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LargeHound Group

Saluki

The Saluki is documented back to 3000 BCE in Egyptian and Mesopotamian tomb imagery, making it among the oldest identifiable dog types.

Lifespan13.3 yrrange 12–14
SizeLargeHound Group
Weight40–65 lb18.1–29.5 kg
Senior at6 yrgeriatric at 10

Gallery (3)

About

About the Saluki

The Saluki is documented back to 3000 BCE in Egyptian and Mesopotamian tomb imagery, making it among the oldest identifiable dog types. Feathered and smooth coat varieties exist; regional desert populations diverge visibly from Western show stock.

Aging

How Salukis age

RVC VetCompass gives a median 13.3 years (n=597). Cardiac disease and hemangiosarcoma define late-life concerns; anesthesia and drug metabolism sensitivity — reduced body fat and altered barbiturate clearance — is shared across sighthounds.

Physical

Physical characteristics

Weight
40–65 lb(18.1–29.5 kg)
Height
23–28 in(58.4–71.1 cm)
Coat type
Short
Colors
Black & TanBlack Tan & WhiteCreamFawnGoldenRedSilverWhiteChocolateChocolate & TanBlackBlack & Silver
Temperament

Temperament

How Salukis tend to show up around their people, other dogs, and the world.

gentlereservedindependentathletic
  • Energy
  • Trainability
  • Good with kids
  • Good with other dogs
  • Shedding
Health

Common health issues

Full health profile
  • Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr

    Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)

    Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~5 yr

    Hypothyroidism

    Description and veterinary guidance for Hypothyroidism land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Low prevalencetypical onset ~1 yr

    Congenital Cardiac Defect

    Description and veterinary guidance for Congenital Cardiac Defect land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

Exercise
60min
per day

About 60 minutes of activity per day keeps a Saluki physically and mentally satisfied. Split it between a structured walk and free play.

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References

Sources

Lifespan and health figures on this page are drawn from the peer-reviewed and organizational sources below.

  1. AKC breed standardAmerican Kennel Club breed page

    Breed size, weight range, height, AKC group, origin, coat type, and temperament baseline.

  2. McMillan et al. 2024Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death

    Multi-source UK companion-dog study. See the lifespan page for the matched statistic and its limitations.