Saluki
History
The Saluki's origins, geographic location, time,
predecessors -- are all shrouded in mystery and
myth, but it is considered to be
one of the oldest pure breeds of dogs in the world,
perhaps
the oldest,
and may have been in existence for over 10,000
years.
Recent DNA analysis confirms the breed as one
of the fourteen most ancient dog breeds.
A rich
visual record of the breed goes back at least
5,000 years. At archaeological sites in many
areas of the Middle East, ancient images of Salukis
have been found on seals, in tomb paintings, mosaics
sculptures, and on household objects. The breed
was held in great esteem, called "el hor" (The
Noble) by the Arabs and was bred as carefully as
the famous Arabian horses, with speed and endurance
in mind. They were not
allowed to mate with other breeds. Valued and honored
companion to Egyptian nobility, the Saluki could
well be called "the
royal dog of Egypt", and was known to be mummified
like the Egyptian Pharaohs.
The
Saluki occupies a unique position in the lives
of its Eastern,
often Muslim, owners. Arabs valued their Salukis
highly and wanted them to be beautiful and to possess
hunting qualities. Ordinary dogs are considered "unclean" and
may not be touched, but the Salukis
slept with their owners in their tents to be protected
from the heat of
the day and the cold of the night. Prior to and
during the 10th century, hunting poetry extolled
not only the prowess
of the breed in the chase, but its physical attributes
and companionship.
As is the case with some other pedigree breeds
in the United States, including the Basenji and
Portuguese Podengo, the current population of Salukis
is descended from a small number of founders introduced
into the country within the last 100 years, and
must be carefully mated to avoid inbreeding. However,
the original dogs imported into the US came from
throughout the whole Middle East, a vast geographical
area, unlike most other breeds that come from very
small areas, so Salukis have the largest genetic
base among purebreds. Recently, the AKC (American
Kennel Club) has allowed the third generation of
COO (Country of Origin) salukis to be registered
after inspections by recognized judges so the DNA
base will increase even more as more dogs are imported.
The Saluki
retains this esteem even today and continues to
be valued and used
for hunting in most of the regions where it traditionally
worked, side by side with its master, as a source
of pleasure for its beauty and athleticism. This
is a testimony of the Saluki's enduring value to
those who created it.
For a more indepth look into the history of the
Saluki, please visit The History & Origins of the
Saluki |
