Saluki

It is recommended that only reputable breeders should be approached when seeking breed information or if you wish to purchase a puppy.
See the advertisements in either this month's issue, our classifieds section, or our back issues featuring your breed of choice. Alternatively contact one of the clubs listed below for breeders in your area.
Gauteng |
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| Hound Clubs | Gold Reef Sighthound Club
Sporting Dogs Association
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Kwazulu Natal |
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| Hound Club | Natal Sporting Hound Association
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Eastern Cape |
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| Hound Clubs | Algoa Hound Club
Kaffrarian Hound Association
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Western Cape |
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| Hound Club | Cape Hound Club
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Fact File - Saluki
Read the interesting All About Dogs article on colours in the Saluki.
| KUSA Group | Hound | |
| FCI Group | Group 10 | |
| Original Function | Hunting of gazelle and other animals in the harsh conditions of Arabia. | |
| Modern Function | Some still hunt, others do lure coursing and yet others show their dogs to ensure that this ancient heritage is maintained. | |
| Appearance | Even the untrained eye can immediately see that this is a hunter which is capable of great speed and high endurance. | |
| Weight | Several vertebrae, the ribs and hip bones must clearly be visible. This indicates that the well-muscled Saluki is in correct trim and ready to go. | |
| Height | 28 to 23 inches or 71 to 58.5 cm | |
| Coat Colour | All colours are permissible but not brindle. | |
| Coat Texture | Smooth soft and silky – with or without feather on the legs, ears and tail. | |
| Grooming | Some have woolly fluff on thighs and shoulders which should be removed occasionally. Feathering should be regularly combed or brushed. | |
| Personality/Temperament | Wary of strangers but incredibly affectionate with family and friends. Can sometimes be demanding of attention. | |
| Compatibility with other dogs | Good. One just needs to be careful not to introduce breeds that can tend to be bossy. | |
| Compatibility with cats and other animals | Good. One should introduce new pets carefully and over a period of time and all should be well. | |
| Compatibility with people/children | Wary of strangers and young children whose quick, sudden movements may confuse them. In a case like this, they just get up and move away. | |
| Living Space – Indoors/Outdoors | Will live in a penthouse with you if that will make you happy. They must be part of the family and be allowed indoors. | |
| Space and Exercise | Agile and also love to be couch potatoes. | |
| Trainability | They do not like to do a thing more than once or twice but if you persist and adopt proper training methods they can do most things. | |
| Suitability as Watchdog
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Nothing escapes their attention and they will let you know about it. | |
| Noise Factor | They sing a bit when you leave the house and welcome you home with a song but it generally doesn’t last too long. | |
| Average Lifespan
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About 15 years. | |
| Feeding | Feed high-quality dog food - follow manufacturer’s recommendations for age and weight. BARF is also popular in some parts of the world. | |
| Health | Usually very good - just make sure you buy from a reputable breeder | |
| Availability | Enquire via KUSA or at dog shows for reputable breeders with healthy puppies. Be prepared to wait for a well-bred puppy! | |
| Some questions to ask Breeders | Ask if possible to see both parents. Are the puppies registered with KUSA; are they de-wormed and vaccinated? |

