Compared Saluki Standard: FCI 2000 and 1997

Current official Saluki Standard for FCI countries is: FCI STANDARD No 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 Comission of the FCI. Origin: Middle East / FCI Patronage Date of Publication of the Original Valid Standard: 25.10.2000 UTILISATION: Hunting and coursing Hound Classification FCI: Group 10 Sighthounds / Long Haired or fringed Sighthounds / Without working trial
`SALUKI - 10th Group, FCI #269`
`Current as of Nov. 2000`		`Adopted from 1997 to 2000`
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 thousand 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 the 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.		Elegant dog of slightly elongated construction, the balance of which expresses strength, endurance and agility, qualities which make him capable of lithe and rapid movements in sight coursing on rocky ground or in deep sand. The Saluki can be fringed or shorthaired. The expression should be dignified and gentle,with deep, faithful, far-seeing eyes The relation between the body length and the height at the withers is of (maximum) 10:9 (slightly elongated rectangle)
TEMPERAMENT
BEHAVIOUR TEMPERAMENT: Reserved with strangers, but not nervous or aggressive. Dignified, intelligent and independent.		Gives the impression of being very calm, almost melancholic until the moment he is given freedom of movement; reserved towards strangers and all which is unusual; neither nervous, timid or aggressive
HEAD
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.		Head: Long, narrow and lean. Skull moderately broad between ears, not domed. Stop not pronounced. Nose: Black to liver (brown).
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		From dark to hazel colour, bright, large, not prominent, with an oval palpebral opening
EARS
Long and covered with long silky hair, set on high, mobile, hanging close to the skull		Long and very mobile, quite high set, at rest they are carried flat against the cheeks; when the dog is attentive, they are carried higher and directed forward. In the variety with fringes, the ear is covered completely or partially with silky hairs, the length of which is varialble. At control of length, the extremity of the ear must reach the corner of the lips
MOUTH
Teeth and jaws are strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite		Dentition and jaws are strong and present a perfect scissor bite, regular and complete, i.e. the upper incisors cover the lower ones in tight contact, are squarely implanted in relation to the jaws
NECK
Long, supple and well muscled		Long, flexible and well muscled
BODY
The length of the body (from the 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. 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		The relation between the body length and the height at the withers is of (maximum) 10:9 (slightly elongated rectangle) Back: of moderate width. Loin: Seen from the side the marked development of the musculature leads to a slight curve at loin level, although the ensemble is never arched; in the frame of the general proportions, the loin is sufflciently long to show off the slightly elongated format. Croup: Long and moderately slanting Belly (Abdomen): well tucked up Chest: Long and deep, neither barrel-ribbed nor slab-sided, moderately narrow. Seen from the front, the brisket is sufflciently let down, without excess, but certainly not hollow; the prosternum is visible
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.		Forelegs straight and long from elbow to carpus. Flat bone structure. Shoulders: Slanting and well laid back, flat musculature well developed without seeming coarse. Upper Arm: Slightly slanting backwards. Pastern (Metacarpus): Seen from the side not vertical but slightly oblique towards the front in relation to the axis of the forearm.
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.		Strong, the haunch bones well apart: upper and lower thigh broad seen from the side, showing a good flat musculature. Stifle: Moderately angulated. Hock Joint: Low set.
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.		Feet strong and supple, of moderate length, not short and rounded like cat feet; the toes are long and well arched, not splayed; there may be hair between the toes: the two central toes are definitely longer than the lateral ones. The hind feet have the same characteristics as the front feet, but are a little less long.
GAIT / MOVEMENT
Smooth, flowing and effortless at trot. Light and lifting showing both reach and drive without hackney action or pounding.		At the trot, the gait appears effortless, fluent, very supple and lithe, well balanced between front and rear. The strides are even and ground covering. No goose stepping or hackney action nor plodding; the whole movement without exaggeration. Seen from the front and behind in action, the legs must have a natural tendency to converge to the median line of the body without paddling, nor crossing over or mutual interference.
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. Tip reching at least to the point of the hock.		Long, low set and carried naturally curved in the prolongation of the top line (never rolled up). Its underside is furnished with more or less long silky feathering, is never bushy. Its extremity reaches at least the hock.
COAT
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.		Smooth silky texture, top coat (protective hair) being sllghtly harsher than the feathering which is supple, soft and silky; feathering more or less abundant, at the back of the front legs and particularly of the hind legs. There may be feathering at the throat. Puppies may temporarily have more woolly feathering on shoulders and thighs. Short Haired Variety: The top coat is mostly shorter, than in the fringed variety, but there is no feathering at all. Apart from the nature of the coat, all judging criteria are identical.
COLOUR
Any colour or combination of colours is permissible. Brindles are undesirable.		All colours and all combinations of colours are admitted
SIZE
Height at whiters: Average between 58 - 71 cm (23 - 28 inches), bitches proportionally smaller		Sought after height at the withers 58.5 to 71cm (23 to 28 inches)
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
NOTE
Males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum