Try to reach me - saluki the desert scent

I hope that my dogs gave me a proper view of the breeds I fell in love many years ago.
Sighthounds.
They are not only dogs for me and I doubt it is the best place to find one and consistent breed characteristics. Anyway, sighthounds are my soulmate animals. I feel them more and more everyday of our live together.
They make me proud and happy. I do admire them every time I see them. There’s no better cure for all sickness, just to look at their beauty. It’s even too much!

Today I wrote few words about salukis. Well, they delight me with their lightness and ethereality. Their still wild nature enchanted me so much that one day a saluki from Russia settled down in my home. I absolutely do not regret it. I have to say more: borzois are addictive and captivating but saluki energy is much more sophisticated and riveting.
An ancient story says that saluki was born from the dessert sand.

When the great sandstorm caught a caravan passing by the dessert, the Bedouins thought that non of them would survive. The storm continued indefinitely, hammering the grains of sand ewerywhere, even the places they could not reach. Arabs where used to fight with dessert elements and they always were prepared for even greater storms.  On the second day, when the sun appeared on the horizon and they tried to dig out the sand from the caravan they saw a beautifull view.  From a distance they saw a herd of salukis, which seemed to know nothing about the great sandstorm that had just passed in last hours. Allah knows how to joy an arabian soul – the saluki and arabian horses are the most beatiful view we can admire.  From that day they became a perfect couple and that way saluki is the most reliable companion on the dessert journey.

An easy-going fairy tale shows us a soul of saluki. We can not forget that it’s very passionate hunter. Well, they do hunt like a sandstorm – a grace and great power at the same time. Saluki can appear from nowhere and delights us with an extraordinary elegance. They will be the most faithful companion in everyday life but not intrusive at all. If I could compare saluki to other sighthound breeds that I own – the borzoi and the greyhound – the saluki is like a scent, like the most noble perfume. You can feel them and delight them but never catch it and posses. Only when an owner understands this relations the bond between them will be priceless.

Salukis eyes are deep like a hell and sharp like a knife. If you share a life with them you can see their nostalgic eyes sweeping through the dessert. It’s a very beautiful creature, even unreal – if we mange to feel them.

But the fairy-tale ends now.
We are on the ground again and we do try to understand saluki.  They need a wise owner. The owner who believes in fairytales on one side but also the owner who knows something more about dog‘s soul for better understanding of their nature. Saluki likes quiet appartments but with strong relation with the owner. They do not like to stay home alone. The saluki owner should be steady and patient but active. For their comfort and harmony it is very important to give them a freedom and let them decide sometimes. Salukis hate noise, screamers and blusterers.  If we try to work with saluki using pressure and force, it will not work. It will only puts us on the best way to frustrate our dog. Better to think first and buy shepherd who will be ready to respond to every our comment. Saluki is not that type.
For sure it’s an advanced level dog. If you are looking for a dog that you can offer a walk and a bowl of food – saluki is not that kind of dog too. If you manage to create a relation with them and let them be like they are, you will receive a friend who will scratch a sign in your heart forever.  Sensitive saluki’s soul reminds me an arabian horses known from their independence. But remember – the higher you climb the better the view! Especially with saluki who is an ideal as a guide of our life !

Not everyone will appreciate Grand Cru from Bordeaux and not everyone is a sommelier.

translated by Piotr Łabiński