Saluki: Salukis are slim, greyhound-like dog. Their heads are long and narrow, moderately wide between their ears, tapering gradually toward their noses. Their noses are black or dark brown in color. Their teeth meet in a level bite. Their large oval eyes are dark to hazel in color. Their long, mobile ears are hanging down close to their heads. Their necks are long and their chests are deep and narrow. Their front legs are straight. Their feet are thickly haired between the toes for protection from rough terrain. Their long tails are carried low, well feathered with hair. Their coats are short with long silky feathering on the ears and tails. A rarer, coarser, smooth variety with no feathering also occurs. Coat colors include white, cream, fawn, golden, red, tan, black and tricolor of white, black and tan. Salukis have an unusual gait when they are at top speed - all four of their legs are in the air at the same time.

Salukis are gentle, friendly, even-tempered and extremely devoted. They are extremely playful. Salukis are good with children who do not try and roughhouse with them. Sensitive, Salukis do not take kindly to harsh discipline. They must be trained with calm, gentle, but firm, consistency. Salukis are fairly submissive by nature to people and dogs and are easily distracted. Salukis do well with other Salukis and other dogs. They are pleasant and calm companions and make good watchdogs. They love to run and are natural born hunters. Be sure to carefully introduce your Saluki to all other pets, with particular care to birds, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. They can get along with family cats if properly introduced, but may chase strange cats.

Salukis, also called Gazelle Hounds, Arabian Hounds, or Persian Greyhounds, are native to the area from eastern Turkestan to Turkey. They are believed to be closely related to the Afghan Hound, which is another ancient breed. Salukis are the royal dog of Egypt, and perhaps one of the oldest domesticated dogs known to man. They were named after the Arabian city "Saluki" in the Middle East, which no longer exists today. Their bodies were often found mummified along side the bodies of the Pharaohs themselves, and their pictures appear in ancient Egyptian tombs dating from 2100 BC. The Muslims considered them a sacred gift of Allah, and they were never sold but only offered as gifts of friendship or honor. Salukis with a patch of white in the middle of the forehead are thought by Bedouin tribes to have "the kiss of Allah" and are regarded as special. Incredibly fast even over rough terrain, Salukis were used by the Arabs to hunt gazelles, the fastest of the antelopes, along with foxes, jackals, and rabits. Salukis have also been successful as racing dogs. Salukis were recognized by the AKC in 1929.

The Saluki Size:
Height: 23-28 inches
Weight: 29-66 lbs