SALUKIS October 1969

"TAIL-Long, set on low and carried naturally in a curve ..." says our Saluki Standard. No other description of the "naturally in a curve" is given, and presumably deemed necessary. Does it mean held tightly up against the underside; dropped lightly in a curve between the hind legs; curving gently back of the hocks; curling just below the back line; or raised high, either as a rudder of sorts in running and turning, or a more mundane expression of mere joie de vivre? Or, is it all of these things?

We might look at historical depictions of the breed for a clue. In the wall paintings of ancient tombs such as that of Rekh-Ma-Ra,Western Thebes, Egypt, the tail is high over the back. The noted painting of King Henry the Pius of Saxony, in the Dresden Art Gallery, shows a high tail carriage, as does the Wotton painting of "Arabian And Saluki,"or pictures such as in Hutchinson's, etc.,showing Amherstias at play; Petruzzelli's Salukis at Play, etc., etc. Similarly, we find each of the other carriages as well, throughout the pictorial history of the Saluki. Since it is not specifically stated that any one of these is to be considered undesirable, and hence a fault, one can only assume that all are permissible if the tail itself is correctly set on the body as per the Standard.

It has been my own unique privilege, over the past few decades, to live with and observe in the flesh, firsthand, Salukis from more widely separated areas on this little old Globe, than possibly anyone, anywhere, or even, at any time, when one stops to think of it! My first acquaintance with the breed was in the late thirties, with our English/American version. In the early forties came specimens from Arabia, Syria, Jordan, etc. Subsequently, Salukis from Egypt, Libya and other parts of Arabia paraded across my paddocks. There was no need to "read up on them." They were there in the flesh and I lived with them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, sans interruption, as I still do! The most recent additions are a trio which touched down, here, this August! In addition, along the way, has been a considerable number from England, Holland, and Germany. All in all, they have made an impressive sampling of Salukis, worldwide. Who else has been as fortunate!

It is significant to me that in all of the native hounds, not only do they carry "gay" tails if they feel gay (a fault?), but, to the horror of some, I am sure, the tail of each one has had a curve or ring at the end. In fact, it is very close to the tail as described in the Afghan Standard, viz, "set not too high, curve or ring at end; never curled over, resting on back, or carried sideway ; not bushy." A small difference in the Salukis' tails from the desert, is that the weight of the heavier feathers of the Saluki tends to pull the tail lower over the back slightly, in the feathered variety, not in the smooths. I can hear shocked screeching from some, to be sure, in applying any such to the Saluki. I once asked a Middle Eastern breeder about the curled tail, and was told that it was not only desirable but preferred and highly prized! I used to call Ch. Lady Yeled, "Miss Donut-tail" as she wagged the whole "donut" vigorously without uncurling.

Soooh, from Syria, through Arabia, Egyp,t, Libya, et al., the Arabs have bred and preserved this trait up to the present day. Do we presume to tell them that they are quite wrong? I wonder!

And thereby hangs the tail!


Wig-Wags from the Dog-Tail Lounge: Word has come of two nice breed wins of recent date: GR 1, at Santa Barbara, with Mr. and Mrs. Jensen's Ch. Jen Araby Mumtaz Mahal; and Jayne Harpling writes excitedly from Illinois of their very first BIS win, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with her Ch. Srinagar Sunara Surya, owned jointly with Srinagar K's. Congratulations! Keep it up! - Mrs. Esther Bliss Knapp