Rescue dog - saluki??

[Dreamweaving]

I am craving a furry friend and have seen a lovely rescue saluki. I would be a first time dog owner but partner has had greyhound previously. We live near a park and there are many walks from home to countryside & canal walks. We live in a small terrace with high fenced yard & have older teens. Partner can take dog to work . Any advice from saluki owners? I’ve looked for Lurcher & greyhounds but most rescues advise large high fenced gardens .

My sister has one.

Saluki’s need a lot of exercise. A trot through a park won’t cut it. They need two hours a day - and we’re not talking two hours plodding around. We’re talking proper exercise and mental stimulation including long off lead walks (and you need to be mindful of the associated risks I mention below). They’re not easy and not as chilled as Greyhounds of other similar breeds. They are excellent at agility, flyball etc. They weren’t made to be cooped up at a desk indoors all day with their owner. BiL doesn’t work and he is out three times a day with theirs in any weather. It walks for miles. It does flyball.

It was a bastard to train - which meant letting it off the lead was a risk until its recall was 100% (and they are known for running off and being hard to train - not a great combination IMO). But they are a breed that needs off lead exercise. If you can’t commit to continued training then don’t get one. Ditto on exercise.

Saluki’s make a lovely pet, but for the right owner. TBH I often think of them as similar to a Collie in that regards.

If you and your partner work full time, even if you can take the dog to work, I don’t think it’s the right breed.

That's a great description Devils.

I had one, lovely dogs, but fast and disobedient, not the ideal first dog, especially as a rescue as the bonding and recall is likely to be harder to achieve.

We currently have a whippet which is perfect for WFH or taking to the office, he sleeps on the sofa most of the day and then can be satisfied with 30-45 mins of ball / dog chasing in the park.

Agree with all the above. They also can escape over 6ft high fences. Most decent rescues will insist you have a minimum of 6ft fences.

If you want a dog that is easier to handle there are a few labrador rescue centres and I would look there. Need surprisingly little exercise as long as they have their humans near by. But will love a long walk if you can give it to them. Also whippets... lovely breed and very very lazy.

The only Saluki I know, young adult, lives with an older disabled lady (she walks with a crutch). He doesn't get 2 hours/day, I'm not sure how many walks he gets & doubt any offlead outside his garden, probably not a daily walk even. He got out of garden once for a few hours, she scolded him when he came back & he hasn't tried to escape again. He's pretty lovely, responds to verbal commands and fairly lazy, really.

All hounds are low activity dogs. They do not need lots of exercise at all when compared to something like a spaniel, terrier, or collie. Mine sleep 22 hours a day, and these are my 6th ones, of varying breeds. My saluki is more ‘extra’ than my others; more vocal, more energetic, more prey driven, more jumpy…but still lazy. They are prone to separation anxiety. Ours was returned to rescue for this, not a problem for us as someone is home all day.
Hound recall is pretty non existent, off lead time needs to be in fenced in areas. Don’t expect a dog that will do tricks. Ours won’t even fetch a toy 🤣

SIL has had rescue dogs her whole life, trained many difficult dogs, her dogs are always very well behaved in the end etc. She got a rescue saluki and ultimately made the decision to rehome because she found it all so difficult.

My parents had a Saluki/Greyhound lurcher. The Saluki half was far more active! They had anticipated greyhound behaviour - short walk then lying on a sofa all day. They got Saluki

She loved running and being off lead running in huge loops. Also if she saw a rabbit that was it for the day, she was gone and when she turned up she'd be covered in cuts and need the vet.

They have opinions of their own and tend to think training is optional. They are also v much one person dogs.

One the other hand, they look gorgeous, they sing to you, they will steal your sofa and there is nothing like seeing a Saluki run.

This is what you should be considering OP - a thorough and honest opinion from someone with first hand knowledge of the breed. I love German Shepherds, but would never choose one as I know I'm not the right type of owner for them.

I've known a couple of Saluki crosses. Very attractive dogs. One is a youngster and very playful and friendly. The other was an older dog. Very chilled and good with children but definitely sight hound in terms of behaviour when out, loved to run but had poor recall and very high prey drive.

How old is the rescue?

My Dad was retired and very very laid back.

If when the dog went missing he was happy to return to the car park and just wait. For hours and hours.

She always turned up but when she was ready.

I wouldn't recommend a Saluki as a first dog. I used to live in the UAE and fostered for a rescue out there. Sigh, Salukis... incredible creatures, stunningly beautiful to watch run, they have a great sense of humour but are incredibly fast and selectively deaf with limited recall, can jump incredibly high if they decide to. And to top it off are possibly the most intelligent, yet incredibly stupid breed I have had the joy to come across!

My friend has a rescue saluki - she's lovely but always looking for ways to escape!

She can only free run her in high fenced secure fields but tbf she seems pretty chilled in the house.

i think they probably run into barbed wire fences quite regularly, and steal your food
beautiful dogs though

A saluki rescue for a first time dog owner? I mean this nicely: You’re out of your mind. They are all work, that breed.

Thankyou all for your detailed information. The rescue does describe the dog as being laid back and easygoing, he’s 7 years old. I think we may not be able to offer the home he needs after reading all the comments.

Saluki /deerhound cross here... Wish we could enquire about the ddog you mention op! Sadly we have 4 already. Saluki's are quite aloof... And steal food.... Not really a proper family pet ime. Lurchers however... Plenty of them around. Very different and loving..

a 7 year old must be quite a bit calmer though @Dreamweaving

It’s good that you recognise that, OP!

Remember that rescues don’t always know a dog very well. One of my dogs is a rescue; they described her as ‘lazy’ and ‘good with children.’ She’s not. She’s high energy (more so than my cocker and golden) and hates children. Rescues don’t see the dog in its preferred environment - where it feels safe. They only see them when they are at their most vulnerable and scared and the digs behaviour changes to reflect that…

Have a look at the AKC website - they have some great information on all breeds (much better than the UK KC!). Good luck!

Greyhounds and Salukis are very, very different - the only thing they really have in common is their size and the fact that they're both sight hounds.

Salukis have high exercise needs but generally don't have great recall which can be a really difficult mixture to manage. I also don't think that they're particularly well suited to going to work with someone as they're quite aloof with people and not the type to curl up quietly while you get on with things.

I have a saluki cross, probably crossed with collie and gsd, though her saluki traits are very strong.

Other than one big recall blip that we've thankfully overcome, she's incredibly easy. But maybe the other breeds play a role in that. She is quite aloof which is a saluki trait, but is bonded to me and loves to be close to people, she just doesn't want a fuss 24/7 (though she's very tolerant and would put up with being fussed, I'm glad I've learnt dog body language and can read when she'd rather be left alone and when she's enjoying it, salukis (and most hounds) are gentle, unaggressive dogs, no doubt sometimes to their detriment).

I don't think they're particularly difficult dogs unless you want a 100% off lead dog, e.g. I would not have her off-lead around livestock. But they tend to walk well on leads. I can think of many dogs that are far more demanding. Also, what's difficult is subjective—a velcro dog that wants attention all day but sticks close to you off lead would be easier than a saluki for some and harder than a saluki for others.

They are a bit weird and cat like. Run beautifully, it's really something to behold. I'd not get one unless I knew I could access secure fields.