Mealtimes

There are many varied and valid opinions on the most suitable diet for sighthounds. Some owners prefer to follow a natural diet of raw meat, cereals and vegetables, while others prefer to use premium-quality dog foods. Do remember that your Saluki puppy will have special nutritional requirements for the first year of her life while she is growing up, so a balanced diet with the correct nutrients in the correct amounts is essential. You should follow the breeder's recommendations and feed your puppy the same type of food in the same quantities to which she has been accustomed. Should you later decide to change the diet, you should do so very gradually to prevent upsetting the puppy's digestive system.

With regard to the feeding routine, you might want to consider the following:
*  Weigh your puppy regularly to monitor growth. If you feed one of the balanced premium-quality foods, the recommended daily allowance  is based on the puppy's weight. The variance allows for the puppy's activity levels - so a highly active Saluki may need the greater recommended amount. Monitor weight gain carefully.... if there is any sign of putting on too much weight, reduce the amount accordingly.
*  Divide the puppy's daily allowance into three portions (breakfast, lunch, and supper). Gradually, your puppy will ease herself out of the noon meal, then you can continue to feed two meals a day.
*  As the puppy grows, so do the legs, so it is very good practice to raise the feeding bowl to a comfortable height of about 30 - 40cms from the ground - a crate works fine.
*  It is a good idea to get the puppy accustomed to wearing a snood (a tube-like garment worn over the ears) at an early age to protect the ear fringes as they start to grow.
*  Stay with the puppy while she is eating - this way you can ensure that she eats her food as required and you'll be able to notice immediately if there is a loss of appetite.
*  Under no circumstances should you leave food down for the puppy to help herself during the day - this practice leads to all kinds of nutritional disorders and behavioural problems.
* If your puppy shows no interest in her food after about 10-15 mins, take it away. If it is a temporary loss of appetite, monitor her carefully. Avoid the temptation to fuss or force-feed, otherwise mealtimes could become a stressful, rather than pleasurable, experience.
*  Always have enough cool, fresh water down for your Saluki.
*  Avoid the temptation to feed table scraps and titbits other than those recommended by the breeder. You will not only be unbalancing your puppy's diet, but you could encourage eating disorders and bad habits.
*  Never supplement the diet with calcium and other additives when feeding one of the premium-quality processed dog foods. Doing so will unbalance the diet and cause nutritional problems.
*  Try to feed at the same time each day. A dog appreciates routine and does not need variety, like humans do!

Fussy eaters

A Saluki that becomes a fussy eater is extremely problematic. This behavioural problem often develops when a routine is not established or if the puppy has a nasty experience during a mealtime, such as other dogs threatening to eat her food, and so on. Some Salukis simply refuse to eat more than the barest minimum to keep them alive. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to deal with a Saluki that stares at her food without touching a morsel. Patience and a calm environment helps - showing frustration doesn't.

So, do you stand by fretfully and watch your puppy refuse food day after day, or do you try various other diets. Changing the diet frequently is very seldom very successful - the puppy only seems to become even more fussy! More success has been attained through putting the food down at regular times and maintaining a calm, pleasurable environment than any other method. Eventually, the puppy will eat, and while she may still not eat enough to put on weight, at least she eats! Fortunately, most Saluki youngsters grow out of this bad habit as they mature.

A full grown, healthy Saluki should have its hipbones showing slightly, and two to three ribs just visible beneath the skin.  The flesh should be firm, well muscled with no excess fat, and the coat should have a healthy sheen. If your Saluki doesn't fit this description - look at the diet!

Things to eat

Suitable titbits (given occasionally as a treat or reward) and allowable extras can include:
*  good quality dog biscuits (not too many - remember that waistline)
*  doggy chews and commercial bribes
*  sterilised cow hooves or pig's ears (excellent to reduce plaque)
*  very large marrow bones
*  uncooked chicken necks or wings

Things to avoid

*  chocolate
*  sharp cooked bones
*  potato
*  raw egg white
*  avocado pear

© Joy McFarlane
Fleetwind Salukis