How to Identify a Saluki

The saluki is a sensitive and intelligent breed of dog. It should be trained using a light hand. If it gets the regular exercise it needs, it is good inside. It gets along well with children but can be protective of its family. It has a strong prey drive and should be socialized as a puppy to ensure it gets along with other pets in the household. The breed is among the oldest known, having been traced back about 7,000 years.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at the general appearance of the saluki. It should give a graceful, speedy impression, as this breed has stamina and endurance. Males are 23 to 28 inches at the shoulders; females are considerably smaller.

2. Make sure the long, narrow head is proportionate with the rest of the body. The skull is rather wide between the ears but is not domed. The nose is black or liver colored. The eyes are dark and bright, and while not prominent, are large and oval-shaped. The long ears are covered with silky hair and hang close to the skull.

3. Check that the long, supple neck is well muscled and blends into the moderately narrow chest. The chest, while somewhat narrow, is deep and lends to well angulated shoulders that are very muscled, but not coarse. The hipbones are wide apart and the hocks are low to the ground, giving the saluki its strong galloping and jumping power. The feet are somewhat long, with long, well-arched toes. There is feathering between the toes. The long tail is set quite low on the hindquarters and is carried in a curve. It is heavily feathered on the bottom. The feathering is long and silky and should not be bushy.

4. Notice the coat. There are two varieties of coats for this breed. The smooth variety has no feathering. The regular has a coat that is soft and silky with feathering on the legs, back of the thighs and a bit of woolly feathering on the shoulder. The saluki can be white, fawn, cream, red, golden, grizzle and tan, white or black and tan.