The Gentle and Faithful Saluki
BY: Habeeb Salloum/Contributing Writer
Considered the aristocrat of the greyhound family, the Saluki has, for millennia, been an honoured companion of man. Its air of aloof dignity and independent spirit has for centuries made this breed of dog cherished in the desert lands of Arabia – a hound without equal. The Bedouin believe that this gentle and sensitive canine is superior to all other animals and, hence, have named it the ‘Hound of God’.
In the Arab lands, its owners consider it a rare and valuable possession – almost a member of the family. It is the only type of animal allowed into the home of its master. To the men of the desert it is not simply a dog but a spiritual hunting symbol par excellence. The Bedouin value it for its fidelity, companionship and hunting ability and treat it with great respect.
The history of the Saluki is closely tied to the history of early man. Historians are of the opinion that it is the oldest breed of domesticated dog – some assert the oldest tamed animal. The first known evidence (carvings) of the Saluki, also known as the Eastern Greyhound, Persian Greyhound and the Arabian Gazelle Hound, were found in the area of ancient Mesopotamia, dating back to about 14,000 B.C.
From Mesopotamia, traders carried the Saluki throughout the Middle East and into the Nile Valley where these dogs became the favourite hounds of the ancient Egyptian ruling classes. Owned only by the nobility, they became known as the ‘Royal Dogs of Egypt’. Besides their statues and wall paintings whose history goes back 5,300 years, many Saluki have been found mummified in the tombs of their masters.
The Saluki was the dog of which the Bible spoke at least 22 times, and even though in Islam dogs were pronounced unclean, a special exemption was made for the Saluki. It was believed that this dog was a gift from God to the tribes, and they called hound al-ḥurr, or ‘the Noble One’.
In the Middle Eastern lands, craftsmen and painters have, since the dawn of history, make the Saluki famous by decorating pottery and crypts with their images. The literature of the Assyrians, Babylonians and Sumerians often mention them in rapturous phrases. Later, the Arabs in their poetry and song praised this attractive and faithful breed of dog, giving it the name Slughi, from Saluq, a long vanished city in South Arabia – the name from which we derive Saluki.
With the Arab tribes, the tradition of Saluki breeding is deeply rooted. The men of the desert believe that it is a perfect animal and value it more than most of their other possessions. Only the pure-bred horse and camel can match this proud hunter in their esteem. To the Saluki, it is said, the Bedouin is a slave rather than a master. In the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa, this most intelligent of dogs, in both tent and palace, holds an honoured place. In the homes of the humble or the castles of the emirs, like distinguished guests, it is allowed to freely enter and sleep on rugs and cushions, or even with members of the household. Its faithfulness to its master is legendary. Only for its owner and not for anyone else will this king of canines bring down game. Some Bedouin even contend that the Saluki, when well-trained, will at times when it feels the need, bring back on its own a rabbit for its master. Respected as a pet and hunting companion, it is never sold, only given as a gift to cherished guests.
The genealogies of the Saluki, some a thousand years old, are jealously guarded. Females, when in heat, are never allowed to mate with a strange dog. If an accident occurs, the pups are always destroyed. Bloodlines are so well-guarded that family resemblance can be seen from one generation to the next. The Bedouin, who are proud of their Saluki, learn and orally transmit their pedigree generation after generation. H. and D. Waters in their book, The Saluki in History, Art and Sport, one of the finest comprehensive works on the Arabian greyhound ever written, quote Wentworth Day who wrote:
“…..the Arab desert tribes in the Sahara called the Saluki Barake or ‘Specially Blessed’ and referred to them always as hounds, never dogs, transmitting their pedigrees, like the Bedouin of the Arabian desert, by word of mouth from generation to generation, never selling them but giving them as presents of honour to distinguish guests and to ….. favoured friends, for to them the Saluki is el-hur, the ‘Noble One’…”
Saluki come in various shades and colours and two breeds: smooth-coated and feathered. They stand from 61 to 74 cm (24 -29 in) tall and when full grown weight between 18 and 23 kg (40 and 50 lb). Generally they have short silky hair, narrow finely tapering moulded heads, long graceful slender limbs and erect curved feathery tails. Their streamlined appearance gives an impression of clean-cut lines, neatness, dignity, and graceful symmetry. The eyes which are deep-set, extra bright and sharp are of great use for hunting in the open desert. Hence, moving prey, barely seen on the horizon, can easily be spotted. The head between the eyes is wide, making it ideal for a large brain. Drooping close to the head, the ears, due to a covering of fine silky feathering, gives the Saluki an uncanny hearing ability. From the head, the back gently slopes over an arched neck and well-muscled shoulders to well-knit hips, giving this world’s oldest pure-bred dog a smart dashing look. It is said that they are a perfect example of how nature designs an animal for a specific task.
For hundreds of years the Bedouin have taken great care and patience in training this favoured animal which they call their hunter. At first it is taught to hunt small rats, then hares, and when its speed, strength and endurance are built up, gazelles. After it is fully prepared, its hunting ability becomes matchless. Pursuing its prey for thousands of years in a flat-treeless land it has developed a capability to bring down the swiftest of game. With its sharp hearing, superb eyesight, strength and incredible speed of up to 80 km (50 mi) an hour, no beast of the desert can escape its clutches.
Saluki were first introduced into Europe during the Crusades. While in the Middle East, the men of the cross had developed a passion for the pleasures of possessing fine horses and hunting with falcons and hounds. Both soldiers and nobles in the European invading armies were fascinated by the Arabian greyhounds’ speed and beauty, and enthralled with the desert chase led by hawk and Saluki.
The Norman Emperor Frederick II of Sicily in the 13th century was a great patron of the Saluki and is credited with introducing it into Sicily and southern Italy. The remainder of Europe had to wait another five centuries for their introduction on a substantial scale.
Due to their colonial activities in the Arab world, England and France were the first countries in western Europe where the Saluki became common. Two types were introduced: those imported from Egypt – light and leggy, the true desert hounds bred for endurance in desert conditions; and those introduced from Syria – heavier and stockier with thicker coats and profuse feathering. These pedigrees, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, became the foundation for the Saluki stocks in the remainder of Europe and the Americas.
Today, the Saluki is still found in all parts of the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa and most countries in western Asia, but in fewer numbers than in the past. The Saluki is going the way of the Bedouin – being crowded out by civilization. The Bedouin are moving to the cities and the role of the Saluki is fading away. Only royal families and nobility still raise it, but only for sport. The few remaining Bedouin tribes still use Saluki for hunting, but with modern weapons and transport, the gazelle, their main prey, has become almost extinct. Hence, the Saluki have lost their basic use as hunting dogs. However, they continue to be raised as cherished pets for comradeship and sentimentality.
The Arabian Saluki Centre in Abu Dhabi, established in 2002, by Hamad Al Ghanem with the support of the Emirates Falconers’ Club, is committed to the preservation the magnificent Arabian Saluki breed. The first of its kind in the world, it specialises in breeding, registering, training, boarding and raising of saluki hounds. The centre also holds annual Saluki Beauty Contests, keeps records of the Saluki breed and issues passports and ownership documents as well as pedigree certificates.
Al Ganem, Breeder, Registrar General and Director of the Arabian Saluki Centre, is quoted as saying: “My family has been breeding Aseel Salukis, the purest breed of Arabian hounds for over seven decades. The family tradition of Saluki breeding has been passed from fathers to sons for many generations, and I am delighted that our traditional breed has found supporters and enthusiasts all over the world.”
In Western Europe and North America the Salukis are becoming better known and their numbers are increasing – being raised for sport and fellowship. Never noisy or aggressive, they are unmatched as pets when compared to other animals domesticated by man.
Strange as it may seem, they have no doggy odour and their habits are very clean. Their dignity, fidelity and affection for their masters are unequalled in the world of animals raised as pets. There is little doubt that as people in the West become more and more familiar with these traits, Saluki will become much sought after. Without question, this noble dog, which the Arabs have named the ‘Hound of God’ has a bright future in the affluent and outgoing societies of North America.