The Saluki is a slender, long-legged sighthound of the Middle East, used there as a hound of the chase for thousands of years, according to the FCI.[1]
The breed standard
The FCI standard gives an average height at the withers of 58–71 cm, with bitches proportionally smaller. It sets no weight.[1] There are two coat varieties, feathered and smooth. Any colour or combination of colours is permitted, though brindle is undesirable.[1] The temperament is described as reserved with strangers but not nervous or aggressive, dignified, intelligent and independent.[1]
Name and origin
The FCI gives the origin as the Middle East rather than a single country. It says Salukis vary in type, and that this variation is desired and typical of the breed. The reason it gives is the Saluki’s special place in Arab tradition and the huge size of the area where it has been used for hunting. Each tribe originally had Salukis suited to its own game, and by tradition the dogs were not bought or sold but given as marks of honour.[1] The British standard of 1923 was the first official European standard for the breed.[1] A study of breed relationships places the Saluki in a “Mediterranean” group and notes that Salukis collected in the Middle East form several separate groups.[2] The AKC recognised the Saluki in 1927.[3]
Health and lifespan
In the Dogs Trust table of UK dogs, the Saluki has a median life expectancy of 13.3 years (95% confidence interval 12.3–14.0), based on 428 dogs of which 169 had died. The sample is modest, so the interval is wide.[4] No disease figures for the Saluki are given here.
Popularity
The Saluki ranked 135th on the AKC’s list of most popular breeds in 2025.[5]
Sources
- FCI breed standard 269, Saluki
- Parker et al. 2017, Cell Reports 19: 697–708 (DNA relationships of 161 breeds)
- American Kennel Club, breeds by year recognized
- Dogs Trust, “Life expectancy for 155 breeds and crossbred group” table (UK; median life expectancy)
- American Kennel Club, most popular dog breeds of 2025