Today, many families have a pet. The most important thing to understand is that he needs proper care. Saluki dog is one of the oldest. Her homeland is Persia, where this type of hounds was valued more than thoroughbred horses. And this means that only the wealthiest people belonging to the royal palace could afford it. An ordinary person could only dream of this animal. Let's try to figure out what this breed of dog is and what modern dog breeders value it for.
Description of the breed and external characteristics
So what does a saluki dog look like? The description of this breed is as follows:
- height - from 58 to 71 centimeters;
- weight - from 15.8 to 32 kilograms;
- color - it can be any, but the tiger has the least value, because of which the cost of the dog can be significantly underestimated.
Bitches in appearance are very similar to males, but have smaller sizes and weight.
additional characteristics
A saluki dog, the standard of which strongly distinguishes this breed from other hounds, should be at a length equal to the height. If this condition is not met, then it will look disproportionate. In addition, the hound should look noble and move easily and gracefully, as if fluttering through the air.
The coat of this breed is very soft and silky to the touch. There are individuals with both long and short hair. The former has a peculiar fluff on its paws, head and chest. The nose can be either black or dark brown. The eyes are large and oval in shape, can be of different shades.
A bit of history
Many dog breeders who professionally breed purebred hounds are convinced that the saluki dog became one of the first domesticated breeds. Presumably, the Saluki appeared on the territory stretching from Ancient Egypt to Mesopotamia. This is due to the fact that these lands were fertile, therefore they were densely populated.
Local residents were engaged in breeding mainly hunting breeds of dogs. And this is not surprising, because it was rather difficult to survive and people needed four-legged helpers who could help in finding and obtaining food. Later, the breeding of hunting dogs grew from a normal occupation into a business that brought good money. Thus, gradually the cost of saluki (photos of the breed of dogs look just great) has increased dramatically and only wealthy people could afford it.
There is historical evidence confirmed by scrolls found by archaeologists that this breed was very popular with Alexander the Great. Saluki dogs accompanied him throughout the entire military campaign to conquer India. The Arabs always took representatives of this breed for hunting, where the hounds showed amazing results and could drive even the fastest animals.
There are speculations that it was the herring that were depicted inside the pyramids, whose age reaches two thousand years BC. Moreover, mummified herring was even found in the pyramids, which is the best evidence that this breed was very popular and played an important role in the lives of people of that time.
In the Middle Ages, a dog of the Saluki breed, the features of which will be discussed later, was at the court of many royal dynasties throughout Europe. For example, the Saxon king Henry IV even created a mural in which he is depicted with his four-legged favorite.
In the middle of the XIX century, hounds of this breed were introduced to England. The English herkas aroused great interest, which was supported by their images found in the tomb of one of the greatest Egyptian pharaohs Tutankhamun, who became famous throughout the world for his wisdom. In England, saluki breeding was carried out in accordance with all the rules that were borrowed in the Arab countries that are the birthplace of this breed.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the saluki dog was recognized as a separate breed, which is a representative of greyhounds. And later, standards were even adopted, on the basis of which animals are bred and evaluated.
Character and temperament
Saluki has a great devotion to his master, but also has his own character. Devotion is retained only to one of the family members to whom they unconditionally submit. The animal will be very friendly to everyone else, but this does not mean that it will carry out the commands of everyone else.
A dog of the Saluki breed, whose character is particularly friendly, does not go a step away from a person recognized as its owner. At the same time, the pet will do its best to please him in order to attract attention and earn praise. For representatives of this breed, it is very important that the owner acts as a kind of leader, which could be followed anywhere. In relation to others, animals behave very calmly and friendly, unless they see no threat to themselves.
Games for this species of greyhound are not particularly interesting. If you drop the stick, the dog will bring it on command, but will not experience much pleasure and enthusiasm from this. But leaving the pet at home alone for a long time is not recommended, as this can cause depression in the animal.
Dog and man
If you live in an apartment, then a saluki dog, the description of which was considered at the beginning of the article, will not be the best option for you. This is due to the fact that this breed, like any other hunting, is very energetic, therefore, it needs a sufficient amount of free space to realize its energy. Therefore, it is best to start a saluki in a private house, where there is a personal plot.
Nowadays, the passion for hunting has fallen dramatically, so saluki are not used for food, but as a companion for hiking. Thanks to his devotion, the dog will become a true friend.
Attitude towards children
Salyuka - a dog whose photo will be a great addition to the family photo album, loves children very much. She behaves very restrained and friendly, but do not allow the child to kick or torment the animal somehow. Otherwise, the pet can bark at the baby or growl, which, in turn, will scare him. Therefore, if you still have small children, then wait a while with the establishment of this breed until they grow up.
Saluki compatibility with other breeds
This variety of greyhounds coexists perfectly not only with representatives of its breed, but also with other pets. At the same time, a greyhound can get along well under one roof not only with other dogs, but also with cats. But the latter applies only to those cases when cats were in the house before the saluki appeared. Otherwise, the dog will consider its territory and in every way protect it.
As for small pets, it is recommended that they be kept separately, since a hunting greyhound that does not lend itself to training can wake up in a greyhound.
Maintenance and care
Walking with a four-legged friend should be exclusively on a leash. If a greyhound sees any animal and recognizes its prey, then it will be impossible to stop it. At the same time, it is impossible to suppress hunting instincts even by means of long and persistent trainings.
Walk with the animal for a long time. In this case, it is advisable to travel somewhere out of town and let the dog run freely. This is necessary in order for the animal to maintain its physical shape. As for the care, it is practically no different from the same when keeping a different breed of dog.
What to feed?
Saluki dog needs a complete and balanced diet. But it’s important to understand that no matter how you feed, the edges of the animal will still be visible. But this does not mean that you need to feed more, because this is one of the key features of this breed.
Feed best with natural products.
A daily diet should include:
- beef;
- chicken meat;
- fish
- hard vegetables;
- unsweetened fruits;
- cottage cheese;
- boiled eggs in small quantities.
Cereals are recommended to be excluded from the diet of the pet or to reduce their number to a minimum.
Saluki has a good metabolism, so it is recommended to feed it often in small portions. If you are going to feed dry food, then you should not save on them.
Hygiene
A saluki dog is particularly clean, so there is practically no smell characteristic of many other breeds in the house from it. During walks, the pet will try to avoid puddles and dirt, so you will not have to bathe the animal too often. Once a week, it is necessary to comb the fur with a greyhound to prevent hair loss. Also among the mandatory procedures there is a cutting of nails, as well as brushing of teeth and auricles.
Training and engraving
This breed of dog is difficult to train because the animal is wayward. For saluki, it is important to first check the owner for strength, see him as a real leader and only then obey. This is due to the fact that the animal is very proud, so anyone will not obey. Therefore, in the process of education should not be cruel.
But, as mentioned earlier, wean never get rid of a greyhound from hunting instincts.
After the second vaccination and the quarantine period that follows immediately after it, you can begin to attach the animal to society. Throughout the month, it is recommended to appear with the dog in crowded places so that she can adapt to society normally, get acquainted with new smells and stop being afraid of strangers.
If you need a saluki dog for hunting, then it does not need to be poisoned by many animals, since hunting instincts are laid in the greyhound from birth and at the right time they will work automatically. But if you decide to hunt for a wolf, then you just can’t do without grafting, because the genetic links between the two species are very close. In this case, the petting should begin after your pet is one year old. If 2-3 trainings do not give absolutely no result, then saluki is not suitable for hunting wolves.
Health and Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy of this breed is 13 years. There are no genetic diseases in animals, but there are several ailments that can develop in dogs.
Among them:
- hypersensitivity to anesthesia - saluki need less painkillers than other breeds;
- cardiomyopathy;
- hypothyroidism - is the cause of overweight, decreased reproductive ability and impaired mental activity.
As experienced dog breeders who have been engaged in saluki breeding for more than a year have noted, these greyhounds do not have any health problems and they rarely get sick.
Reviews
If you need a reliable and faithful friend who will never betray, then the saluki dog is the ideal option for you. Owner reviews of this animal mark its loyalty and devotion, as well as its friendliness towards all family members. With proper feeding, the greyhound develops normally and grows healthy, very rarely gets sick. As for care, it is quite simple and does not require much effort. The most important thing is to make the right diet for the pet, get vaccinated on time and visit the veterinarian regularly. In addition, do not forget that the dog needs the love and attention of its owner.