“Educate yourself about the Saluki breed…Seeing a range of bloodlines helps you make a more informed decision and you find a puppy that fits your family.”
What Breeders wish you knew: When looking to add a Saluki to your family, be prepared for the responsibilities of committed ownership of an active sighthound who can live 12 years or longer. Also, you should develop your own expectations and criteria so that you can have candid discussions with the breeder you choose.
Educate yourself about the Saluki breed, including temperament, exercise needs, diet, grooming, potential health concerns, and history. Seek out owners and breeders at events such as dog shows, lure courses, and regional club meetings. Look for breeders who have positive reputations, adhere to ethical breeding practices, openly share information, offer understandable puppy contracts, and prioritize the health and well-being of their hounds.
Visiting several breeders will help you get a feel for temperament and personality traits that a puppy may have. Seeing a range of bloodlines helps you make a more informed decision and helps you find a puppy that fits your family.
Eight to twelve weeks is a good age to bring home a puppy. The mother of your puppy should be at least two years old, as this is when certain health screens are valid. A pup at this age should be inquisitive, have a shiny coat, and clear, bright eyes. Soon after, Saluki puppies begin to grow rapidly and may look big, but very immature; this awkward stage may last anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Spay/Neuter
If you purchase a female Saluki and do not intend to show or breed her, we suggest you have her spayed, which will eliminate the problem of having a dog “in heat” about twice a year and also the chance of finding yourself with an unwanted litter. If you buy a male dog, and do not plan to show or breed him, we suggest you have him neutered to avoid his siring unwanted puppies. In both cases, follow advice from both your breeder and your veterinarian as to when to have the operation done. Ask your veterinarian about what type of sterilization is best. Feathered Salukis usually develop a long fuzzy coat after altering — similar to that of an Afghan puppy. If you prefer to avoid this, you can consider hormone preserving sterilization.
Although you cannot show neutered dogs at AKC dog shows, they are eligible for all other AKC sponsored activities, as well as other organizations’ events, including obedience, agility, open field coursing, lure coursing and tracking. There are so many great activities to do with your dog, you won’t have time for them all.