Saluki
The Saluki (also called the Persian Greyhound) is one of the oldest dogs. This dog is classed as a sighthound (a sight hound finds its prey by using vision, runs it down and either catches and retrieves it or kills it), the role it was bred for was to be a companion for nomadic tribes native to areas between the Caspian Sea and the Sahara. Its role was as a courser and it worked with other dogs. It is also believed they worked with falcons which would act as long range eyes for prey, which the dogs would then chase down. DNA analysis has indicated that this is one of the earliest breeds to have split off from wolves. Dogs which very much resemble the Saluki have been found inscribed on ancient Egyptian Tombs dating back from about 2100 BCE. The breed was seriously imported for breeding purposes to England in 1895 by Florence Amherst. This dog is known as the Persian Greyhound due to its speed and stamina, though it is not quite as fast as a greyhound, it makes up for it with more endurance.
Appearance
The Saluki comes in various shade of coat, the coats come in two different flavours either feathered or smooth. It generally is 58 to 71 cm to the withers and 13 to 30 kilos. They have noble features, though some might say they are aloof
Temperament
Personality wise the Saluki tends to have the qualities of a sighthound, this means it can be standoffish. They get bored easily so need constant interaction and training needs to be varied. These dogs have a very distinctive howl which oscillates. This will be more of a lament which occurs when the dog is distressed. Given the nature of this dog to be a sighthound it is hardly surprising that they don't really make very good apartment or city dogs, as they need space to roam around.
Grooming and care
These dogs need a lot of exercise, long walks just are not enough. Ideally they need large areas to roam around in. They will tend to go after small animals, this is unsurprising given their heritage. One great way to give these dogs good exercise is to go along on a bike and have them come along with you. Their coat is fairly easy to groom. Brushing is only occasionally required and they tend to shed about normal rates for dogs. They ears should be regularly checked for infections. This breed tends to prefer to be inside as opposed to be outside.
Health
This breed is relatively long lived at 13 to 16 years old. These dogs tend to get cancer and eye diseases more than the average dog. Also they can get sunburned easily.