Is the Saluki Dog the breed for us?

Question.
My partner and I have a Rottweiler, a Jack Russell and two cats and we are also interested in getting a Saluki. We would like to know the approximate price of a puppy and how easy it would be to get hold of one - are there any Saluki breeders in Scotland? We'd also like to find out about their temperament and trainability. Are there any Saluki rescue centres?

Answer.
The Saluki breed is a very specialized breed and needs a lot of understanding on the part of the owner. Being a sensitive sighthound the Saluki needs careful training and management and much patience when growing up.

I would suggest that they are perhaps not ideal as a first dog unless the potential owner has previous experience of sight hounds. In your situation, bringing up a Rottweiler and a Jack Russell would not necessarily prepare you for life with a Saluki! This combination would also give you a household consisting of three dogs with entirely different temperaments and there would probably be clashes.

The Rottweiler would overshadow the Saluki, whose confidence would need building from the start, while a headstrong Jack Russell could easily be seen by the Saluki as 'prey'.

Some of the country's best Salukis have come from Scotland. They are not an inexpensive breed, puppies costing around £800. My advice would be to speak to Saluki breeders in your area, being frank about your circumstances, and get their views, but I imagine they will share my reservations.

_{source Your Dog Mag.}