Saluki
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| Saluki | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Alternative names | ||
| Arabian Hound Gazelle Hound Persian Greyhound Persian Sighthound |
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| Country of origin | ||
| Middle East | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| FCI: | Group 10 Section 1 #269 | Stds |
| AKC: | Hound | Stds |
| ANKC: | Group 4 (Hounds) | Stds |
| CKC: | Group 2 - Hounds | Stds |
| KC (UK): | Hound | Stds |
| NZKC: | Hounds | Stds |
| UKC: | Sighthounds & Pariahs | Stds |
The Saluki is a breed of dog that is a member of the sighthound family, that is, hounds that hunt by sight rather than scent. The Saluki is one of the oldest dog breeds known, and originally came from the Middle East, where it was used (and is still used to some extent) by the Bedouins for hunting hare and gazelle.
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[edit] Temperament
Modern Salukis retain the qualities of hunting hounds. They may appear reserved and uninterested. They learn quickly but can get bored with repetition, so training sessions should be short and varied. Salukis need regular exercise, but behave quietly indoors. They do not bark much but "sing" when they feel that something is wrong or when a member of the family is away for a long period of time. They get along well with children, but must be respected when they want to be left alone and rest. Salukis have a fairly long life span, living an average of 12-13 years.
Sensitive and intelligent, the Saluki should never be trained using force or hard-handed methods. They are usually quiet and don't bark unless there is a reason.
Salukis should not be allowed off leash. Their strong prey drive can lead them to chase deer and other animals, and they can be difficult to stop, seemingly becoming "drunk" with running. Adequate fencing for salukis is a must as they can easily jump a five-foot fence. Scientists maintain that these dogs need to eat some more red meats. Also, they are not very good in water, or snow. This is from the National Veterinary Scholars.
[edit] History
The Saluki, commonly known as the Royal dog of Egypt, is perhaps the oldest known breed of domesticated dog. The Saluki appears on the Egyptian tombs of 2100 B.C. and was so esteemed that his body was often mummified like the bodies of the Pharaohs themselves. Many early stone inscriptions depict the young King Tutankhamen hunting with his pair of royal Salukis. The remains of numerous specimens have been found in the ancient tombs of the Upper Nile region.
The Saluki has historically served as a courser, a speedy hunting dog that operated in packs. Bedouin valued their Salukis highly and wanted them to be beautiful and to possess hunting qualities. Salukis slept with their owners in their tents to be protected from the heat of the day and the cold of the night. As the desert tribes were nomadic, the habitat of the Saluki comprised the entire region from the Caspian Sea to the Sahara. Naturally the types varied somewhat in this widely scattered area--mostly in size and coat.
Salukis were first brought into England in 1840 and were known as Persian Greyhounds. There was no real interest however, until the Hon. Florence Amherst imported the first Arabian Saluki in 1895 from the kennels of Prince Abdulla in Transjordania. In Persian-speaking countries the Saluki is called the tazi, or "one who gallops."
As is the case with some other pedigree breeds in the United States, including the Basenji and Portuguese Podengo, the current population of Salukis is descended from a small number of founders introduced into the country within the last 100 years, and must be carefully mated to avoid inbreeding. However, the original dogs imported into the US came from throughout the whole Middle East, a vast geographical area, unlike most other breeds that come from very small areas, so salukis have the largest genetic base among purebreds. Recently, the AKC (American Kennel Club) has allowed the third generation of COO (Country of Origin) salukis to be registered after inspections by recognized judges so the DNA base will increase even more as more dogs are imported.
[edit] Trivia
- The saluki is used as the mascot for the Southern Illinois University sports teams.
- Because of Southern Illinois University, one of the new Amtrak trains serving Illinois will be called the "Saluki," making this possibly the first Amtrak train to be named after a dog.
- Unlike other dogs, salukis are not viewed as being "unclean" by the Bedouin.
- While saluki coats come in a variety of colors, the grizzled pattern is the most common and affords the most opportunity for a dog to bear the "kiss of Allah" or a white diamond pattern on its forehead.
- In Arabic countries most dogs are referred to as kalb (meaning dog) but salukis are referred to as salukis; this is because of their royal background and their 'clean' living habits, and is also due to their value (capital and sentimental).
- The saluki is a tall, long-bodied dog, and as such tends to have large litters. Litters of ten puppies are not at all unusual.
- A study published in the May 21, 2004 issue of Science confirmed the saluki's antiquity through DNA analysis, which identified it as one of the earliest breeds to diverge from wolves. [1]
- The saluki is claimed, on the NOVA episode titled "Dogs and More Dogs", to be able to outrun any other land mammal over a three-mile course.
- Southern Illinois University is the only college in the United States to have the mascot Saluki. (Deuce) Red Hill High School in Bridgeport, Illinois has taken the Saluki as their mascot.
- During the filming of Kingdom of Heaven in Morocco (2004-05), English actor Orlando Bloom rescued and adopted a dog, Sidi who is a black Saluki mix.
- One of the main characters of the manga and anime series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin, Cross (クロス kurosu), is a Saluki. Her three pups, Ken (a prominent character in the "Ginga Densetsu Weed" anime), George, and Miney are all Saluki-Great Dane-Mastiff mixes, with George taking after his mother and displaying mostly Saluki traits.
- A Saluki is featured on the box of Shepheard's Hotel brand cigarettes.
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