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.
Appearance
The whole appearance of Salukis should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains. The expression should be dignified and gentle with deep, faithful, far - seeing eyes. Dogs should average in height from 23 to 28 inches and bitches may be considerably smaller, this being very typical of the breed.
Head - Long and narrow, skull moderately wide between the ears, not domed, stop not pronounced, the whole showing great quality.
Nose - black or liver.
Ears - Long and covered with long silky hair hanging close to the skull and mobile.
Eyes - Dark to hazel and bright; large and oval, but not prominent.
Teeth - Strong and level.
Neck - Long, supple and well muscled.
Chest - Deep and moderately narrow.
Forequarters - Shoulders sloping and set well back, well muscled without being coarse.
Forelegs - Straight and long from the elbow to the knee.
Hindquarters - Strong, hipbones set well apart and stifle moderately bent, hocks low to the ground, showing galloping and jumping power.
Loin and Back - Back fairly broad, muscles slightly arched over loin.
Feet - Of moderate length, toes long and well arched, not splayed out, but at the same time not cat - footed; the whole being strong and supple and well feathered between the toes.
Tail - Long, set on low and carried naturally in a curve, well feathered on the underside with long silky hair, not bushy.
Coat - Smooth and of a soft silky texture, slight feather on the legs, feather at the back of the thighs and sometimes with slight woolly feather on the thigh and shoulder.
Colors - White, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, tricolor (white, black and tan) and black and tan.
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.