For a short time I had the privilege of being personally acquainted with a true Arabian desert saluki. He came walking into my garden from the desert, a piece of rope that he had chewed through still around his neck. He was pathetically thin, even for a thin race. I am sure it was to his gentle nature that both my other dogs accepted the newcomer without any kind of protest. Even more remarkable this was also the case with my old cat, who usually hated intruders. Although I respected the dog from the first moment, it took me a while longer to get used to him and become close. The reason was that he gave an impression of being aloof. Later I learned that this is a characteristic of this race of dog. In fact, it turned out that Adrian, as I called him, was fairly typical of the breed.

    He stood half a meter high on thin legs, with a deep and narrow chest, a very long neck and a long and narrow head. When he arrived his tail was like a piece of string, but with good food and lots of care, he developed a beautiful tuft of long hairs at the tip of his tail. His legs became feathered and the long hair on his ears grew out till they looked like a head dress. What impressed me most even in the early days was his dignified and gentle expression. His eyes were large and oval, honey-coloured.

    The desert saluki is the oldest breed of domesticated dog, known to be with man since about 7000 years. The oldest image of a saluki was on pottery dated back to the Halaf period in northern Iraq - 5300-4300 BC. Images of the saluki occur on paintings in Egyptian tombs, in Sumerian buildings and Assyrian temples. The first physical evidence was the find of a skull in a dig near Mosul in Iraq, dating back to 4400-3800 BC. Salukis were also found in a tomb in Rekkmara (1400 BC) and a drawing was found on a tablet in the tomb of Pharaoh Antefe II. Salukis were often mummified and buried alongside their master. The saluki has been found in a range that covers Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Arabia, Egypt and North Africa.

    The Islam rules regarding cleanliness do not apply to the saluki, which is not considered a dog. He is specifically sanctioned by the prophet.

    A bedu considers the saluki a gift of Allah. He will never sell his dog but he may give it away as a special and precious gift. There is such a strong bond between the saluki and his master that the dog will pine if separated from him.

    Not only is the saluki a faithful companion, but he is also a multi-game, multi-terrain coursing hound. He has hunted gazelles, hares, bustards, jackals, foxes and even wild asses.

    A bedu looks for many different features in a good saluki.

    The nose has to be black or dark brown - a mottled nose is not a good sign. His jaws must be "laughing" as this denotes a powerful bite. A small patch of white hair in the middle of the forehead is called "the kiss of Allah" and a similar patch on the sides of the neck is called "the thumbprint of Allah" and these patches signify a very special dog. A white-tipped tail means that the dog is an excellent hunter, while a white streak along the neck tells the bedu that the dog is a fast runner. The floppy ears must reach the corner of the mouth. Feathering between the toes and pads provides protection against hot sand. Sometimes the feet of the saluki are treated with henna to give extra protection. An amazing characteristic is the way salukis smell - of perfumed powder. They have a special gland at the back of their head that produces a sweet-smelling secretion. This is another reason why the bedu enjoy salukis.

    The loin of the dog should be so slim that one should be able to span it with two hands. The tail, feathered underneath, should always be carried in a curve, except when the hound is coursing when it can be stretched.

    The working gait of saluki is a double suspension gallop, which means that all 4 feet are off the ground in flexion and in extension. He can maintain a speed of 35- 45 miles per hour for up to five miles!

    When the dog moves at a trot he seems to prance or almost float. It is a superbly beautiful, effortless movement.  Very interesting movement is the "spy-hop", a vertical jump up to 7 feet high, used by the dog when he is chasing game, in order to be able to see where his quarry is going. It is a significant hunting characteristic.

    There are various opinions about the relationship of the saluki to wild forefathers. The most acceptable of all the speculations is the one that shows a relationship between the saluki and the Cape hunting dog. A "wild" characteristic that both dogs have is the fact that females will regurgitate food for their puppies.

    The saluki has become a favourite breed of dogs for other people besides the bedu.

    They are not easy to have in house, as they need an enormous amount of exercise and become easily bored if kept cooped up. They are quite intelligent and have been observed thinking through problems and coming up with solutions.

    I once observed Adrian in the field as he chased a hare. Up till that time I thought that the hares could escape being caught because they could outrun him if they had enough of a head start. But one day I was sitting on a rather high perch in my 4WD vehicle when Adrian flushed a hare quite close by. He loped after the hare in long easy bounds and overtook the small animal with ease. But he did not grab it, but took a few more bounds past the animal, then turned and spooked it, so that it made a sideways leap and took off in a different direction. Adrian followed and continued the chase that to him was a fun game (doubtless the hare had another idea about this). I saw him repeat the maneuver twice after that, until he finally let the hare go, knowing full well that neither he nor I needed it for food.

    The UAE has a Saluki breeding centre on the grounds of the ERWDA falcon hospital near the airport of Abu Dhabi. The centre, founded and managed by saluki-enthusiast Hamad al Ghanem, breeds pure desert salukis and trains them to hunt. Not all salukis have feathered legs, tails and ears. There is also a smooth breed. Both varieties are well represented at the centre. They are not easy to train as they have a strong will of their own and their loyalty is not linked to unquestioning obedience. But at the centre they are being taught to catch a hare without killing it - an amazing feat for a predator.

    In Europe and America there are many saluki clubs where the dogs are bred for coursing as well as domestic pets. Those like me who have had a close acquaintance with a saluki have usually fallen deeply in love with the breed. I have heard Hamad describe his favourite dog and it was the same description I would have given of my Adrian:

    Beautiful, regal, sensitive, loyal, protective, intelligent, elegant, always good-humoured and gentle, and with a good sense of fun.

    A tenth Century poet, Abu Nawus wrote:

    "I will sing the praise of a hound whose owner's good fortune is assured by his tremendous effort. All the good things they have come from him

    His master is always like a slave to him, at night he brings him nearest his beds, if he is uncovered his master puts on him his own coat…

    What a fine hound you are, without equal."

    I agree totally! My special relationship with Adrian lasted only 18 months. Someone shot him during his run in the desert and I was devastated when I found his remains. He lies buried in a special spot in his beloved dunes and has left me with one of the most precious memories of my time in Arabia.