Salukis are famous for their independent yet sensitive nature. They can pick up emotions and will get stressed when things are not right. Therefore, there is a high chance that you Saluki may start crying.
So, why do Salukis cry? Salukis cry due to their sensitive nature. Their brain function is such that they can easily find things to depress them or make them sad. For instance, if you leave your Saluki, it is likely to get bored and may end up crying. However, trying to cheer it up through bonding or going for a walk will stop the crying.
A Saluki may also cry if it is not having its way. If your dog wants to stay in a specific place but you insist on your way, it is normal for it to cry, communicating that it is unhappy. Unstable homes with constant fights may also depress Salukis and make them cry. Thus, if you own this type of dog, you should be sensitive to its emotions and provide a stable and peaceful environment to ensure it is always happy.
Belonging to the hound group, Salukis are prey dogs with tremendous speed. They are hunters and will chase their prey and everything on the move for food or fun. They will also jump around people and play-bite all over them.
Salukis will calm down with age or through training. During their puppy stage, they are hyperactive, and you should be ready to match their energy. However, you can get rid of their excess energy through exercise.
Daily walks can calm your Saluki, but runs are more effective. You can use balls to make your Saluki run, but your playful dog may not always come back with the ball as you expect. Either way, such games are good exercises for your dog.
To ensure your Saluki gets enough exercise, you should provide enough running space. You should fence the area with at least a six-foot-high fence since Salukis are independent and might take off at any opportunity and never come back.
This explains why they are not suitable growing in apartments. Once you meet your Saluki’s exercise needs, it will remain calm and quiet. Exercise also prevents boredom which may stress your dog.
While exercise is good to calm your Saluki, you should consult your vet before starting a program with your dog. Also, while these dogs can be very active, they do not make good playmates for children, especially the younger ones who are rowdy and cuddly.
These dogs also have an insatiable appetite and will steal food whenever they get an opportunity. They will also chase your cat and other dogs at every opportunity and jump over fences.
If not controlled, your Saluki might seriously injure or kill your neighbor’s cats and dogs. Thus, in captivity, you should limit its movement with a leash or train it to live with smaller animals without chasing them. A Saluki that has grown with your other household pets is less likely to chase them.
If you bring a Saluki into your home, you will need to train it to coexist with members of your household and other pets. Given its sensitive temperament, training should comprise gentle commands and treats.
Staying calm through the training will prevent anxiety, and your pet will develop trust faster. For better results, you should start training once you bond with your dog. To calm your dog, teach it to relax in its bed after exercises and give it a treat, then repeat this until it becomes its behavior.
Cuddling
Salukis are independent dogs but sensitive to correction. This independence is due to the prey nature that enables them to survive in the wild. Despite this independence, Salukis are sensitive dogs and will become affectionate towards their owners in captivity.
Salukis do not like cuddling due to their aloof and non-demonstrative personality. These dogs will love their owners but will not necessarily assure them through cuddles. Thus, like other sighthounds, a Saluki will be very uncomfortable if you cuddle them.
For this reason, they are better pets for older children, preferably eight years or more. Younger children are clingy, and a Saluki may not tolerate this behavior.
A Saluki that loves you will lay at your feet rather than your lap to prevent too much contact. It will also be comfortable around you and identify a comfortable area in your house to soothe its bony self. If given the freedom, these dogs would even go ahead and lay comfortably on your bed if it is large. Given their independent nature, it is normal for a Saluki to jump when you touch it without it expecting.
Emotions
Despite their independence, a Saluki is an emotional dog and will bond with at least one member of your household. Usually, the person that feeds, exercises, and spends the most time with it will become its favorite human. This relationship will be evident as the Saluki will be more comfortable when this member is around.
When this member leaves home, the Saluki will suffer anxiety and become stressed. An anxious Saluki will pace when they see their favorite human wearing shoes or holding the keys in preparation to leave. It will also bark excessively and howl while they are away, become destructive by tearing cushions and chewing things.
Out of distress, these dogs may also urinate or defecate on the floor. Thus, if you have a schedule that keeps you away from home most of the time, a Saluki is not the ideal breed for you.
Why Do Lurchers Whine?
In captivity, dogs communicate with their owners through sounds and body language. Therefore, understanding your dog’s communication is crucial to meeting its needs.
Lurchers are vocal breeds and will whine to get their owners’ attention. This could be because they want to go out, occupy a certain space, or need you to remove an obstacle. For instance, if someone sits on your lurcher’s favorite seat in the house, it will whine to alert you that it wants to sit, and you should remove them.
A lurcher may also whine due to boredom, worms, or disease. If your lurcher continues whining after you’ve met its need, it could be diseased, and you should take it to the vet for a checkup.
Whining can be annoying and disrupt your peace if uncontrolled. Thus, if your dog whines at you, you should address its need immediately. You can do this by providing distractions such as toys stacked with food; therefore, it will spend time trying to access the food and will stop whining. If your dog whines due to hunger, you should feed it when it stops whining to discourage it. Feeding it while it whines will encourage this behavior by associating it with treats.
Training your lurcher a few commands may also help stop the whining. Dogs learn easily when you respond negatively to their bad behavior. For instance, you can ignore your dog completely by not looking, speaking, or touching it when it starts whining.
Alternatively, teach it the “settle down” command and tell it with a firm, yet kind, tone to let it know you are not pleased with this behavior and stop whining. You can also leave it on its own and let it settle down by itself.
Wrap Up
Salukis are independent yet sensitive dogs. They will cry when stressed, lonely, or if they do not have their way. Therefore. an unstable home with constant violence is unfriendly for these pets. Despite being emotional, these dogs do not like cuddling.
They will develop a bond with their owner but will not show it publicly due to their independence. Thus, if you are looking for a pet that will give you company, a Saluki may not be ideal. Salukis are also unsuitable for young children who like cuddling, but they can coexist with older children.
At their puppy stage, Salukis are very active, but you can calm them with regular exercise. Runs bring the best results and having enough space for your dog is necessary. You should also train your Saluki to coexist with your other pets, given their natural hunting instinct. Failure to do this will make them chase your cats and dogs and injure or even kill them.
Lurchers, like Salukis, are hound dogs; hence, active. They are also vocal dogs and will whine to communicate when hungry or require attention. This behavior is annoying over time, but with training, your pet can limit the whining. If the whine is due to disease or parasite infestation, you should take your pet to the vet for a checkup and treatment. By understanding your dog’s behavior and body language, you will meet its needs to ensure it is happy and healthy.
