Saluki

Much prized by the Bedouins along with their Arabian horses, the Saluki is an elegant and light footed hound of the Middle East. The Sheikhs kept careful breeding records and recorded the hunting prowess of their hounds. Their quarry was hare, fox and gazelle and hunting often took place on horseback, the riders using hooded falcons in combination with the hounds. Because of the different terrains in which he could be used for hunting there are is a variation of type within the breed, the desert type and the mountain type differing in size and substance. It is thought that the name of the breed was based on the ancient Arabian city of Saluk or the Syrian town of Seleucia. Certainly the breed is imbued with an exotic history and remains much admired for its elegance, gentle temperament and light lifting movement.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Hound breed group

Breeds originally used for hunting either by scent or by sight. The scent hounds include the Beagle and Bloodhound and the sight hounds such breeds as the Whippet and Greyhound. Many of them enjoy a significant amount of exercise and can be described as dignified, aloof but trustworthy companions.

Breed standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Black & Silver
Black & Tan
Black & Tan Particolour
Black & Tan Tricolour
Black & White Particolour
Black Fringed Fawn
Black Fringed Fawn & White
Black Fringed Gold
Black Fringed Red
Black Fringed Red With White
Black Grizzle
Black Particolour
Chocolate & Tan
Chocolate & White Particolour
Chocolate Grizzle
Cream
Cream & White
Deer Grizzle
Fawn
Fawn & White
Fawn Grizzle
Gold
Golden & White Particolour
Grizzle & White Particolour
Red
Red & White
Red & White Particolour
Red Grizzle
Silver Grizzle
White

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice

DNA test - Sal-NCL - part of The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find a list of tested dogs)
Check inbreeding

*The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

Saluki Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (Sal-NCL)

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email

Saluki Breed Health Co-ordinator

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club breed standard.