Spotlight Breed: Saluki
Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week. This is where we feature a fun and unique dog breed from around the globe! We are excited to spotlight the Saluki today. This sleek and graceful dog breed has hunted with mankind for thousands of years. There is so much more to learn about this breed. Check out our list of facts below!
- The Saluki is one of the oldest dog breeds. There is a lot of archaeological evidence that the Saluki dates back at least 5,000 years ago.
- The “Royal Dog of Egpyt”. Egyptian nobility considered this breed to be a valuable and honored companion. In fact, they were known to mummify the dogs in the fashion of Egyptian Pharaohs.
- A member of the Hound group and known as a sighthound. Sighthounds rely heavily on their eyesight, rather than their noses. They can find prey and then use their tremendous speed for the chase and capture.
- Although graceful, they have high stamina and strength. Salukis were bred to chase prey over long and difficult ground, so they are not as fragile as they look. The breed can run 30-35 miles per hour, and sometimes 50 miles per hour at max! Talk about fast.
- The coat of the Saluki is short, soft, and silky. Salukis come in many different colors and patterns, including white, cream, fawn, golden, grizzle, red, tricolor, tan, and black.
- They enjoy living a life of luxury! Due to their lack of natural padding, they appreciate soft surfaces to lie on, such as the couch, an easy chair, or your bed.
- Salukis had names that reflected their character and good qualities. As valued family members, names were considered very important. Sometimes it took months to find just the right name for each dog. For example, Salukis’ names included: Nimran (panther), Saqar (falcon) and Khataf (snatcher), and Lateef (friendly).
