AKC Gazette Article
May 1952
SALUKIS May 1952
SALUKIS
HAVE BEEN called a number of things, but "African Bloodhound" is a new
one to me! In a rare book known as the "Tower Menagerie," a publication
of the London Tower Museum of more than 100 years ago, there appears the following
chapter under that heading:
"It only remains,
therefore, to add a few observations relative to the extremely beautiful leash
of hounds which are figured at the head of the present article . . . These are
two males and one female, belonging to one of the most elegant as well as the
most intelligent variety of the species that to which Linnaeus, on account of
the high degree to which the latter quality was carried in them, gave par excellence
the epithet of sagax. They were presented by Major, now Colonel Denham,
on his return from the most successful expedition that has perhaps ever been made
into the evil-omened regions of Central Africa (in those days anything over a
few miles from the coast was apparently called Central Africa), from whence they
were brought by that gallant traveler, who also gave Mr. Cops the following account
of their qualifications for the chase. He had repeatedly, he said, made use of
them in hunting the gazelle, in the pursuit of which he had observed that they
displayed more cunning and sagacity than any dog with which he was acquainted,
frequently quitting the line of scent for the purpose of cutting off a double,
and recovering it again with the greatest facility. They would follow a scent
after an hour and a half or even two hours had elapsed. The breed was therefore
commonly employed in Africa for the purpose of tracing a flying enemy to his retreat.
They are in fact, both for symmetry and action, perfect models; and there are
few sportsmen who will not regret that there appears no chance of crossing our
own pointers with this interesting breed."
That
last remark stirs little sympathy in me, for if the Arabs saw fit to produce a
breed and keep it pure for 6,000 years, why should we attempt to change it? I
suppose that some may argue that many of our finest breeds are "manufactured"
breeds, and that if the Saluki can be used to advantage in developing a new one
we should not object. I am not a little concerned to receive repeated requests
for stud services from coon and fox hound people. Some want puppies with that
object in mind, and crossbred litters have been advertised recently, indicating
that a few have been able to secure Salukis for that purpose. One gentleman told
me that he had a Greyhound, for instance, right across the street from him, but,
that he would not breed his prized coon trial bitch to him for anything. However
he felt that the Saluki was just what he wanted, and begged my cooperation in
permitting his experiment. Just as he apparently did not obtain the desired effect
in crossing with another very grand breed in its own right, why should I risk
the appearance of some unwanted Saluki cross-breds if they too failed to come
up to his expectations! The Saluki apparently has fine hunting instincts developed
over the centuries. If we are in a position to benefit by them as they are, all
well and good, but let us not cheapen the breed even the tiniest little bit, --at
least until we are able to get the fullest benefit from it in its 6,000-year-old
form! Let us all redouble our efforts to see that new puppies do not get
into the wrong hands.
Wig-Wags from the Dog-Tail
Lounge: The annual meeting of the Saluki Club was held at Westminster. Mrs. Anna
Marie Paterno is president; Mrs. Walter A. Browne, vice-president; Mrs. Andrew
Mason, secretary; and Miss Dorothy Redinger, treasurer. The column again falls
to me, an with your help may it improve steadily. A new Club booklet was discussed
and plans for it will be drawn up shortly. New membership cards are being printed,
and with interest in the breed on the increase, the Club can look forward to busier
times.
A Specialty Show was voted on, to be held in
conjunction with the Westchester show. A fine list of prizes is being made up,
and it isn't too far ahead to plan on winning some of them, methinks!
The
Best of Breed at Westminster was Paul Welsh’s black and tan import, Ahmed Bey.
Edith Mason sizes him up as a handsome specimen-tall, fine but not feminine, nice
front and aft, beautiful head and neck. Sounds good to me!
Word
comes that Edwin Luther’s Springtime Azara has annexed another group, this time
at Joplin, Mo.
Tillie Beyer's "Riff" (Ch.
Diamond Hill Seleughi) has decided with no desert handy to "navigate"that faute de mieux the swimming pool will do, so he takes a morning swim daily,
circumnavigating the area with all the grace of a trained seal! From all reports
he has been doing his bit in his corner of the California map to acquaint people
with the breed -- on television, magazine covers, and such. MRS. ESTHER BLISS
KNAPP Pine Paddocks
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