Grooming a saluki is easy—most of the time.  However, as befitting the breed’s overall diversity, individual differences in grooming needs abound. 

Smooths
First, the easy ones: the smooths. Smooth salukis have short, sleek hair that requires little but occasional bathing along with brushing to dislodge loose hair.  A rubber brush is good for pulling out dead hair, and a hound glove is good for polishing the coat for a final touch. The shampoo should be one formulated for dogs, and it can be followed by a crème rinse. Some smooths have slightly longer brush on the tail; most people leave it but some carefully scissor off the longer hairs to match the rest of the coat. 

Feathereds
Next, the sort of easy ones: the feathereds. You can take care of their body coat the same way you do the smooth’s body coat, although it is common for the hair to be slightly longer. Carefully brush the longer feathering at least once a week, preferably more, to dislodge tangles and avoid mats. Mats develop most often under the ears and between the toes.  First spraying with a de-tangler can help you split the mats apart lengthwise. 

The key to long feathering (besides genetics and nutrition) is cleanliness. Clean hair is less likely to mat, and thus more likely to live a long, unbroken existence. Some people spray the ears with a light conditioning oil, especially in dry climate. This can help keep the ear feathering in good shape and prevent matting, as long as it is washed out a couple of times a week. Most saluki people find their dogs grow sufficiently luxuriant feathering without oiling and conditioning, however. 

When washing feathering, keep in mind that some salukis (for example, many creams) tend to have a fluffier texture, whereas others (for example, many black & tans) tend to have a silkier texture. What works for one dog may not work for another. But in general, you can wash the feathering with the same dog shampoo you used on the rest of the body (which is the same as the one you used for the smooth saluki). A crème rinse will help keep the feathering from tangling, but if you wish your dog to look her best—for instance, for a dog show or photo session—experiment with using no crème rinse. Use a pin brush to blow dry the feathering to give it more body. 

Most salukis need no clipping or scissoring. The feathering should not be cut or shaped in any way. The long hair between the toes is a natural and desirable breed trait; however, it can be cut from the bottom of the foot if it causes the dog to slip on slick flooring.  Sometimes the hair under the tuck up can be long or messy, in which case it is acceptable to cut or subtly clip the hair to accentuate the natural underline. This does not mean shaving it with a surgical blade. It is customary to leave the vibrissae (whiskers) in place; they are never cut off for the show ring, as they are in many breeds. 

Puppies
Some, but not all, feathered saluki puppies grow a fuzzy puppy coat on their thighs, upper arms, chest, sides, and even the top of their heads. Most people enjoy the puppy fuzz stage, knowing it will eventually fall out when the adult coat comes in, and they will never get to see it again. It can, however, be frustrating to show a puppy with a lot of fuzz, so that you may wish to use a grooming stone to remove some or all of it. Be forewarned that if you elect to clip the fuzzy area, the hair will look clipped and dull, and unless you are very skilled, you may be unhappy with the end result. 

As the puppy ages, most of the fuzz will usually start to fall out, until what is left begins to look scraggly. This is when most people get out the grooming stone and remove the remaining fuzz. Be sure it’s not left between the front legs, where it will make the chest look very narrow. Some salukis grow some fuzz on their chest and lower thighs throughout their lives. For purposes of showing, most people will use a stone, stripping comb, or clipper to carefully neaten the area. 

Spayed and Neutered Dogs
Many feathered salukis, both male and female, grow a thick, fuzzy coat after they are neutered or spayed.  Some people enjoy combing and caring for their dog’s new found coat, and seem eager to meet the challenge of imitating an Afghan hound. But unless you can take good care of the longer coat, it can look scraggly. Besides, a saluki with long hair all over may not be the look you had in mind when you chose the breed. 

You can try to remove the fuzz as it comes in, either plucking by hand, or by using a stripping knife, grooming stone, or shedding blade. For dogs with profuse fuzz, this can be a daunting task. If you want to restore your saluki to svelte coatedness, you may have to use a clipper.  Use a 7F blade to clip the areas on the head, legs, and body that are not normally long. Use a 10 blade to clip the area under the tuck-up.  It will take a lot of practice before you achieve a natural look, but your saluki will probably enjoy the experience. 

Whatever you do, rest assured that your saluki will put the finishing touches on by digging in the mud or flopping in a puddle.  But she’ll still be beautiful.