Breed History
As with many breeds, the Salukis origins cannot be traced back to an irrefutable source....
Visual evidence depicts their connection to Middle Eastern civilizations going back thousands of years. Carvings from the Sumerian Empire dating as far back as 7000 BC depict dogs with sleek greyhound-like bodies with feathered tails, ears and legs. Similar carvings appear on Egyptian tombs dating from 2100 BC. Some historians identify the Saluki as being a distinct breed since Alexanders Invasion of India in 329 BC. Nomadic Bedouin tribesmen have been breeding Salukis for at least 2,000 years. The Salukis origins are strongly tied to the nomadic lifestyle and consequently, their native habitat stretches from the Sahara to the Caspian Sea; this geographic diversity has also led to marked variation in the breeds color and size. Written records depict that Salukis were always held in high esteem by their owners. They were honored by Egyptian nobles and usually mummified along with them. Many Saluki owners are Muslims and while they consider most dogs unclean and untouchable, Salukis are allowed into tents.Salukis have been in Europe since 1840, but few paid attention to their existence until Florence Amherst brought one of Prince Abdullas Arabian Salukis from Transjordania to England in 1895. Colonel Horace N. Fisher is credited with having brought the first Saluki to the United States in 1861. Breeding was relatively minimal until 1927, when the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Saluki as a breed. Salukis are extremely fast and were primarily used by Arabs to bring down gazelles. In England, they were used to catch hares. In the United States today, they participate in a variety of competitions, such as lure coursing, agility, obedience trials and tracking. They are also employed as show dogs and companions.