How Much Does a Saluki Dog Cost?

Getting a canine friend these days comes at a huge financial cost. People are willing to pay thousands of dollars to get one single puppy. If you’ve tried a hand on pet parenting before, you know the truth to this statement. Before you go out there and add a pet to your family, you might want to know how much the dog will cost you.

The Saluki is one of the oldest yet highly sought-after breeds across the planet. With a graceful attitude, an athletic body, and a great temperament, it is easy to see why it is beloved in America and the world over. In this guide, we go into detail about the cost of owning a Saluki.

First Things First…Is The Saluki Right For You?

In case you haven’t technically made up your mind about whether or not to get a Saluki, knowing more about the breed might shed some light. Also called the Persian Greyhound or the Gazelle Hound, the Saluki is a slender but athletic dog of the hound family. He has origins in the Middle East where he walked side by side with Arab hunters. Nomadic Muslims loved this dog that they considered him a gift from Allah. Despite looking at dogs as unclean animals, they referred to the Saluki at ‘El Hor’ which means ‘The Noble’.

The Saluki undoubtedly lives up to that name in a lot of ways. Beautiful, reserved, and affectionate, this breed is a happy and devoted dog. His companionship is rather quiet but even without saying a lot, you can tell his loyalty and affection towards you. With proper socialization, he is good with kids and other pets. With a smooth coat, he is a non-shedder and is low on maintenance.

Salukis are prized for their exotic appearance. They are slender and athletic with a smooth coat that has fur in various parts.  As a medium-sized breed, he measures 35-70 pounds and stands at a height of 23-28 inches. The body is muscular and athletic, meaning he is high on energy. If you have a big yard, he will be very happy running around to burn off some energy. This is no breed for apartment living unless you live near an enclosed park or field. Indoors, the breed will be content lying on the bed or the sofa. He loves cushioning for his bony body.

Finally, this breed is rather headstrong. He doesn’t do well in obedience training unless you have a firm and consistent leader at home.

Saluki Price

Just a quick Google search about the Saluki price and you will find that this is no cheap dog. He is among the list of the world’s most expensive dog breeds. On average, a Saluki puppy will set you back approximately $2.500. Turns out this beautiful dog is prized for being the oldest domesticated pooch in the human race. Back when dogs were viewed by the nomadic Bedouins as unclean animals, the Saluki secured a spot in their homes and they saw it as upper-crust. The Pharaos of Egypt also considered them to be royalty.

Whether you are looking for the smooth-haired or feathered varieties, expect to pay that much for a single puppy. Some resources actually claim that a Saluki dog can go as high as $5,000 or more.

Factors Affecting the Price of the Saluki

As you have seen, the Saluki price ranges from $2,500-$5,000. What causes the disparity?

1. Health

Not all breeders out there are kind enough to breed puppies morally. Many are only after the show ring glory. They will do anything including line-breeding to get the breed standard. Ultimately, these practices lead to unhealthy dogs with shorter life spans. The sad part is that Kennel clubs reward them for these irresponsible practices. Smart dog owners care less about the show ring—their goal is to end to end up with healthy puppies. A good healthy puppy will cost more but it is worth it in the end. You’d rather pay more and have a healthy puppy with a longer life span than pay less for an unhealthy pup.

2. Potty Training

A potty-trained Saluki puppy understandably fetches a good price in the market than one that still soils the house.

3. Location

Different regions prize the Saluki differently. Since he is a good hunting buddy, he is loved in regions with hunters. As a smooth-coated canine, he may not be the best in cold areas. Huge demand pushes the Saluki price up while low demand keeps it low.

4. Medical Records

There are plenty of vaccine shots and tests that Saluki puppies must go through in their first year of life. These include things like Distemper, Parvovirus, Bordetella, Lyme disease, and Influenza vaccinations. A puppy with these records costs more than the one without. Breeders use a lot of money to carry out medical tests and vaccinations affecting the final cost of the puppy.

5. Pedigree

If you want your puppy to be registered in kennel clubs, you will pay handsomely for it than if you did away with the whole pedigree thing altogether.

6. Training

As mentioned earlier, a Saluki is no easy dog to train. You need a loving and patient trainer who uses positive reinforcement to train him. If you don’t have the time and energy to train your puppy, you can opt for one that has already been trained. This will save you the cost of hiring a trainer for him. The only downside? You will give the breeder more cash for a trained Saluki puppy than an untrained one.

Final Thoughts

Affectionate, devoted, loyal, playful, and cute, the Saluki is the perfect family dog. If you are willing to part with $2,500 – $5,000, you will get yourself a sweet Saluki puppy. Of course, if you can’t afford that, you can choose to adopt one from your local shelter and pay only $300.