Saluki vs Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Picardy Spaniel hails from France and has always been used as a gundog, having been crossed with different British hunting dogs.

While this dog breed is related to the Blue Picardy Spaniel, the Picardy is the older of the two breeds. It has always been sought after by the French nobility for its hunting skills and the fact that its weather resistant coat allowed it to hunt in all kinds of weather conditions.

The dog’s popularity waned in the early 20th century. The UKC have recognized the Picardy Spaniel as a Gun Dog and the breed has also been accepted within the FCI as a Pointing dog group.

It seems as though the Saluki's origins go far back to ancient Egypt times. The dog is known for its superb hunting abilities.

These dogs have been known in the Middle East and could be found in Iran and Egypt too. Breeding with other dogs was forbidden so the Saluki has remained unchanged for thousands of years.

It has always been known over the centuries for its superb grace and speed as well as endurance. He is capable of that because of the tall, sleek, muscular body and long, narrow head.

The Saluki came to England in the 1900s, and today the dog comes in quite a few variations.

The Picardy Spaniel is larger than other spaniels. It is described as a medium sized dog, standing at 56 – 61cm in height and weighing between 20 and 25 kilograms. The body of the spaniel is squarely built and muscular body. The dog has long floppy ears and the coat which is shortish in areas except for feathering around the legs and belly can vary in colour from red to chestnut brown to sandy and chocolate. The tail is long and feathered.

Temperament:

The Picardy Spaniel is a docile breed of dog and makes a great family pet, loving being playful with the children in the home and getting on well with other dogs. He is gentle but sociable and intelligent too and is easy to train and socialize.

Although he has been used as a hunting dog he can slot into life in the city or the countryside. He can be indoors or outdoors and still be happy, so long as his family members are close by.

He is an active dog though, and won’t be content to be sitting around for too long, loving nothing more than to be chasing a ball or going for a walk with you.

The Saluki is a graceful, elegant looking dog, deep chested and long legged, much like the Greyhound and fairly closely related to the Afghan Hound.

They stand at between 58 and 71cm and weigh between 16 to 29kg. The head is long and narrow, the eyes large and the dog has floppy ears. The tail is long and curved. The coat of the Saluki comes in a number of different colours and these can be fawn, cream, white, tan, some black or it can have a blend of all these colours. The coat of this dog comes in two types - smooth and the feathered type. The fur is always beautifully silky and is considered to be low-shedding.

These dogs are also very fast runners, and if you check the Guinness Book of Records, you’ll see that the Saluki is listed there as being one of the fastest dogs with tremendous stamina.

Temperament:

Th Saluki is a beautiful, quiet, dignified, reserved, loyal dog. You can just see that he is intelligent. He is certainly affectionate with his human family but you wouldn’t call him demonstrative. He isn’t the kind of dog to be wildly prancing around wagging his tail furiously.

He’s the kind of dog that likes to give chase so you’ll need a large garden for him. It’s why he isn’t suited for city life on a small property. The countryside is a far better option for this tall dog.

When he’s not outdoors, he can easily curl up on your sofa for a few hours of utter relaxation. Training and socialization will be necessary for this shy dog as it not only makes him obedient, but it gives him some confidence with knowing how to behave in different circumstances. He’ll get on well with older children, but is fairly indifferent and intolerant to small kids, especially those that are undisciplined and left to climb over him.

The Picardy Spaniel is a docile dog who forms strong bonds with his human family.

He doesn’t gel easily with strangers though, but socialization and training will at least make him well behaved among strangers.

A well-mannered Picardy Spaniel is a joy in the home, and this gentle dog is guaranteed to make you the most wonderfully loyal and loving pet and companion.

The Saluki loves his human family, and he’s the kind of dog that wouldn’t like to be owned by one family ad then given away to another later on. That's why make sure when you get your Saluki your intentions are to keep him.

He likes to be comfortable too when they’re not running outside, and a good bed is important to him. Salukis are naturally thin, so make sure not to overfeed him. These are quiet, calm dogs, but over the centuries they've been making reliable, steadfast pets and companions.

Without any major health issues, your Picardy can reach 14 years of age and possibly even older. A couple of common dog conditions to be on the watch for include:

Ear Infections:

Your beautiful Picardy Spaniel has floppy ears and this opens up the tendency to suffer with ear infections. The inside of the ears are moist and hot and you as the dog owner can try to keep the inside of the ear clean and dry.

He is a dog that loves water too, and swimming encourages dampness. If you prefer not to work on the inside of the ears, dog groomers or your vet can clean the ears for you. An ear infection can be painful for your pet and it will require veterinary intervention.

Obesity:

These are dogs which can pick up weight quite easily. Dogs which are overweight are more prone to developing cancer, diabetes and heart disease, not to mention joint problems.

Other problems to look out for include cancer, bloat, dental disease and parasites.

We always mention hip dysplasia as a common dog ailment as so many dog breeds can succumb to this ailment. With the Saluki, hip dysplasia is uncommon. Cancer and cardiac issues are more prevalent with these dogs.

Cancer:

It is sad to realize that dogs are susceptible to the same types of cancer as people are. If the uncontrolled growth of cells in the body isn’t discovered in time, cancer can reach the circulatory or lymph systems and other parts of the body. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death with dogs. The good news is that it is treatable if you catch it in the early stages.

One of the more common types of cancer in dogs is Lymphoma. This can affect any dog, and at any age too. There are swollen lymph nodes under the neck and the dog can have trouble with breathing and digestion. You’ll notice lumps underneath the dog's skin, abnormal discharges from the eyes, ears or rectum, non-healing wounds, coughing and pain.

Grooming:

Your Picardy has a thick coat which sheds and the coat should be brushed at least twice a week to prevent matting. The ears of the Picardy Spaniel require special attention. Because they are long they will need to be cleaned and kept dry otherwise an ear infection can develop.

At the same time, check your pet over for ticks and fleas, check his eyes, keep the nails trimmed, and check inside his mouth for rotting teeth which can be the source of many health problems if left untreated.

Feeding your Picardy:

If you have a puppy, you will need to provide 4 bowls of food in a 24 hour period. Check on the directions provided on the food packaging to see how much to feed your puppy.

By the time your Picardy is one year of age, he can move over to 2 bowls of food a day. Only the highest quality commercially manufactured food will be good enough for your dog. Food and its quality impacts the health and longevity of your pet.

Apart from dry kibble, try and provide some home-made food, keeping it as simple as possible. Dogs thrive on simple, consistent foods. Chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots added to the kibble now and then will thrill your pet. Occasionally you can also add in some raw meat.

Avoid feeding your dog things like coffee, chocolates, popcorn, nuts and onions as all these will just upset your dog's digestive system. The secret is to keep things simple and nutritious.

Make sure your pet always has access to fresh, cool water.

These tall, slender dogs love to run free and it's the kind of dog that will need regular and different forms of exercise.

Provide your Saluki with a comfortable, warm, dry bed with lots of padding.

The Saluki has smooth, silky hair so brush it twice a week to keep it gleaming.

To help your Saluki have a strong immune system, he needs the best food there is. Good food packed with vitamins and minerals instead of preservative and colorants will help him fight diseases like cancer.

Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient and nutritious if you get the better quality ones. Give him some home-made food too and add it twice a week to the dry kibble. This will provide variety and a tasty treat. Boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach are simple foods – just like dogs want.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock.