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brilliant verse Abu Nawas describes the movement of a Saluki: ‘Like an arrow it was sent, Tearing away from his own skin, Lightening like a cloud’ By the turn of the 18th Century the Salukis had been brought to Europe as gifts from the Kings and Sheikhs of the Middle East. Soon the rest of the world discovered them to be graceful pets, with an elegant balance of beauty and function. Today Salukis are not a well known breed, but there are dedicated fanciers in many parts of the world keeping the breed alive and well, and as true to its original from and purpose as possible. Now the Saluki breed can be found all over the world recognised by Kennel Clubs internationally. Describing the characteristics of the breed, Hamad explained that the Saluki is essentially a hunting dog, a dog of the chase. Salukis are typically 24 - 29 inches tall at the shoulder and generally weigh between 40 and 65 pounds and Females may be considerably smaller. They are swift, agile and very graceful in motion. The Saluki is often know as a gazelle-hound or Persian Greyhound, although it falls in the group of breeds categorised as ‘sight hounds’. Being part of the sight hound breed the Saluki hunts by sight, not scent as do other hunting dogs, and their long-distant sight is exceptional. Salukis have been bred throughout the ages as long distance runners, with both speed and endurance, unlike the greyhound and the whippet who have been bred to be short distance sprinters. Salukis have deep chests, with larger hearts and lungs than other breeds, to supply air and blood at an increased rate during the chase. Their sleek bodies have a very low ratio of body fat, as weight is mass that must be moved and every extra pound slows them down. Their seemingly fragile long legs are tough, coiled springs used for maximum acceleration. Hamad defined the breed as having sloping shoulders, racy hindquarters, flexible loins, deep ribs, long stretching limbs and a muscular neck. Their long tail acts as a rudder in high-speed turns. Even though their heads are slender and elegant, they posses strong jaw, capable of bringing down and holding large prey. Their fur is silky to the touch and is normally short throughout the body. They are the only breeds of dog with a single layer coat - no downy undercoat - for surviving the heat of the desert. This lack of oily undercoat means they never develop a typical dog smell. “There are two types of varieties of Saluki,” Hamad added -“the smooth and the feathered types. The ears, long tail and legs are feathered in the feathered variety. Both varieties have a ‘hare foot’ that is thickly feathered between the toes giving them the ability to run in deep sand.” “The beauty of the Salukis,” says Hamad, “cannot remain unnoticed. Built on lines that govern speed and endurance they are described in Arabian poems as having ‘the head of a snake, the neck of a drake, a back like a beam, a side like a bream, the tail of a rat and the foot of a cat’. Salukis have slender limbs with fine, but strong bones and, like race horses, posses extraordinary elegance and power.” Not variable in shape, Salukis appear in different colours, ranging from pure black to red, sandy and white. As Hamad explains, the colour is another proof of lineage and breed purity. Salukis have extremely strong hearing and their farseeing eyes range in colour from deep brown to amber. The Saluki breeders judge the purity and fitness of their hounds by a system of signs. ‘The chest must be deep and strong and there should be two fingers width across the top of the head between the ears” says Hamad. “The wrists must be small, paws pointing forward at a small angle”. An Arab will tell a speedy hound by placing his hand between the tops of the thigh bones - the width should be that of a hand including the thumb and the area should be hollow, while the flat rear paws account for quick turning at high speed.
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