Look what mrsmidlife brought home from work today.

Rebel, a five year old Saluki. Just orphaned after the death of her PA’s dad. Bit of a surprise for Fred, our 10 yr old Springer, but we’ll see how he goes. We’ve agreed to hold him till Friday, but could well re-home him. Anyone know anything about Saluki?

All I know is all I need t o know- I want him to keep Willow, our Beagle Collie cross company for silly runs in the hills with me. What a guy- he looks fantastic!

Saluki appears to be watching a yoga dvd on your tv

Don’t know anything about Salukis but I once knew someone who had a Lurcher – Saluki X Bedlington. And it was without doubt, one of the nicest dogs I have ever known – he always made a right fuss of me whenever he saw me, and a lovely looking dog too. Although I was surprised to be told one day that he could be a little aggressive to strangers – my mate reckoned he was friendly to me only because he had known me since being a puppy. He used him for hunting rabbits – that’s why he got him (my mate was a pikey)

Ambrose – Member

I want him

+ 1 🙂

He looks like a lovely Saluki! They are absolute mentalists, according to a few books my mum gave me when we got a lurcher. Very resistant to training, especially recall. Led largely by sight – if they see something they want to chase, they’re (supposedly) unstoppable if off the lead. But very lovely dogs – I’d have one.

My lurcher is about as well trained as any I’ve met but he still does the unstoppable rush thing at anything which captures his attention, so I have to constantly vigilant. If I notice him getting interested in a dog / rabbit / cat, I bark out, “Kasper, Leave It!” and he will.

Case in point, he’s sitting on his mat licking away at his latest puncture wounds. Ran up to a big dog to play a few hours ago – I missed the trigger behaviour in the dark – big dog got a fright and gave him a right old kicking. Poor lad off to the vets tomorrow for (another) course of antibiotics.

he looks quite at home home in the early 80’s

Observation: a recent birthday party? or condom party trick? do tell

Smooth coated or crossed? Our Ted is saluki / deerhound / greyhound, and I see many of the traits below.

Salukis can be aloof and loners. When bred originally they were intended for much longer chases than your average sighthound. The best ones were those that singlemindedly stuck to the chase, despite all distractions. They were then selected for further breeding. Have this in mind when training recall!

A bit slow on the uptake, but not necessarily dim, they can be complete clowns.

Great dogs, my brother had two and they were lovely, very soppy and good natured. They are incredible to watch when they get into their stride.

That is a good looking dog. We have a large whippet and she has been a great dog. Really soft and affectionate but can be highly strung.

The comment about the vets rings very true. At some point on every walk she would look at me as if to say ‘look after my brains for a minute I’m going for a run’. Wounds are common but they are tough dogs underneath.

Ours is 13 1/2 now and she has turned into a very considered dog, partial deafness has sorted out the highly strung problem. Still runs like an idiot from time to time, I now enjoy the sight instead of wondering what she is going to hit / fall over etc. That is the other great point they are generally long lived dogs.

he looks quite at home home in the early 80’s

80s?

We had one exactly like that when we moved into this house. When I lifted to replace the carpet the newspaper linnings underneath (Yorkshireman owned the house before us) were from the 60s.

Hmmm! Just looking at the dinning room one here too and it’s about the same.

Well least it on the list for this year for replacing.

A guy I meet when I’m walking my dogs in the local playing fields has a couple of rehomed Salukis – the long-haired ones – along with a strange assortment of other dogs (Boston Terrier and a Great Dane the size of a horse).

He doesn’t let the Salukis off the lead unless he’s somewhere where there are no roads for miles around. Apparently they are prone to taking off and not stopping or coming back when called, bred as they are as hunting dogs for the wide open spaces of Arabia. You see them champing at the bit on the end of an extending lead like a rogue stunt kite, trying to get after the other dogs present that are off the lead.

Do you live in a pub?

Lovely dog. Just echoing what others have said, as we have a lurcher at home and they all seem to share the same traits.

Very resistant to training, especially recall.

Oh yeah, stubborn dogs, unless you have treats. Mine will do anything for a scooby snack.

Led largely by sight – if they see something they want to chase, they’re unstoppable if off the lead.

Yup. We have hares round our way. The last time the lurcher went off after them, it took me 6 hours to get her back. Which is why we usually keep her on a lead, it just makes life easy. Run them out, but only if you know there’s nothing to chase nearby. If you can get to the beach, it’s perfect running ground.

Very good with people, especially kids, soft natured and just want to be fussed. Also good for keeping your neighbours cat out of your garden. 😈 Hope you can keep him.