FCI-Standard N° 269
/ 29. 11. 2000
/ GB
SALUKI
Proposed by Mrs Karin Hedberg (Sweden), Mrs
Ute Lennartz (Germany), Dr. Alain Campagne (France), Mr. Terry Thorn
(Great-Britain), Raymond Triquet, as President of the Standard
Commission of the F.C.I.
ORIGIN : Middle East / FCI Patronage.
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID
STANDARD : 25.10.2000.
UTILIZATION : Hunting and coursing hound.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 10 Sighthounds
Section 1 Long haired or fringed Sighthounds. Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Salukis vary in
type and the variation is desired and typical for the breed.
The reason for the variation is the special place held by the
Saluki in the Arab tradition and the immense size of the Middle East
area where the Saluki has been used as a hound of the chase for
thousands of years.
Originally each tribe had Salukis best suited for hunting the particular
game in its own area, but by Middle East tradition, Salukis are not
bought or sold but presented as marks of honour.
It follows that those presented as such to Europeans and brought
to Europe came from a wide variation of terrain and climate and vary
accordingly. The British
1923 standard was the first official European breed standard for the
Saluki and was drawn up to cover all these original types of Saluki.
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The whole appearance of
this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great
speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity.
Smooth variety : the points should be the
same with the exception of the coat which has no feathering.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
The length of the body (from point of
shoulder to point of buttock) is approximately equal to the height at
the withers, although the dog often gives the impression of being longer
than he really is.
BEHAVIOUR TEMPERAMENT : Reserved with
strangers, but not nervous or aggressive.
Dignified, intelligent and independent.
HEAD : Long and narrow, the whole showing
nobility.
CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Moderately wide between ears, not
domed.
Stop : Not pronounced.
FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black or liver brown.
Jaws/Teeth : Teeth and jaws are strong with
a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite.
Eyes : Dark to hazel and bright, large and
oval, but not prominent. The
expression should be dignified and gentle with faithful and far-seeing
eyes.
Ears : Long and covered with long silky hair,
set on high, mobile, hanging
close to the skull.
NECK : Long, supple and well muscled.
BODY :
Back : Fairly broad.
Loin : Slightly arched and well muscled.
Croup : Hipbones set wide apart.
Chest : Deep, long and moderately narrow.
Neither barrel ribbed nor slab sided.
Underline : Well tucked up.
TAIL : Long, set on low and carried
naturally in a curve, well feathered on the underside with long silky
hair, not bushy. In adults
not carried above the topline except in play.
Tip reaching at least to the point of hock.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS :
Shoulders : Well laid back, well muscled
without being coarse.
Upper arm : Approximately equal in length to
the shoulder blade and forming a good angle with it.
Forearm : Long and straight from elbow to
wrist.
Pasterns : Strong and flexible, slightly
sloping.
Front feet : Feet of moderate length, toes
long and well arched, not splayed, but at the same time not cat-footed;
the whole being strong and supple; feathered between the toes.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong, showing galloping and
jumping power.
Upper and lower thighs : Well developed.
Stifle : Moderately bent.
Hocks : Well let down.
Hind feet : Similar to front feet.
GAIT / MOVEMENT : smooth, flowing and
effortless at trot. Light
and lifting showing both reach and drive without hackney action or
pounding.
COAT :
HAIR : Smooth and of a soft, silky texture,
feathering on the legs and at the back of thighs, feathering may be
present on the throat in adults, puppies may have slight woolly feather
on thighs and shoulders. The
smooth variety has no feathering.
COLOUR :
Any colour or combination of colours is permissible.
Brindles are undesirable.
SIZE :
Height at withers : Average between 58 - 71 cm (23-28 inches) bitches
proportionally smaller.
FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing
points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the
fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
N.B. : Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
