-premium class.

Saluki health and diseases

Millennia of geographical isolation have benefited the Saluki. Of course, the breed did not completely get rid of the genetic predisposition to ailments, but at least it reduced the list of ailments to the utmost minimum. As a result: out of a dozen diseases peculiar to the greyhound group, saluki suffer from only two – cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism. However, this is in theory. In practice, the probability that an animal inherits any of the ailments is only 5%.

The breed has another interesting feature: saluki do not tolerate anesthesia well, as in principle any anesthesia. As a result, a slightly exceeded dose of the drug, to which the body of any other dog would not react, is fatal for Persian greyhounds. There are only two ways out of this situation: reducing the standard dose of anesthetic and prolonged infusion therapy (droppers).

How to choose a puppy

When looking for a suitable saluki puppy, you will have to follow the same principles as when choosing any other dog. In particular, communicate more with breeders, looking into kennels to assess the conditions of keeping greyhounds. If before the transaction the seller hints that in case of your dissatisfaction with the puppy, the animal will not accept it back, it means that a person makes money on dogs and he does not care what fate awaits his wards.

Be sure to meet the parents of the kids. Do not limit yourself to reading pedigrees and assessing the characteristics of temperament, but specify the age of the litter producer. If the bitch is less than 2 or more than 9 years old, it is pointless to count on healthy and promising offspring. You should not buy puppies in multidisciplinary kennels, whose owners breed two or more breeds at the same time. If a breeder grows and puts up for sale representatives of various breed groups, this characterizes him as an incompetent "divorcee" engaged in the sale of low-quality "goods".

Photos of saluki puppies

Saluki price

Even by the most conservative estimates, a saluki puppy will cost $250 - $300, and it will not be a representative of the running lines, but a classic pet with the RKF metric and an average appearance. It is better for more ambitious owners to go to elite kennels like "Shavati", where the average price tag for a promising puppy will be $600 - $1000 .