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Home > Dogs > Dog Breeds > Saluki Dog Breed Guide: Pictures, Info, Care, Traits, & More!

Saluki Dog Breed Guide: Pictures, Info, Care, Traits, & More!

saluki dog_Pixabay

While there are tons of things to love about the Saluki and they’re highly sought-after dogs, the truth is that they’re not the perfect fit for every family. These mild-mannered dogs prefer environments that match their personalities. When you pair that with their desire to chase small animals, bringing one into a busy home might turn into a disaster. That said, with their laidback personalities, these are the perfect dogs for certain couples or individuals with a calm lifestyle.

Breed Overview

Height:

23 to 28 inches

Weight:

40 to 60 pounds

Lifespan:

12 to 14 years

Colors:

White, fawn, cream, tan, gold, black, chocolate, silver, or red

Suitable for:

People without children, those with fenced-in yards, and those who are home a lot

Temperament:

Calm, loving, intelligent, shy, and wary

But what exactly does that mean, and should you bring one of these adorable pups into your home? We break down everything that you need to know about these pups, whether you’re looking to care for one or just want more information!

Saluki Characteristics

Energy:
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability:
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health:
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan:
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Sociability:
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Saluki Puppies

If you’re thinking of bringing a pure-bred Saluki puppy into your home, be ready to fork out the cash. The price comes down to their genetic makeup, your location, and the reputation of the specific breeder you’re using. When you’re spending so much for a dog, you might as well go the extra mile and get the best of the best!


 

Temperament & Intelligence of the Saluki

While the Saluki is an incredibly intelligent dog, you might not realize it at first for two reasons. First, they’re extremely timid, and it takes them a little while to warm up to new people. Second, the Saluki is independent and stubborn by nature, even if they want to spend their time with you.

Additionally, the Saluki is an extremely calm and mild-mannered dog, but they don’t like noisy and busy environments. They prefer quiet, calm places to spend their day. If you put them in an overstimulating environment, you might see them act out, or they might try to hide away until everything calms down for them.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

While the Saluki might be a calm dog, the truth is that they’re not the best for busy and active households. Not only do they need someone around all the time to keep them happy, but they also don’t respond well to noisy and hectic environments.

With a Saluki, the calmer the house, the better, and that’s not always an option when you’re raising children!

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets?

While you can certainly train a Saluki to get along with other dogs, they prefer to be an only pet. While you can train them to tolerate other pups, if you have smaller animals in your home, you might not be as lucky.

A Saluki has natural hunting instincts, and they’ll chase around anything that moves. That typically isn’t a problem, but if you have cats or other small pets, it can turn into a big headache in no time.

Saluki
Image By: Svetlay, Shutterstock

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Things to Know When Owning a Saluki

While owning a Saluki isn’t drastically different from owning any other type of dog, there are a few things that you should be aware of before you bring one home. That’s why we decided to highlight their basic care requirements for you here!

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

While the Saluki is a tall dog, their long legs and smaller bodies mean that they aren’t that heavy. Since they weigh less compared to some other dogs of the same height, that means they don’t eat that much!

Depending on the size of your Saluki, they should eat between 2.5 and 3.5 cups of high-quality kibble each day. This means if you get high-quality food, you can expect to spend between $35 and $50 a month on their food.

You can supplement their diet with the occasional treat, but don’t overdo it, or your pup might put on extra weight. While you might think that you can save money by switching to low-quality food, all you’re doing is risking higher vet bills down the road and potentially, a shorter lifespan for your dog.

Exercise 🐕

While the Saluki isn’t the highest energy dog out there, they do need a decent amount of exercise to stay healthy. Daily walks of about 30 to 45 minutes should be enough to keep them happy.

However, keep in mind that the Saluki breed generally loves to chase after small animals, so you should always walk them on a leash and avoid high wildlife areas.

Also, Salukis are phenomenal jumpers, so if you plan on letting them exercise in a fenced-in area, you need to keep an eye on them so they don’t jump the fence and escape.

saluki dog playing with ball
Image By: popovicmjeljica, Pixabay

Training 🎾

While you should take the time to let your Saluki warm up to you before you go too hard into the training, once they bond with you, they’re extremely eager to please. With this personality trait paired with their high intelligence, there are few things that you can’t train these pups to do.

However, due to their skittish nature, you need to be especially careful to ensure that they don’t regress to their timid self. This means tons of positive reinforcement and keeping the training sessions short. If your Saluki feels that you’re getting frustrated, they might shut down on you.

Grooming ✂️

While Salukis don’t have the most intense grooming requirements, you can’t neglect them and expect that they’ll keep their clean and soft coat. For starters, you need to brush them out once a week.

From there, you should bathe them about once every month or two, and you’ll need to brush their teeth daily to keep up with their oral hygiene. Finally, keep an eye on their nails. While regular walks outside should keep them in check, if they start to get overgrown, you’ll need to trim them.

saluki dog face
Image By: elisabettabellomi, Pixabay

Health and Conditions 🏥

Minor Conditions
  • Allergies
  • Ear infections
  • Obesity
Serious Conditions
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Progressive retinal atrophy
  • Gastric torsion

While the Saluki is a relatively healthy pup, there are a few concerns that you need to watch out for. If you notice any of the following conditions, take your pup to a vet as soon as possible for the best treatment options.

The best way to keep your pup healthy is to ensure that they get enough exercise and that you feed them a high-quality diet. From there, just keep an eye on them, and take them to a vet as soon as something comes up out of the ordinary!

Male vs. Female

While there are not that many differences between male and female Salukis, there are two that you should be aware of. First, males tend to be a bit larger than females. This means a male Saluki is more likely to be the full 60 pounds, while females are more likely to weigh closer to 40 pounds.

Second, males tend to demand a little more attention than females. While both sexes need attention, males are more likely to demand it, while females typically wait for you to come to them.

Of course, both these characteristics come down to genetics and your Saluki’s personality, so there’s no guarantee of size or personality if you go with a specific sex.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Saluki

1. Salukis Are Typically Shy

Despite their height and large size in general, Salukis are extremely shy dogs that take quite a bit of time to warm up to new people. While they’re calm and loving, when you’re getting to know them, they can be extremely skittish.

Just give them space and time, and they’ll be loving up on you in no time!


2. Salukis Do Well in Their Own Space — But They Need You Around

If you’re looking for a dog that’s constantly following you around the house or climbing up on your lap to cuddle, chances are that a Saluki isn’t the right choice for you. But while this may lead you to believe that they’re independent dogs by nature, that’s simply not the case.

They need humans around to stay happy and content, but that doesn’t mean they want to engage with people constantly. Give them their own space when you’re home, but do ensure that you’re home a good portion of the day, so you’re around if they need you!


3. They Are Sprinting Dogs

You’re not likely to run any marathons with a Saluki, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need their exercise. Salukis are sprinting dogs by nature, so they enjoy walks and other activities that get them out and moving.

Just keep in mind that if you have a fenced-in yard, Salukis are incredible jumpers. They can easily hop a 6- or 7-foot fence, so you need to supervise them when they’re out, even in a fenced-in area.

Saluki
Image By: elisabettabellomi, Pixabay

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Conclusion

While the Saluki isn’t the perfect dog for everyone, there’s little doubt that it’s the perfect choice for some people.

Do your research, and ensure that the Saluki is the right choice for your family before bringing one home — the last thing that you want to do is get a dog that isn’t compatible with your lifestyle!


Featured Image Credit: Elisabetta Bellomi, Pixabay

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