Advice On Saluki Greyhound

[FreddieMeggs 1]

Don't often post on here, more of a reader, but I'm after some advice/tips/opinions from lads more knowledgeable than myself in relation to the saluki x.

Got a bull x and a young collie x both of which suit me fine. Very easy to train, hunt close when mooching, eager to please etc but fancy something a bit different.

 

Don't have much experience with the saluki cross so thought I'd get as much info as possible. My mate has a saluki grey, only a young dog, catching well, but mostly going off and doing all the hunting fields away from where we are. His recall is good most of the time but he often puts his head down and is gone. Resulting in us having to chase him for miles or hang around for half an hour for him to come back.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect to be able to call a dog off their quarry but most of the time he seems to be chasing shadows, rarely actually being on something.

I hear a lot of lads swearing by them and others not wanting anything to do with them.

From what I've seen saluki crosses seem to have great drive, determination and of course speed and stamina. All of which I look for, along with the look of them they look to be a great choice.

However the issues associated with them (mainly the huge hunting range and selective hearing) are holding me back.

 

So has anyone got any training tips which may help when bringing a pup up.

Can the way you raise them even make a difference or is it just something that you can't do anything about?

 

I'm sure not all dogs of this cross are so head strong so is it the way you raise them or does it just differ between dogs?

 

I'm up for the challenge but welcome opinions on whether I should just stick to what I know or give them a go.

Any advice, tips, opinions or criticism appreciated.

Freddie.

[jigsaw 11,865]

i have a few saluki bred dogs at the minute and 1 is a 1st x saluki hound,the other is his pup a 3/4 bred saluki and i must admit Ive had no issues at all with them,easy going,so laid back it scary and the grandest dog to take anywhere with ye.nothing fazes them and they are very easily controlled and calm.id think if you dont start them too early maybe and get them bonded big time with you.

[FreddieMeggs 1]

Yeah I'm in no rush to get another started so will be taking it slow with a new pup. I have plenty of spare time and the pup will be with me 24/7 so I'm sure a bond will come quickly.

Were yours easily stock broken? Not a problem but just so I've got an idea on what to expect.

Cheers.

[jigsaw 11,865]

the lot of them are spot on with farm animals,i had them out a lot when they arer real young.ive had a few different types over the years but the saluki x is a different kettle of fish,id never be without one now.

[arcticgun 4,548]

when it eventually reaches the teenage phase and starts to ignore you , and ya pi$$ starts to boil, just simply walk away and keep going ,

 

 

 

 

 

it will follow, eventually , only as hard as you make them these sorts , they very basic stick to basic and you be fine, the bond is essential,

[FreddieMeggs 1]

Cheers lads. Bond will be priority, have a good bond with my current dogs but will make an extra effort. I'll see how things play out and come back to the forum if I struggle with anything.

[Little Butch 16]

Following this thread with interest. Picking a saluki grey up tomorrow and it's my first lurcher...

[wirral countryman 2,110]

Freddie, with a young collie x to bring on why get another ? saluki crosses are renowned for everything you have said already, they are suited to open land and coursing, I've had quite a few from the 70's onwards and they are much better for general work with another cross in the mix, I once bought a first cross pup off the zoo keeper of knowsley safari park, brought it up with every care in the world, well socialised with my kids, made a fuss of her every chance I had, done everything as per book, as I had with other saluki crosses, at 14 months I tried her on the lamp and watched her sail off into the distance not to be seen or heard of for 2 days, picked her up from the police station after paying 25 quid to get her back, she still never even acknowledged her name, still done what she liked, at 2 yr old I gave her to a lad who reckoned he could sort her out as he'd had a few, I laughed and let him take her, after 6 months and a lot of frustration he gave her to a girl with a pony yard and she hit it off with her right away and they both lived happy ever after, they like who they like and no amount of effort will change that, there were many times I could of shot that dog, rabbits jumping up everywhere and she would ignore them, I have a line bred dog now that's thrown heavily to its grandma which was a saluki/ grey and he has been a chore at times, he is 11 month old, loves me totally but still goes deaf and hunts up whilst I am ferreting, only follows the terriers when he likes, puts the effort in when he wants, he will get another month and then he will be found a pet home or one where he won't be worked every day, as I said, frustrating, WM

[jigsaw 11,865]

I read this and dont doubt you for a minute WC but i have to say ive the sire to my pup which has been said is a 1st x,the dam to the pups was a full bred saluki of unknown breeding to an extent,and the flat footed dog is mostly saluki bred,i also have a dog from lucas and in all sincerity,ive not had 1 ounce of bother form them, on the contrary Ive had nothing but fun with them.Caine(lucasxruby) would be the only one that might make you raise your voice on the rare ocasion but thats usually when he has scented something and hell nor high water will stop him from exploring it.I did have an issue with the dam of the pups at 6-9 months old coming back to the car,she would sit and refuse to follow for the last 50 yards,in the end i just clipped her on the lead and walked her down till one day she just followed to the wheels,not something worth mentioning i think,but thats all.Have I been lucky so far?I dont try train the dogs as such,i just give them guidelines as to what i expect,they seem to blend in superbly and im keeping saluki bred lurchers 5 years max,so maybe my baptism of fire has yet to be lived through lol.i find the ones i have are do or die merchants so far,the older dog 5 years old has taken everything i put to him regularly,hes got amazing drive and when not hunting is laid back like you wouldnt believe,I am not an out and out coursing man.i like to fool around in many different ways and the lot I have so far has pleased me,ferreting,foxing and the other bits ans bobs,theres so much more to them than running big rabbits.

[two crows 3,342]

jigsaw your on the right wavelength most dog men who fail with saluki crosses are not regardless of the bond they have with the dog but it is always the dog that gets rubbished? as said before keep it simple regards two crows.

[Silversnake 1,099]

I am very interested in this thread as I own a 4 month old saluki x staghound bitch which is my first experience with the breed. So far I have loved every minute with her. She is a bit 'different' and her and my wife have a running battle going on which I enjoy watching. She will definitely be used on more than just hares and I have high hopes for her in the field but time will tell... One thing I think is important (from my very limited experience) is that patience is important with any dog but even more so with salukis. I hope it all works out for you.

[J Darcy 5,871]

Rear them like any other lurcher. They are a one man dog, and once they are your pal then there's nothing you can't do with them...

 

It's all about forming a bond, not being rough with them and then getting through the adolescence stage. IMO

[DanRaistrick 53]

I'll probably get grief off the Saluki lads for this, but this is just my experience;

 

Ive got a Saluki Whippet Grey bitch, very fast, fit and can catch with ease. All was going well until she hit around 18 months old, since then it has all been a downward spiral. She is very ignorant now, sometimes not even acknowledging her name. She doesn't 'run away' but shows no interest in me and refuses to come close enough to get her lead on. I have tried absolutely everything to get her back on track, but nothing has worked. She now will no longer retrieve game, jump, be re-called or anything to be honest. As mentioned above the bond is very important with these dogs, but I believe that no matter what you do it all relies on the dog to want to bond with you. A lot of my friends have Saluki's, Saluki Greyhounds and Saluki Lurchers, most of them do have issues of some sort with their obedience bar the odd couple.

 

Personally, I don't rate the Saluki cross. My Deerhound Greyhound bitch is ten times the dog of my Saluki cross, she's everything I could ask for in a longdog (and before someone starts with the 'Deerhound crosses don't have stamina' routine, I invite anyone to come for a walk out so I may prove you wrong).

 

I personally wouldn't have a Saluki cross again due to the frustration mine has caused me. I just find that they don't offer anything more than most other decent worker to worker crosses, and the majority of the time they are harder to train. The loss of the bond may of been down to my inexperience, which im man enough to admit. However, none of my other two dogs went through this 'rebellious adolescence' stage so from my experience I put it down to her breeding.