AKC Gazette Articles
May 1999
Soundness in Salukis
For
years, I've discussed soundness with other Saluki breeders; in preparing this
column I asked for details. The response was too overwhelming for a single column,
but I can offer an overview
In any breed,
soundness is, or should be, far more than trotting up and back in a straight line.
Soundness can be categorized in many ways: sound in wind and limb; in mind and
body; or, for a specific purpose.
One
can establish levels of soundness, again according to purpose. A pet should be
sound in mind, in good health, and reasonably free from lameness. To show, sometimes
soundness of mind is set aside in favor of flash. More attention is paid to legs
moving parallel and fronts stopping straight, with side gait balanced, or at least
eye-catching
Breeding soundness should
mean possession of a maximum of positive features and a minimum of negatives,
plus the ability to conceive and deliver with a minimum of artificial assistance.
In
competitive coursing, whether lure or open field, soundness pertains to the ability
to run and turn at top speed. In addition, the dog must recover in time to run
at least one more time on that day.
Free
coursing can be the ultimate test of soundness for a Saluki: Going out in the
field to find their quarry, coming in for a drink and quick cool down, then off
to run again. A successful free coursing Saluki needs more than straight limbs
and an even gait. They need supple joints held together by tendons and ligaments
with a high tensile strength. Over this go muscles that can react to the message
of eye and brain to bunch, push, twist, all at top speed. In addition, a sound
running Saluki needs superior internal health, with organs that can dispose of
lactic acid build up, lungs that can draw in great gulps of air to disperse throughout
the body, skin that can transfer exterior coolness throughout the body. Even more,
the dog must wake the next morning not limping, and eager to go again.
Soundness
at this level is a combination of genetic luck plus planning and hard work on
the part of the owner. Regular exercise includes walking, running, and a yard
large enough to play and work off steam. At this level of conditioning, natural
excesses of energy need a safe outlet.
This
Saluki might seem rougher at first glance. One might mistake a Saluki with hard
muscles, a loin arched when viewed from the side and wide from above, and lacking
an extra layer of "pretty fat," for a lack of visual smoothness. Possessing
the ultimate in Saluki soundness, their gait might display more upward spring
than a dog without their advantages.This
could be only a very brief overview of breeders' comments on soundness. The most
succinct statement on soundness came from Shirley Lightfoot, a long time Saluki
breeder and student of dogs: "Soundness is the ability of a breed to succeed
in the purpose for which it was intended."
The
1999 Saluki Club of America National Specialty will be held once again at the
lovely Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on June 9-13, 1999. Activities will include
Lure Coursing, ringside mentoring, Sweepstakes, three days of regular classes,
a Desert Bred exhibition, a wine and cheese party, and much, much more.
Monica
Henderson Stoner
All rights reserved by the author.
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