How to Groom a Saluki

Salukis are a graceful and aristocratic breed. Other names for the breed are the Gazelle Hound, Arabian Hound, Persian Greyhound, Tanji and the Persian Sighthound. Their coat is silky and feathered and comes in many colors, including black, tan, fawn, white, cream, gold and red and other combinations of these colors. Give your Saluki's coat a full grooming every 8 to 10 weeks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Natural bristle brush
• Pin brush
• Cotton balls
• Coat conditioner
• Thinning shears
• Scissors

1. Use a natural bristle brush on the short body hair to clean and neaten the coat.

2. Use a pin brush on the parts of the body with longer hair and feathering, namely the ears and tail.

3. Bathe when necessary. Put cotton balls in the dogs ears to keep water from getting into them. Salukis have no natural canine odor. Spray the coat with a mist of coat conditioner after the bath to add an extra sheen to the coat.

4. Use thinning shears to clean up excess feathering and the hair on the tail.

5. Clip the whiskers using scissors if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• As indicated by some of their alternate names, Salukis are closely related to the Greyhound and are natural born hunters.
• Keep training sessions with your Saluki short, as this breed becomes bored easily.
• Salukis have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.
• The natural hunting instincts of the Saluki can be troublesome, as they may attack and kill smaller animals and vermin. It's possible to train them against this but it may not be 100 percent foolproof.
• Salukis are susceptible to some genetic eye diseases and cancer. They are also especially prone to sunburn, particularly on their noses.