Saluki Europe | Articles

Title:

Saluki

Saluki From Wiki Salukis come in a variety of coat colors.
Alternative names Arabian Hound Gazelle Hound Persian Greyhound Persian Sighthound 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. 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. A pair of Saluki puppiesSensitive 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 be allowed off lead with discretion. 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 3'' fence. 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. Miscellaneous The Saluki is used as the mascot for the Southern Illinois University sports teams.

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 kelb(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 Quran forbids owning dogs because they are unclean, but the Saluki is the only exception to this rule. 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. In the Holy Bible, Proverbs 30:29-31, which reads "There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.", the greyhound mentioned likely refers to the Saluki breed. In an Associated Press story of May 20, 2004, a recent article in the journal "Science" confirmed the Saluki''s antiquity via a DNA analysis,

which identified as it as one of the earliest breeds to diverge from wolves. Popular culture One of the main characters of the manga and anime series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin, Cross (クロス kurosu), is a Saluki. It is reported that Alberto Giacometti''s sculpture "Dog" was modelled after a Saluki.

Hits:

2120

Rating:

Rating:8 Votes:1 (Rating Scale: 1 = worst, 10 = best)

Added on:

13/09/2006

Author/Source:

n/a

Author's email/website:

n/a

Posted by:

admin

Comments:

0 Comment(s)

Menu