The saluki dates back about 5,000 years. Arabs living in the deserts which have been the cradle of so many civilisations have of necessity produced by careful breeding, two creatures of outstanding beauty. These are the Arab horse for transport and war, and the saluki for providing food. When the Saluki Club formed in 1923, it was largely composed of members who had seen and admired the saluki in its native land. The saluki is essentially a hunting dog, admirably adapted to the work for which he has been bred for many centuries. He is fashioned for speed and endurance. Salukis have been found in Britain occasionally since The Crusades, and continuously since 1897 when the Hon. Florence Amherst was given a brace of puppies by the Sheikh of the Tahawi tribe in the Saliha desert, Egypt. The colours of the dogs found in ancient drawings found in the tomb of Rekh-ma-ra, approximately 1400 BC, are identifiable with modern hounds, black and tan, gold, grizzle, etc. There is much variation in type amongst salukis, due to the large area from which they originate. There is also a smooth variety, although most salukis in Britain today are feathered.
Frequently, hawks were used to assist the salukis in the hunt by attacking the head of the prey to confuse it, making it easier to pull down. The Bedouin attached great importance to the pedigree of his saluki and it is clear that, from time immemorial, purity of pedigree and strain has been scrupulously considered. Now that life has chaged for the Bedouin and the circumstances in which salukis flourished may no longer exist, the saluki could be lost, unless determined steps are taken to preserve it. This is the aim of The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club.
The saluki has been developed over thousands of years as a hunter-killer. He is the coursing greyhound of the East and was once known as the Persian Greyhound. He is inclined to great independence of mind and usually makes his own decisions, so care must be taken when he is allowed to run free. Salukis are notorious for refusing to come back when called unless they are ready to do so, so owners must be very patient. Even as a family pet, salukis are not like other dogs. Most Salukis will not fetch sticks and consider ball games beneath them. They like running "catch" games. They are inclined to chase other dogs, cats, birds and anything that moves with varying degrees of aggression. It is essential that a good deal of time and effort goes into training. Brian Plummer in his book "Sight Hounds, Long Dogs and Lurchers" writes, "The saluki rescue is always fully occuppied finding homes for unwanted salukis, salukis which are untrainable, destructive, sheep worriers, stock killers, and above all, sociopathic dogs, displaying nervous dispositions and the other qualities that go hand in hand with these problems. Clearly the saluki is not a suitable dog for everyone. The incredible beauty and exotic nature of the dog attracts hosts of unsuitable buyers,most of whom realise that the dog is an unacceptable pet shortly after purchase. Matters worsen quickly and if early socialising and basic training are omitted or neglected, the saluki becomes a "difficult" animal all to easily." On the other hand, if care is taken with a new puppy, particularly in the crucial early weeks of its life, to introduce it to young and old, other dogs, traffic, collar and lead, loud noises and so on, you should be blessed with the love and companionship of this beautiful creature for many years. Salukis need plenty of exercise but in between times they are usually very quiet. Take care when walking on a lead, they are very strong and can nearly pull your arm off if they take off after a rabbit or cat! They are good house dogs but do not bark unnecessarily, they need a secure high fence and a reasonably large garden. Salukis need something to do, they can be naughty and destructive if left alone for long periods.
