How much exercise does a Saluki need?
Daily exercise minutes, the activities a Saluki enjoys and signs of too much or too little.
Salukis need around an hour of walking a day plus regular chances to gallop in a securely fenced area. Lure coursing, where dogs chase a plastic lure pulled along a line across a field, is ideal and runs through clubs in many countries. Their endurance also makes them good companions for long, steady countryside walks, provided they stay on a lead.
Never let a Saluki off lead near roads or in open country; once it sights something running, it can be out of view in seconds. Garden fences should be at least 1.8 m (6 ft) high. The breed feels the cold, so a fitted coat helps in winter, and soft bedding protects a bony frame. A bored Saluki paces and may chew; a well-run one sleeps most of the day.
Saluki exercise in numbers
Activity ranges are editorial planning estimates. The five-minutes-per-month puppy rule lacks scientific evidence. Adapt activity to the individual and seek advice for pain or exercise difficulty. PDSA puppy exercise guidance.
Editorial activity estimate
90 to 120 min
Puppy activity
Individual plan
adapt to age, health and development
Senior activity
Individual plan
adapt to comfort and ability
Size
medium
16 to 29 kg
Energy level
Playfulness
Handles heat
Handles cold