Salukis

I've had limited hands on experience with these beautiful dogs.  What I can tell you is that Salukis are one of the most ancient of all dogs.  They are aloof with strangers and sometimes with family members as well. 
 
Don't let their calm demeanor fool you.  There is no dog faster over a long distance than a Saluki.  They can run for miles at or close to top speed.  Remember that they are highly prey driven dogs and the best hunters were bred to the best hunters for thousands of years.  So this drive is not something that you can train out of them, as it is instinctual.
 
I would also love to have a Saluki, but you need to ask yourself this question:  Are you prepared for a dog that has almost no will to please?  A dog that doesn't really seem to care if you're happy or not?
 
 
 

sounds like owning a wolf without the liability.... kinda.... if it eats the neighbour's cat, then you're in trouble..
i've met some at dog shows. i like photographing them but it never occurred to me to go up and pet them. some dog handlers get 'tudes even if you ASK to pet their dogs.. and i am not talking about just before they go into the ring either..

i also saw a thing on animal planet about them. they're highly valued in their native country and a woman trying to get dogs for her breeding program had to go through all kinds of crap to get what she wanted.
i like them, i think they're beautiful, but i believe i would prefer to own a larger sight hound.... i'm just... a big dog person i guess lol

by the way, dont most sight hounds have the unwillingness to please attitude?

as shallow as this will sound they intrigue me due to wanting one to show hehe. I really want a show dog I did a bit of showing with my english bull terrier but in NZ our breeders are either in it for the money or for personal breeding so it's very hard to get into the scene here, with a nice dog unless you have lots of money or know the right people hehe. So I thought if I went for a breed that isn't well known here in NZ and show at a high standard I would be more likely to get a dog that I can be competitive with I don't expect to clean up every show but I need something to keep me interested at least hehe. Ok I have just figured out I am shallow oh well *snort*

Hunter, just because you'd like to stand out from the rest of the show crowd doesn't mean you are shallow.  Most of us that show want to have something special-and we do. 
 
One thing to keep in mind with hounds of any type, they aren't always the most willing to please dogs-either in the show ring or outside of it.  Also, if there aren't many Salukis in the shows, it will take a lot of coordination to get your dog a champion status. 
 

  i also saw a thing on animal planet about them. they're highly valued in their native country

 
Actually no one is really sure from which country they originate, but they do come from the middle east region of the world.  And yes, a good Saluki is highly valued by the owners.  A good Saluki though, is a relative term.  To us it might mean one that has excellent conformation-to them it means a dog that is an excellent courser of game.
 

  by the way, dont most sight hounds have the unwillingness to please attitude?

 
Most do, but Salukis and other regional dogs have an independence about them that is remarkable.  Remember they have thousands of years of independent thought and decision making bred into them.