April 1952

SALUKIS April 1952

SHOW SEASON, hand in hand with the breeding season, is upon us again, and our spare time is being pretty well taken up with exhibiting what we have already produced and trying to figure out how best to improve those of the future. In her breed survey for 1951, Mrs. Angels gives us some food for thought, along those lines in England’s Dog World. She writes:

"There is no need for me to summarize Saluki events during 1951, readers will know all the salient points already. They will also be aware that, true to the old tradition Salukis follow all the big events in history. Definitely 19951 showed a renewed interest in the breed Evidence of this lies in the greatly increased number of registrations, and the obvious attraction of the general public to the Saluki ringside and benches.

"As a non-exhibitor during the last 12 months I have attended most of the shows where Salukis were scheduled and have watched the judging with interest. During the past few years the tendency of our climate to produce everything on a large scale from vegetables to livestock has been fostered by certain judges who look for bone and brawn to the detriment of refinement. But this year, I am glad to note, the beautiful Syrian type is coming into its own again partly due to the recent introductions of imported blood. With a return to general fineness and quality it is hoped that our lovely hounds will regain their typical graceful action.

"Bad movement is the prevailing fault, today. Cat feet, wide fronts, and straight stifles utterly destroy the traditional prancing trot of the desert Saluki. Breeders must remember that the correct Saluki foot is long and flattish, with plenty of thick feathering between the toes,

"Temperaments have definitely improved. We seldom see the cowed, terrified creature that was once a common sight in the Saluki ring, and I feel that 1951 is a step in the right direction for the "hound of Allah’ to be once again the gem of perfection which Nature intended it to be."

I believe that the above is equally applicable here in America. We, too, have been fortunate enough to have a number of new imports, and with judicious experimentation their influence on the breed should soon be noticed.

Wig-wags from the Dog-tail Lounge: Correction-Mr. Gilfillan's import, Kadri Shah, was bred by Mr. Creighton of Berlin, but sired by Mrs. Angel’s Mazuri Kiraben. His dam is the German bitch, Ganetti v Arabien. Paul Welch's Ahmed Bey, currently being shown in the East, is a litter brother.

Maintaining body weight through the winter in unheated kennels requires almost half again as much food as the same animal requires in warm weather, so it works out that a kennel kept heated at about 50 degrees does not cost much more than the extra feed would, and it is far more pleasant for both man and beast! While on the feeding note, there is much discussion and experimentation at the moment re: the use of antibiotics in animal foods. While used with considerable success in poultry and hog feed, there is some hesitancy I understand, in using them in dairy feeds since they destroy certain of the bacteria necessary for the production of milk, along with their destruction of less desirable bacteria.

From Sweden comes news that Mrs. Norman's Sandagerhns Ibi is arousing interest by her excellent obedience work, although only a year old. In a class of 27, mostly German working breeds, she took third with only four points between her and the winner. She attended classes run by a man who trains police dogs, and he was much impressed bye the ease and speed with which the Saluki learned her cues, as well as the pleasure she seemed to get out of doing the work. It is, as Mrs. Angel points out, an excellent advertisement for the breed. To date there have been no Salukis in England with obedience degrees, and only four in this country, three of which have both the CD and CDX degrees (Akbar Trevfi of Pine Paddocks C.D.X., Loy Green; and Ch. Rishan and Jilfran Val Malik C.D.X., Esther Knapp). Salukis are sensitive and easy to train without benefit of that undesirable "strong-arm" type of education that some trainers favor. It is not necessary for any breed, much less a saluki.

A new dog book has just come out, written by John Rendel, dog editor of the New York Times, and titled "Dog Book." It has a nice account of the breed and a fine picture of Lt. Carol Ann Paice's Ch. Diamond Hill Akbar Malik. Carol Ann is busy in the Marines, but could take time out to read your letters should you write her at: Camp Property Office Marine Barracks, Camp LeJeune, N.C. She dashed up here far a quickie visit, not long ago, so we had a good old-fashioned Saluki gab fest. Some of my old-timers that haven't seen her for several years greeted her as a long lost friend, showing their remarkable memory; and some of the newer additions, notably the regal Ch. Abdul II, and the ultra feminine Rahma, made up with her far more quickly than they ordinarily would with a stranger. So I am firmly convinced that Salukis can nose out those that understand them in short order, whereas they take their own sweet time with those that they seem to consider the hoi polloi! Once a Saluki is won over, his affection and loyalty is yours for life.

I was interested in Mr. Gilfillan's report of the trip made by his import. He was shipped by Spratt's of London, and the boat instead of going to New York, took through the Panama Canal, and delivered him at Seattle. The trip took five weeks, but he made it in good shape. He had become quite chummy with his handler and the members of the crew, so he took up with his new owner at once as if he were getting quite a kick out of all the furore he was creating.


Let’s have more news for your column, and if you’re ever out this way, drop in! MRS. ESTHER BLISS KNAPP, VALLEY CITY, OHIO