Appearance

Although salukis’ coats have different colors, ranging from white, cream, fawn, red, grizzle and tan, black and tan, and tricolor, their coat types come only in two: smooth and feathered. The The former has light feathering on the back of the legs. Both varieties though have low shedding and are silky to touch compared with other breeds. The salukis are graceful, keen-sighted, and slender. Their head is long and narrow with large eyes and drop ears. With a long and curved tail, they have a typical deep-chested, long legged boy that are normally associated with sighthounds. Their normal size could range from 23 to 28 inches high and 40 to 60 lbs in weight. Females are slightly smaller than the males.

History

Saluki is a hound dog that were brought from the regions of the Arabian Peninsula by European travelers. This breed is perhaps considered the oldest domesticated dog as its history dates back some 9000 years ago. Considers as the “royal dog of Egypt,” early Egyptian excavations discovered gives clear illustration of breeds importance as they were sometimes mummified like the bodies of a pharaoh. The early Arabs use this breed for hunting gazelle. Their popularity became more evident in England during the 1800s primarily hunting for hare. Today, this breed is popular among dog shows and racing on a round or oval track equipped with a mechanical rabbit.