Saluki 101

“I could never own a dog I had to starve all the time.”

So said the lady with a Lab ringside. But I was ready. I whipped out my bait—not just your ho-hum liver, but a doggie-heaven vending machine assortment of meats and sweets—and offered them to my Saluki, who of course whipped her head away in disdain as I barely saved my fingers from her lunging Lab.

I explained most Saluki owners exchange recipes for Saluki-enticing entrees to which their dogs retch and threaten to be on slow-motion commercials for the HSUS. Most Salukis are thin because that’s how they naturally are.

Running

Runners are lean—and Salukis are runners. Not as fast as a Greyhound, nor as quick as a Whippet, the Saluki will leave the others behind after a quarter mile and—if in good running condition—will still be running hard at a mile. Even more important, at the end of the course they’ll return in good shape: no broken toes, torn ligaments, or blown pads. They specialize in rough terrain, their oversize feet acting like off-road tires.

Traditionally, Salukis coursed gazelle, rabbits, and other swift quarry both for sport and for the pot. Muslim religion considers dogs unclean, but makes an exception for the Saluki. Bedouin nomads invite the Saluki into their tent and treat them as prized possessions.

Middle Eastern Salukis are still used for coursing, but now they’re usually prevented from killing the gazelle. (Type in “Saluki” and “gazelle” on YouTube.com to see plenty of courses).

Salukis in the western United States course jackrabbits. Hunters walk vast fields until a jackrabbit bolts, then three Salukis are slipped once the jack has a head start. More often than not, the jack loses the dogs under a fence or in the dust after a long run. Salukis and non-AKC greyhounds dominate the sport. With little separation of show and field Saluki lines, BIS Salukis have earned the open field coursing titles.

Elsewhere, Salukis chase a lure to test their running ability, with both the original lure coursing body, the American Sighthound Field Association (ASFA) and the AKC award titles (ASFA FCh titles are listed as a suffix; AKC FC titles as a prefix).

Salukis are one of the more successful lure coursing breeds. They also compete in straight and oval racing.

At Home

Don’t fantasize that you can train your Saluki to ignore fleeing wildlife. Mine have caught deer, feral goats, and raccoons. But yes, they can live safely with a cat or small dog (just don’t let it out with a pack of Salukis and encourage it to run!).

They do not confuse small dogs at shows with prey; they are hunters, not fighters. They get along well with other dogs and usually all live loose together in multi-Saluki households.

Can you let a Saluki off lead? Yes, if he’s used to being off lead and if there’s no wildlife to chase or roads nearby, and you’re in no big hurry to get him back. Some people compare them to cats, but my cats actually came when called.

Salukis are calm and quiet housedogs, sleeping much of the day. Groups enjoy a couple of howl-alongs a day. Don’t even try to keep them off the softest and highest surfaces. “The Princess and the Pea” story was surely modeled after a Saluki.

Salukis attach deeply to one person or family. Most avoid public displays of affection, but are funny, loving, and snuggly in private. Their gentle nature makes them outstanding therapy dogs.

Health

As with other large dogs, hemangiosarcoma and dilated cardiomyopathy sometimes occur. Salukis should be prone to bloat, but it’s almost unheard of. Eye problems are even rarer (some sources list PRA as present, but that’s based on an erroneous report of a single dog in the 70s).

According to one source, Salukis have the highest incidence of extreme overbite (“parrot mouth”) of any breed, but it’s still rare.

Black hair follicular dysplasia is seen, but rarely. Average lifespan is 12 or 13 years; many live to their mid-teens.

In Competition

Salukis aren’t hop-to-it obedience dogs, but they’ll be the first in the class to learn the stay. The key to success in the obedience ring is to keep it challenging, keep it fast, keep it fun—and don’t practice!

Six Salukis have earned the UD title; none has come close to an OTCH! Nor has any Saluki earned a MACH, although several presently compete in Excellent.

They’re graceful jumpers, rarely knocking a bar, but tend to get the zoomies. Their stride makes tight courses difficult at speed, and the contact zones hard to hit as they’re much shorter than a single stride. They enjoy perching atop the A-frame—forever…

Most Salukis, including the four Westminster group-winning Salukis (Marjan, Cancer, Fantasia, and Treasure), are owner-handled. It’s an easy breed for beginners to show. You have to run, but you need not bait or heavily groom.

Neaten the underline, remove any fuzzy coat, bathe, brush the feathering (keep it untrimmed, even on the feet), and you’re done.

Some years ago, the top Junior in the country showed a Saluki. She said she chose the breed because it could be shown so many different ways (handler standing or kneeling, beside or in front, dog free stacked or hand stacked) and had just enough coat to fluff without constantly brushing.

Smooth & Feathered

Salukis come in smooth and feathered coats. The smooth coat (which results from one dominant gene) is close and short. Some may have a brush (not feathering) on the tail. A sparsely feathered Saluki is not a smooth.

Feathereds are longhaired dogs in which the non-feathered areas fail to grow long. The body coat is silky soft, with an undercoat. Guard hairs may be several inches long, but lay close to the body. This difference in body coat often gives the smooth, with its tighter coat, the illusion of being more defined and muscular. But get a feathered Saluki wet, and the difference disappears.

Feathered Saluki puppies often grow long fuzzy hair all over their body. The fuzz gradually disappears with maturity, with the last to go on the chest, thighs, elbows, and top of the head. This is normal and should not be faulted. Spayed and neutered feathered Salukis usually re-grow the longer body coat, often leaving only a short saddle. Keep this in mind when judging veteran classes at specialties! Again, it’s normal.

Judging

When judging the Saluki, you’re usually better off not talking. Many Salukis aren’t comfortable with strangers, and few have any desire to be your friend. Talking just makes it worse. And unless you come up with a truly original noise, the same old clucking sound is more likely to piss them off than to evoke a curious expression.

Don’t demand a Saluki to bait. Sure, baiting makes showing fun, but it should never be essential for Salukis.

Don’t expect cookie-cutters! Our standard is broad to include dogs that hunted different quarry (from rabbits to wild ass) over different terrain from a wide region of the Middle East. The height standard for males is 23 to 28 inches, and “bitches may be considerably smaller.” Most males in the ring hover around 27″ to 28″; most bitches are around 25″. You will never see a Saluki that’s too small. They were supposed to ride to the hunt on the backs of Arabian horses—not Clydesdales!

The standard mentions a wide range of colors: solids, sable (black-fringed), black & tan, and grizzle. Although neither parti-colors nor chocolates are mentioned, they’re equally accepted.

More controversial are the recent brindles, some of which come from Iranian imports, and others from a purportedly gypsy-bred dog by way of Australia. Some breeder-judges will excuse a brindle, whereas others will embrace it; in fact, an Australian-bred brindle won the National Specialty two years ago. With one of the oldest unchanged standards in the AKC, there’s little chance the SCOA membership will vote to open it to clarify colors.

Clubs & Rescue

The breed has two national clubs: The AKC parent club, the Saluki Club of America (SCOA), which holds the national specialty every year in Kentucky in June; and the open-to-all American Saluki Association (ASA), which holds its annual event every year at Lompoc in July.

The ASA was formed in the 1960s when the SCOA was largely inactive and unreceptive to new members. The ASA is still the largest source of Saluki information and activities, but the SCOA’s National has surpassed the ASA’s, and it has also become more open to new members (applying is now only slightly more intrusive than adopting a child).

The two clubs once had a slightly adversarial relationship, but now work together to create big Saluki weekends.

Rescue Salukis are uncommon but may be located through STOLA (www.stola.com). Other groups are importing rescues from the Middle East.

So that’s the Saluki: exotic and exasperating, snuggly and snobbish, known for its beauty but a hunter at heart. After 38 years with them, I still find something new to ponder every day.

I’ve watched in breathless awe as they skimmed over fields, and cursed in unprintable words as they kept on running into the distance. I’ve been filled with excitement watching them run the lure, and filled with dread watching them run a deer. And I’ve considered myself the luckiest masochist around as they steal my bed, snub my meals, and ransack my heart.

The post Saluki 101 appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

(This article appeared in the May 2013 Edition of SHOWSIGHT and is reprinted here in memory of Ed and Pat Gilbert who shared a lifetime of devotion to the Saluki.)

The AKC Breed Standard for the Saluki is an excellent Standard for exhibitors, breeders, and judges. This statement, though, is predicated on the person utilizing the Standard having knowledge of the basic original purpose of the breed.

The Saluki Club of America (SCOA) was formed in July 1927. The Saluki was officially recognized by AKC in November 1927. The Saluki Standard has not changed since the SCOA introduced the Standard. With a stable Standard, the breed has resisted the changes of fads and fashions—the breed has stood the test of time.

The essence of the breed is found in the General Appearance paragraph which states: “The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains. The expression should be dignified and gentle with deep, faithful, far-seeing eyes. Dogs should average in height from 23 to 28 inches and bitches may be considerably smaller, this being very typical of the breed.”

There are many styles in the Saluki and they all have breed type. Type is defined by the Standard. Styles are determined on where the breeding stock came from and the individual breeder’s interpretation of the Standard. As long as the style is within the confines of the Standard, it has breed type.

The Saluki has two varieties, Feathered and Smooth—but in the Conformation ring they are not separated by variety and are to be judged on an equal basis. In the Smooth variety, the points should be the same with the exception of the coat, which has no feathering. The writers consider the Smooth Variety more than competitive with the Feathered Variety. Because they look different is no reason to overlook them.

The height/size variation, dogs 23 to 28 inches and bitches may be considerably smaller, is based on where the particular style of Saluki originated. We have seen mature bitches—never in the show ring—as small as 19 inches at the shoulder. The 5-inch size variation in males is the largest size variation of any hound breed. Any dog over 28 inches is no longer a Saluki.

The Saluki is a sighthound and chases and kills the game it pursues. The range of the Saluki was from the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, north to Syria, and east to Iraq, Iran, northern India, northern Pakistan, southern Afghanistan, and into China. They were mainly kept by the nomadic tribes of Asia and the Bedouins in the Arabian Peninsula. In southern Arabia, the gazelle is 20 inches tall at the shoulder. The environment is dry and hot, with little water and food. As a result, the tribesman, horses, game, and dogs are small. In Northern Iraq, much of the game is quite large, as there is plenty of vegetation, water, and large game and dogs. The environment in which the Saluki existed, and the game it hunted, determined the conformation and size of the Saluki, or as previously stated, its style.

Some other style differences are due to the feathering. The Standard states that the ears are covered with long, silky hair. In some styles, the feathering is long and covers the entire ear yet the feathering is only on the top portion of the ear and the bottom half of the ear, which is covered by feathering, has real short hair. This is acceptable, just as the ear that is fully coated with long feathering is acceptable. Different lengths of ear feathering exist, varying from just covering the ear to feathering extending four to five inches past the end of the ear leather. The amount of feathering is unimportant.

The Standard is silent on ear set. Ear set can vary from level with the skull down to even with the eye. What is important is that the ear is mobile, meaning the relatively low-set ear can move up to skull level and the relatively high-set ear can move toward the center of the skull.

Prominent eyes detract from the expression, while deep, faithful, far-seeing eyes are large and oval, providing the proper Saluki expression. Eye color is from dark to hazel, which means there can be a very dark eye, a self-colored eye (matching the coat color) or a lighter “bird of prey” eye on a dark- or light-colored dog. All are correct.

The Standard calls for a head long and narrow, with the skull moderately wide between the ears. The skull definition places a limit on the term “narrow.” The Saluki needs to kill the game. Too narrow a head and it will not be able to fulfill the basic original purpose of the breed; to kill gazelle or other quarry. When the head is too wide, the dog loses the impression of grace and great quality, but more importantly, it will aid in reducing its speed and endurance. The dog must be light on his feet and appear agile. They must also be in good running conditioning, with supple muscles and not carrying too much weight. Yet, a too thin dog with every vertebrae and rib showing is not correct either. It’s preferable to see the last two or three ribs (11th thru 13th) and the rest covered.

The Standard calls for teeth strong and level. In the 1800s and early 1900s, a level bite meant that the incisors are aligned in a level plane, not dropped or misaligned. It was not meant to mean that the upper and lower incisors met edge to edge. As the Saluki Standard was drawn up in the early 1900s, level means aligned in a level plane. The term “strong teeth,” based on the basic original function of the breed to kill its quarry, indicates the entire mouth is full and complete, and properly aligned with a strong lower jaw. Based on function, a scissor or pinscher bite is acceptable.

A long, supple, and well-muscled neck and a deep and moderately narrow chest aid the double suspension gallop, enabling the great speed of the Saluki when engaged in pursuing its quarry.
The deep chest provides for plenty of heart and lung room, providing endurance.

The moderately narrow chest permits the shoulder and upper arm to glide along the sides without interference from the chest. This aids both the trot and the double suspension gallop.

The Saluki is a moderately angulated dog, shoulders sloping and stifle moderately bent, as its functioning gait is the double suspension gallop. In the field, it goes from a walk to a reconnaissance gait, into the double suspension gallop. The Saluki requires supple, well-muscled forequarters and hindquarters coupled with a broad back, deep chest, and extremely strong loin. The topline is level, with a slight arch over the loin that provides the power pack during the double suspension gallop. The well-developed, supple first and second thighs provide the galloping and jumping power during the double suspension gallop.

The Saluki requires a good tuck-up, which is implied in the General Appearance paragraph—grace and symmetry and of great speed. Basically, no tuck-up, no speed.

Looking from the front and the side, the forelegs are straight and long from elbow to knee. The Standard does not mention the front pastern. Due to the many styles of Salukis and the terrain they hunted over, the front pasterns vary from upright to a maximum slope of 10 degrees.

The feet of all styles are covered by the Standard: Of moderate length, toes long and well arched, not splayed out, but at the same time not cat-footed; the whole being strong and supple and well feathered between the toes.

Saluki lore states that “well feathered between the toes” protected the feet from the hot burning sand. Okay, then explain the Smooth Saluki’s feet with no feathering between the toes.

The tail is well covered for all styles in the Standard: Long, set on low, and carried naturally in a curve, well feathered on the underside with long silky hair, not bushy. Some Smooths have a slight brush on the underside of the tail.

The coat also is well covered in the Standard for all styles: Smooth and of a soft silky texture, slight feather on the legs, feather at the back of the thighs, and sometimes with slight woolly feather on the thigh and shoulder. When a Saluki is shown, if it has the slight woolly feather on the thigh and shoulder, in most cases, it might be removed prior to the dog entering the show ring. A shine or bloom to the coat is also desired and indicates good health and care.

The Saluki is not a breed of fad or fashion. The breed has lived for centuries, as shown in ancient art, and is still an independent hunter with speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains.

Judging Salukis consists of a combination of art and science that takes into account the basic original purpose of the breed. It is based on the total impression of grace and symmetry of the entire specimen. Stand back and decide if the dog/s in front of you give all the necessary description to catch your eye both standing and on the move. As the old German saying goes, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” Please find the forest—the graceful Saluki of ages old.

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Interview with a Junior Handler, Mary Grace Kocab

Where do you live? Where do you go to school?

Mary Grace Kocab: I live in Kirtland, Ohio, and I attend school at Kirtland High School.

Do you have any hobbies or interests apart from purebred dogs? Do you have a job?

Mary Grace Kocab: My other hobbies, apart from showing dogs, are golf, swimming, baking, and cooking.

Have you grown up in a doggy family? What is your breed(s)?

Mary Grace Kocab: I was born into a dog show family. My main breed is the Saluki, but we also own a Golden Retriever and a Whippet.

How were you introduced to Junior Showmanship? When did you start competing?

Mary Grace Kocab: I wanted to show in Junior Showmanship ever since I started showing dogs with my parents at the age of three. I started showing in Juniors the very day that I was old enough to compete.

What do you remember about the first time you showed as a Junior?

Mary Grace Kocab: While I don’t remember the very first time I showed dogs, I do remember my very first time showing in Juniors. I got to show at the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on my 9th birthday, and I was very nervous. I was showing my Saluki, “Mojito,” and I won my class the very first day of the show—and I was so excited.

How do you prepare your dog and yourself for the ring? Any rituals? Any good luck charms?

Mary Grace Kocab: Typically, before I go into the ring, I try to play with my dogs to get them relaxed and let them get a bit of their energy out before we show.

What’s it like in the ring when the pressure is on? Do you have a secret for handling the nerves?

Mary Grace Kocab: When I’m showing and the pressure is high, I try to hum a song to myself to keep me focused and to not fidget.

Do you have a mentor in the sport? Have you assisted any Professional Handlers?

Mary Grace Kocab: Growing up in the sport, I have gained so many wonderful, talented mentors and great people who have been there to help me on my journey. Professional handlers I have helped at dog shows are Kathy & Dave Musto and Leslie Racine.

Are there any wins for which you are particularly proud? Any memorable losses?

Mary Grace Kocab: My most memorable win took place at the Saluki Club of America National Specialty in 2023. I got to show two of my dogs that I am the Breeder/Owner/Handler of and I was honored to show both of them to first place in their huge Dual Title Sweepstakes classes. Then, I stayed on my girl, “Shine,” and we won Best in Dual Title Sweepstakes at our National, which meant so much to me as a Breeder/Owner/Handler.

How do you accentuate your dog’s breed type in the ring? How do you try to stand out?

Mary Grace Kocab: The way I try to accentuate my dog’s breed type while in the ring and make my dog stand out is very specific to showing a sighthound. When showing my Saluki, an aloof breed, bred to not really care much about humans or the shenanigans I am asking him to do, I have to show the judge that I know how to work with my dog and quickly adapt to his many “feelings.” I need to know how to keep him in the proper mindset while in the ring. Keeping him mentally focused on me and the task at hand allows him to relax and look his best!

Something that I believe can be done to encourage younger people to participate in Junior Showmanship is having a more kind and accepting environment.

Are there any breeds that you haven’t yet shown but would like to some day?

Mary Grace Kocab: A breed that I would love to show but haven’t yet is the Doberman Pinscher. I think they are a gorgeous breed and I love how they are presented in the ring.

What can be done to encourage more young people to participate in Junior Showmanship?

Mary Grace Kocab: Something that I believe can be done to encourage younger people to participate in Junior Showmanship is having a more kind and accepting environment. I know a lot of younger Juniors are very intimidated and nervous to show, and the environment pushes them away.

Have you bred or co-bred a litter? If so, can you share what you’ve learned from the experience?

Mary Grace Kocab: I have co-bred three litters with my parents and I have taken away from all three that breeding litters is never easy. Even if you don’t consider the costs of everything, there is choosing the breeding, the health of your male or female, placing puppies, stress, and the sheer time and effort put into everything.

Is breeding something that you’d like to pursue? Is breed preservation important to you?

Mary Grace Kocab: Yes, breeding is something that, once I am more educated, I would like to pursue. I believe that the preservation of my breed is crucial due to Salukis being an ancient breed, and that is very important to me.

What are your goals for the future? Do you see yourself continuing in the sport once you’ve aged-out?

Mary Grace Kocab: I am not entirely sure what my goals are for the future, but I love showing dogs and I know I will stay in the sport long after I age out.

Can you share a word or two about your relationship with your current dog? What does s/he mean to you?

Mary Grace Kocab: My current relationship with my dog is very rewarding. Me and my boy, “Douggal,” have worked a lot together both in Conformation and Obedience training classes and he has improved so much over the past two years.

Is there a funny story that you can share about your experiences as a Junior Handler?

Mary Grace Kocab: I have so many funny experiences as a Junior, but I think one of the best times in Juniors (when I couldn’t stop laughing) is when my friend once lost her shoe mid-stride during the go-around.

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Interview with Lesley Brabyn, Breeder of Timaru Kennels

Where do I live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder?

Lesley Brabyn: I live in Northern California on the Sonoma County coast, near the little village of Bodega. (Its claim to fame: where Alfred Hitchcock filmed The Birds.) I first stepped into an AKC show ring in 1965, initially with Shetland Sheepdogs and then, in 1967, I started showing Salukis, which I still do. In 2007, my husband and I bought a 400-acre ranch and needed something to guard the livestock, so Anatolian Shepherd Dogs entered our lives at that point. We got our first one as a ranch dog, not intending to show, but one thing led to another and, very soon, we found ourselves in the ring with Anatolians as well as Salukis. We bred our first Anatolian litter in 2012. I am also licensed to judge four sighthound breeds and I’m provisional for three more, including Anatolians.

What is my kennel name? How many dogs do I currently keep?

Lesley Brabyn: Our kennel name is “Timaru” and we currently have six Anatolians and six Salukis in residence. All the Anatolians are full-time livestock guardians on the ranch when not being shown.

Which show dogs from the past have been my noteworthy winners?

Lesley Brabyn: The first Anatolian we showed was BISS GCH CH J-Haven’s Esmeray at Timaru, whom we obtained in 2009 from a goat breeder, Jill Pritchett, in Indiana. I had done a lot of research on the breed beforehand, observing dogs in the ring and talking to breeders, and then I attended the 2008 National Specialty in Atlanta. That enabled me to zero in on the dogs and bloodlines I liked.

We were fortunate in that Jill had just had a large litter from the bloodlines I was most interested in, and so I flew out to Indiana and brought “Esme” back to California as a baby puppy. She was a great introduction to the breed, had a fabulous temperament, and I finished her at 14 months with four majors and multiple Best of Breed wins over Specials. She went on to win a Best in Specialty and was the No. 1 Anatolian bitch in 2011, all owner-handled. Bred once, she produced three champions.

Another was BISS GCHB White Oak Wiesje. “Veesha” came to us in a very odd way. We happened upon a listing on Craiglist for three Anatolians needing a new home. Upon inquiry, we learned that the dogs were on a goat farm, came from bloodlines of interest to us, and needed rehoming due to a divorce. So, we made the three-hour trek to the Sierra Gold Country to see them; a mother and her two 11-month-old daughters. The dogs had been somewhat neglected but were people friendly, so we loaded them up into our SUV and brought them home. We found new situations for two of them, but kept Veesha as we felt she had the best structure and temperament for our needs. Despite never having been off her property or on a leash for her first 11 months, she finished in seven shows with a BOB over Specials. She went on to win a Best in Specialty, BOS at the ASDCA National Specialty in 2015, numerous Group placements, and was the No. 1 Anatolian bitch in 2015. She also produced seven champions, with an eighth nearly finished.

Which have been my most influential sires and dams?

Lesley Brabyn: We bred Esme to one of our own dogs, Ch. Muhsin of Timaru, who came from strictly working lines. I had become wary of the temperaments of some of the dogs I’d seen in California and felt safer in using a dog I was very familiar with in all types of situations. “Moose” was one of the best dogs we’ve ever had: patient, calm, loving, and an outstanding guardian on the ranch. Originally acquired as strictly a goat guardian, he was never taken off the ranch until the age of two. Despite that, he finished his championship in seven shows with three majors and multiple Best of Breed wins over Specials. He was also Select Dog at the 2011 ASDCA National Specialty and Best Veteran at the 2016 National Specialty. The hardest part of showing him was convincing him that getting into a car was okay. Bred four times, his offspring include ASDCA’s Livestock Guardian of Merit award winners for 2012 & 2013, the Best Working Dog at the 2013 ASDCA National Specialty, Eukanuba’s Best of Breed winner for 2013, top-winning male ASD in the US for 2013 & 2016, ASDCA’s Silver Guardian award winner for 2013 & 2016, and Best of Winners at the ASDCA 2016 National Specialty. We lost Moose in 2022, one month shy of 14 years old.

One of Esme and Moose’s offspring was our keeper, GCHG Timaru Serag Mounir. Like his parents, “Mounir” had a lightning-fast career in the classes and finished at 10 months old with a Group placement. He was a Grand Champion by 14 months and went on to win Best of Breed at Eukanuba in 2013, a Working Group First at the Silver Bay KC in 2015 and an OH Best in Show. He was the No. 1 Anatolian male in 2013 & 2016, Select Dog and Best Veteran at the 2019 National Specialty, and the first male Grand Champion Gold in the Breed, always breeder/owner-handled. We lost this noble, loving dog all too soon in 2022, two days after a routine surgery and for reasons I still do not understand.

Mounir’s legacy lives on in his children, which include littermates BIS MBISS OH-BIS GCHS Timaru Bekci Ayisi and MBIS BISS OH-BIS GCHG Timaru Tallulah. “Bear” and “Tallulah” have both won all-breed Bests in Show, Best of Breed at the ASDCA National Specialty, and Best of Breed at Westminster KC and at the AKC National Championship Show in Orlando. Both also have OH Bests in Show. Both have been bred from and their children, the oldest only just two years old, have been racking up some very impressive wins. A Tallulah son, Ch. Timaru Guardian of the North, despite living in Canada and rarely shown in the US, won Best of Breed at Westminster KC this year as well as at the 2022 AKC National Championship in Orlando. Various other children have taken majors at the National Specialty and its adjunct shows over the past two years.

Can I talk a bit about my facilities? Where are my puppies whelped? How are they raised?

Lesley Brabyn: We are on a 400-acre ranch on the Sonoma County coast in California and have a base herd of about 50 registered purebred Kiko goats. The Anatolians are each assigned a pasture to preside over, depending upon the age of the dog and that of the goat cohort. These pastures vary in size, from one to 30 acres, and for the shelter the dogs and the goats share. Although our first litter arrived early and was whelped in the middle of a field(!), the rest have been whelped in a barn stall. We attend the births, but try to interfere as little as possible as we’ve found that Anatolian mothers prefer to do things their way and can count; if you dare take a baby away for weighing… We are adherents of Dr. Carmen Battaglia’s Early Neonatal Stimulation Program and put each puppy through the exercises daily until they are about three weeks old and then do a reduced version over the following weeks. We expose them to the smells, sounds, and sights of goats from about three weeks onward and, if we have the right size and temperament of goats at the time, allow them to co-mingle from about five weeks onward. I say “right size and temperament” as while we want our puppies to understand about goats, we do not want them to be intimidated. It is a balance. Our puppies are usually all in their new homes by 11-12 weeks, and at that point, we begin a series of additional exposures and training exercises with our keeper, which would be the topic for a separate article.

What is my “process” for selecting Show Puppies? Performance Puppies?

Lesley Brabyn: Assessment is part science, part art, and part luck. We start watching as soon as the babies are toddling around. We watch how they carry themselves, how they use their limbs, how they react or respond to various things in the environment: new people, noise, sudden movement, littermates, their dam, goats, etc. At 8 weeks, we take stacked photos and evaluate, a la Pat Hastings, assessing static structure, angles, and balance. And we watch some more… It is not easy, but I prefer to make my decisions and then get puppies into their new homes no later than 12 weeks. I believe this to be the best for the long-term adjustment of the dog, even if keeping them longer might mean a more definitive assessment of quality. Sometimes, we get it right. Sometimes, we don’t.

Do I compete in Performance Events? In Parent Club Tests & Trials?

Lesley Brabyn: For measuring the ability to guard livestock, as yet, there really are not any meaningful tests. A measure of success for such dogs is the absence of anything bad happening to their charges. During the day, as someone once remarked, it looks like a field with goats grazing and dead dogs lying around. But when night comes on, look out!

Is “performance” part of my decision-making when it comes to breeding?

Lesley Brabyn: Absolutely. We are committed to producing dogs that meet the Standard of the Breed as well as able to perform the breed’s original purpose. As such, any dog we keep for show/breeding MUST also be able to “perform” as a livestock guardian.

How would I define “conditioning” as it relates to my breed?

Lesley Brabyn: To me, conditioning in this breed means soundness and health. Muscles are developed and firm. Eyes bright.

Are there any health-related concerns in my breed? Any special nutritional needs?

Lesley Brabyn: Like any giant breed, there are things to be concerned about. We OFA test all of our breeding stock for hips, elbows, and thyroid, and breed only from those with Normal on thyroid and elbows and Good or better on hips. In my experience, Anatolians do tend to be prone to ear infections, though our dogs live pretty rough, always being outside, so perhaps this is only us. We feed a good, balanced diet, Purina Pro Plan, and they seem to do well on that.

Do I think my breed is supported by a sufficient number of preservation breeders?

Lesley Brabyn: This is a complicated question in regards to the Anatolian. From what I’ve observed, there is a minority of the breed registered with the AKC. Far more are out there on ranches and hobby farms that may or may not be purebred, but are bred strictly as working dogs. Is this a bad thing? Well, on the one hand, they are keeping the instinct going in their dogs. However, these breeders often see no practical reason for “papers,” much less know anything about what a Breed Standard is. On the other extreme, you have show breeders who only care about Conformation wins, and while they may take photos of their dog with a token sheep, they really do not understand all that it takes to make a successful livestock guardian in a true field situation. To me, both are extremes. I believe we need to adhere to the Breed Standard in making our breeding selections: to value basic soundness, balance, and breed type, as well as to select for all the elements that go into making an effective livestock guardian dog.

Is my breed well suited to be a family dog? Who are the best candidates to own my breed?

Lesley Brabyn: While we have successfully placed puppies in family situations, I would not recommend the Anatolian as a family dog. They are large, they are powerful, they often do not like other dogs, and they can be very territorial. They are NOT a beginner’s dog. Yet, some thrive in a family situation. On average, I would say that the ideal Anatolian owner is someone who has a good understanding of dog behavior and the importance of being pack leader. He or she must be physically and mentally capable of managing this powerful and independent breed.

What is the biggest misconception about my breed?

Lesley Brabyn: That if an Anatolian is friendly with people, it cannot be a good guardian—not true. That Anatolians will naturally stay with their flocks and you don’t need fences—not true. That because an Anatolian is fine with my goats, he will be fine with your goats—not necessarily true.

If I could share a comment or two with judges of my breed, what would I like to say to them?

Lesley Brabyn: Keep in mind that the country of origin for these dogs, Eastern Turkey, is one of extreme terrain and weather. In order to protect their charges, they must be able to move quickly and with agility over hill and dale in pursuit of predators. Remember, in their genetic makeup is sighthound and the Anatolian is supposed to be one of the most athletic of the livestock guardian breeds. In order for such a large dog to hold up over time, covering distance quickly on punishing ground, it must be built properly. I despair at every Anatolian National I’ve attended when I see how many of the exhibits have major structural faults: cow hocks, fiddle-fronts, weak pasterns, short legs, sway-backs, etc. The frames of these dogs could not hold up over time to the rigors of their native terrain, and that is just sad. Please pay attention to basic canine structure when judging this breed. It does not get a free pass on soundness. If anything, in a dog of this size, given its purpose and country of origin, basic soundness and balance should be essential in making your assessments.

Do I have any words of wisdom to pass along to newer breeders?

Lesley Brabyn: Do your research before investing.

For a bit of fun, what’s the most amusing thing I’ve ever experienced with a Working Dog?

Lesley Brabyn: From the time goat kids are very young, they like playing “King of the Hill” and will find any rise in ground, piece of wood, or rock to stand on to be higher than their peers. Often, they will be standing on top of a sleeping Anatolian, even a Best in Show-winning Anatolian. This, is priceless.

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But Isn’t Something Missing from the Saluki Standard?

It is useful to keep in mind that the 1927 Saluki standard was copied verbatim from the 1923 British standard (which has since been altered many times). Preserved unchanged since its adoption ninety-four years ago, I’ve heard it discussed and analyzed by breeders, exhibitors, judges, fanciers, and novices. From these conversations, there are several points about the standard that are worth a closer look.

Underline

There is no description of the underline even though the standard has the chest as, “Deep and moderately narrow.” We know from observing Salukis that there is a swooping rise from the point of the chest to the belly, and so the general understanding is that the underline is a curve that defines a deep chest and a comparatively narrow waist. Extreme underlines would be a straight diagonal from chest to belly or a flat line somewhat parallel to the ground.

Parallel Planes

This is the concept that the lines of the muzzle and skull should be horizontal and parallel to each other—and broken only by the “stop not pronounced.” The solitary phrase in the standard pertaining to this geometry has the skull as “moderately wide between the ears, not domed” (emphasis mine). So, as long as the skull is not bulging upwards and brachycephalic, the planes of the foreface and skull don’t have to be parallel. The muzzle itself is not mentioned, but either a “dished” or “Roman nose” would be considered undesirable.

Gait

While not mentioned, the breed standard’s authors (who had experience hunting with Salukis in the desert) did give us clues about movement. Look closely at what it says under General Appearance: “The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains.”

The key words grace, symmetry, speed, endurance, strength, and activity must be our guides. If these are essential, then the Saluki gait should reflect these characteristics—or at least the ability to use them as needed. We look at muscle condition and fitness as external indicators of potential speed and strength. When Salukis are trotted around the ring, we expect to see an athlete’s movement—balanced, agile, easy, and efficient, giving the impression that the hound’s inner resources are ready to go to work. An efficient gait is gracefully symmetric with no wasted movement from paddling, hackneying, mincing, weaving, or crossing. It should propel the Saluki forward, effortlessly.

So, even though not described, there are concepts in the standard for evaluating a Saluki’s gait—which should predict hunting ability from the grace and symmetry of their ring movement. Clearly, the kind of speed, endurance, and strength needed to catch a live hare or gazelle on varied terrain can’t be demonstrated in a show ring, but neither can prey drive, hunting savvy or the ability to spot game at a distance—the invisible qualities of a good Saluki.

Disqualifications

It’s simple. There are none in the standard—not even for color or markings.

What Did They Mean About…?

Some of the nearly 100-year-old British terms in our standard have slightly different meanings today, and this can be confusing. To grasp the standard’s intent, we look to other documents of the 1920s (dictionaries, other breed standards, and show reports) to see how the words were used.

Teeth

Teeth are described with only two adjectives: “strong” and “level.” Clearly, strength is necessary in a breed whose standard calls for the ability “to kill gazelle or other quarry.” It’s pretty straight forward, but what about level? We find the answer in a contemporary British dictionary: “Level = adjective – horizontal: even, smooth; even with anything else: in the same line or plane: equal in position or dignity.” In standards of the 1920s, bites (under, over, scissors, and pincer) were described separately from the quality of being level (not crooked). The word “level” described the relationship of the individual teeth to each other. The scissors bite of the Saluki is not only perfectly fine, but precisely what you’d want in a hunting hound.

Colors

Colors named in the standard are: White, Cream, Fawn, Golden, Red, Grizzle & Tan, Tricolor (White, Black, & Tan), and Black & Tan. In 1923, chocolates, red and white partis—and other colors we see today—were not known and therefore not listed at that time. There are two things to keep firmly in mind: The standard’s authors used specific language to encompass the spectrum of all Saluki colors known at the time; and no color or markings are disqualified.

What does “Grizzle & Tan” mean and why weren’t variations like “silver grizzle” included?

Well, in the early 20th century, dictionaries tell us that “grizzle” meant hair or fur that was gray—as in a grizzled beard. The phrase “Grizzle & Tan” was meant to describe the pattern colors we now call “grizzle” and this term didn’t start being used as the pattern’s description until the mid-1930s, when descriptions like “rufus grizzle,” “deer grizzle,” and “silver grizzle” began to appear.

Why is “parti-color” not there?

This phrase describes colored spots or patches on white, but in the early 1920s, “parti-color” was only occasionally used in breed standards. Significantly, the Saluki standard’s authors chose “Tricolor (White, Black, & Tan)” as they believed that this embraced any pattern of the three colors, and included in this was parti, tri, and even “Black & Tan”—which may have bits of white. Interestingly enough, in the early days, any color or pattern outside the standard could be registered in both Britain and the States. Partis were simply registered as “golden and white” or “white, black, & tan,” and you can also find “red/gold,” “black and pale fawn,” and “white, silver, and fawn markings.”

The Saluki standard was carefully crafted for flexibility so as to accommodate a range of correct types. We have only to understand both the intentions of the authors and how language has changed over time in order to see that our standard is really far more inclusive—rather than exclusive.

But Isn’t Something Missing From the Saluki Standard? By Brian Patrick Duggan
From the January 2021 issue of Showsight Magazine

Saluki Breed Magazine

Showsight Magazine is the only publication to offer dedicated Digital Breed Magazines for ALL recognized AKC Breeds.

Read and learn more about the Saluki dog breed with articles and information in our Saluki Breed Magazine.

The post But Isn’t Something Missing From the Saluki Standard? appeared first on Showsight Magazine.

When we evaluate Salukis in the ring, we try to determine which dogs meet the Breed Standard most closely for the best ones that day. By logical extension, in meeting the Standard, that Saluki should be able to run and hunt successfully.

From the AKC Saluki Breed Standard (with emphasis added):

“The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains.”

As the Saluki is intrinsically a hunter, we believe the Standard helps us choose the best without them actually chasing a hare or gazelle. To fully comprehend the concept of movement in the AKC Saluki Standard, it’s important to know something about the creation of its British predecessor—the first Saluki Standard in Western countries.

The 1923 & 1927 Saluki Standards

Salukis were a rare breed in England until officers returned home from WWI service in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Sinai, and Syria. Owners of Salukis were just building up momentum to start a club when the discovery of Tutankhamun’s unopened tomb in late 1922 sparked the frenzy known as “Egyptomania.”

This hastened the Kennel Club’s recognition of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound (as they were then called) in July 1923. The breed’s Standard was authored by people who’d hunted with Salukis in the Middle East, and coursed hares in England, as well as the most prominent Saluki scholar.

The Standard was deliberately written broadly enough to include the range of body types from their regions of origin—an area of approximately four million square miles and larger than the continental United States. That 1923 Standard was adopted verbatim by the fledgling Saluki Club of America in 1927.* Our AKC Saluki Standard remains the oldest unchanged Standard in the Hound Group.

Why Isn’t Movement Described (Oh Wait, It Is There!)

In the 1920s, other sighthound Standards in Britain didn’t mention movement at all—only giving a physical description of the dog standing. It’s likely this seeming “omission” was because the athleticism of a galloping hunter was self-evident from the breeds’ names: Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound); the well-known Greyhound; Irish Wolfhound; Scottish Deerhound; and Saluki or Gazelle Hound (perhaps also a factor was that indoor show rings of the day weren’t large enough to properly gait a sighthound).

The Saluki Standards of 1923 and 1927 both say in their ultimate paragraphs:

“The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains.”

So, we are looking for bone and muscle structure capable of hunting. Fluidity, efficient speed, and nimbleness (“nimble” being one of the British meanings for “active”). Even without text specifically describing gait, there is the clear implication in that last paragraph that we are to be evaluating athletic (hunting) potential.

And Salukis didn’t just hunt gazelle (which have different sizes). The “other quarry” included hare, wild ass or onager, Arabian fox and wolf, golden jackal, and even the houbara (a low-flying bustard). Saluki hunting style depends entirely on the quarry; long, straight runs to exhaust gazelle and onager; rapid turns and navigation through brush for hare; and nasty, running fights with jackals and wolves. A Saluki (or indeed, any sighthound) is bred to have the trifecta of speed, strength, and agility for successfully pursuing and catching running game. To do this, its movement must be efficient with no wasted effort.

Gait May Predict Gallop

Without being able to actually take Salukis out to the open field to see which one excels, the grace and symmetry seen in a ring stack and gait may be our only predictors of that ability to course and catch game on difficult ground.

A stacked Saluki displays the dog’s symmetry, balance, proportion, topline, front and rear angulation, feet, hocks, and depth and breadth of chest. All of these are indicators of the ability to move soundly at speed. Conditions such as cow or sickle hocks, bowlegs, toe-in or “East-West” feet, sloping or dipping topline, extreme angulation, etc., may play a part in un-sound movement (although we must allow for a good dog misbehaving or the handler’s poor stacking).

The ring trot further assesses the Saluki’s “… grace and symmetry… speed and endurance… strength and activity… to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains.”

All the dog’s motion should be directed forward in single-tracking, with no deviations of crabbing, prancing, flipping, paddling, or moving too close in the rear. Saluki movement is not pounding or the Tremendous Reach And Drive (TRAD) desired in other breeds. If we see ideal movement in the ring, this is a sign of breed type and a potential predictor of the ability to efficiently pursue game. But Saluki hunting is not just running fast. It is turns, leaps, and reaching their necks over to bite quarry—and all this over uneven terrain. The ring trot, no matter how excellent indoors or on grass, cannot predict the mental and physical ability needed to navigate obstacles at speed.

As an aside, the hunting Saluki only spends a comparatively small percentage of his/her day at a full gallop. In their centuries-old, desert lifestyle, when outside of camp, they trot alongside camels and horses for hours at a time. This is not the ring gait, but rather, a head-down, energy-saving trot along the easiest part of the track.

The Finish Line

Whether we look at Olympic runners or Salukis, it is impossible to select the best without the test of speed. But since we can’t lure course or hunt in the ring, the conformation and movement we observe is an important indicator of a good Saluki. Grace, symmetry, speed, endurance, strength, and nimbleness.

Saluki Movement – Grace & Symmetry – Speed & Strength
Featured photo by Brian Patrick Duggan: Athletic Salukis should be able to expeditiously navigate obstacles at speed.

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Many thanks to the breeders, Shuichi Suda (JPN) of Vogue Salukis and Pirjo Grönfors (FIN) of El Hamrah Salukis, and the ancestors behind “Sophie” who have kept the breed as it is in the Breed Standard as well as for the performance for which they are meant. Thank you to the judges on the field and in the ring, and thanks to our agents and handlers, Ariel & Sarah Cukier, who took care of Sophie and finished her Conformation championship in the States.

I came to Maryland with my “fur family” Saluki girl, “Sophie,” from Tokyo, Japan. The relocation was due to my occupational reason as a cultural exchange program, which is nothing related with dogs. Sophie is my family, so she came along with me.

Sophie and I came to the United States on New Year’s Day in 2022, and our first AKC Lure Coursing event was at the Saluki National Saluki Club of America (SCOA) in June 2022 held at Purina Farms. The event secretary was very kind to explain to a beginner like myself and I was able to enter Sophie in two Junior Courser (JC) tests and Qualified Courser (QC) test. They watched how she did for two days of JC tests and, lastly, asked for a volunteer for her QC run. She passed all at her very first Saluki National!

Since then, Sophie has enjoyed many AKC Lure Coursing events, earning Best in Field (BIF) twice and was ranked No. 2 Saluki in 2022 Top AKC Lure Coursing Salukis (Bowen System). 2022 was a great year! It was such a great experience to have attended AKC National Lure Coursing Championships (NLCC) in 2022 at The Grand Oak Resort in Weirsdale, Florida, in December. On day one, Sophie placed fourth in the Breed, and on day two she placed third. It was so exciting to meet with top Lure Coursing hounds in the country.

Sophie became the first traveled Japan-bred and owned dog officially recognized by the Japan Kennel Club (JKC) that has twice earned Best in Field (BIF) and achieved the AKC Dual Championship for both Field Champion and Conformation Champion within a single year. This was a great challenge for me since there is no official Lure Coursing under JKC. There are, however, similar events called Lure Coursing in Japan, including some shorter and straight ones like Fast CAT and some oval or zig-zag. These are for fun, which is most important, but without judges or points they are therefore very different as a system.

The JKC office says that there are imported dogs with AKC Coursing titles, and there could be exported dogs but these are not officially recognized by JKC unless they come back to the country for re-registration. Since JKC is one of the FCI countries, certain Conformation results are required to have a Coursing license, which means on the field and in the ring—both are important.

I never knew that Sophie was so talented in Lure Coursing until she passed all of her tests at the 2022 Saluki National. Through those unique experiences, I feel, “If there is no system, you will never know how good/bad the dog is!”

“Sophie”

• CH (JP), CH (AM), Dual CH, Field CH
• DC Vogue Beside The Lesedi La Rona SC
• Sire: El Hamrah Laraib
• Dam: Vogue Zero Illusion Ivory
• Breeder: Shuichi Suda
• Owner & Handler: Hiromi Koike

It might be a bit of a challenge to say, but I hope that our experience lets people or society recognize how important it is to have a system for evaluating performance in the breed and what sighthounds are born to be. Watching all the beautiful coursers on the field at AKC events (and the wonderful coursing friends with passion for hounds, educating and supporting me in every field we visited with a warm welcome) is worth more than any of the achievements mentioned here. I am thankful for and greatly appreciate the wonderful people I’ve met through AKC events.

My sincere respect goes to the breeders behind Sophie, Shuichi Suda (JPN) of Vogue Salukis and Pirjo Grönfors (FIN) of El Hamrah Salukis, and to her ancestors for keeping Salukis well balanced. The whole appearance of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains—as written in the Breed Standards!

Sophie is my third Saluki girl. My first Saluki, “Grace – Int. Ch. JKC Ch. Asian Winner 2004 Vogue JP Quality Voice ,” was in 2001 and then her daughter, “Louise – JKC Ch. Vogue You Will Be In Fairy Grace.” They always ran in happiness.

Thanks to all who have helped me on the field and in the ring. This couldn’t have happened without all of your kind friendship.

Sophie has given me the opportunity to join at Westminster 2023! And we are going!! The United States is truly a “dream come true” country. See you again soon!

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In the 1986 Saluki Club of America Yearbook, Sandra Cody did a series of drawings that made fun of some of the trends at that time which were changing the Saluki. We call these caricatures! We all know breeds that don’t resemble their original conformation, and we strive very hard to not have that happen to Salukis. Sandra talked about people making the Saluki have a longer muzzle, a longer neck, a longer body, and have the topline go from an arch over the loin to no arch to falling off in the rear, and with some people adding more rear angulation and trotting their dogs at tremendous speeds. Some judges still reward these problems regardless of our Breed Standard. Sandra described the Saluki going from realistic “A” to caricature “B” as seen below.

So, what did the earlier Salukis look like? What should we as breeders and judges be preserving? Here are photos of a few in this grouping.

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Now let’s look at some very successful Open Field Coursing (OFC) Salukis that have also won in the show ring under Saluki breeder-judges—achieving dual championship status. That these dogs are champions in the ring and in the field is a testament to Saluki breeders who focus on preservation, not “re-invention.” (Note: a championship in OFC takes 100 points and is a challenging endeavor for any sighthound.)

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Don’t be blinded by “spit and polish” and “perfect training,” because the best dog in the ring may be the more understated one or the one that doesn’t grab your eye immediately. Look for the dog whose body could have come through time!

And let’s look at a few Salukis that have won many Saluki Specialties, top honors at the SCOA National Specialty and other large-entry Saluki shows under multiple Saluki breeder-judges. Two of the Salukis below were SBIS at a Saluki Club of America National.

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Now go back and relook at all of the photos and see what they all have in common. Although these do not represent all of the types of Salukis, they do represent the basics of our breed’s conformation.

• There are no extremes here; they are moderate.
• They are all square or just a bit taller than long or just a bit longer than tall.
• They all have a well laid-back scapula.
• They all have the top of the scapula and the top of the hipbones about the same distance from the ground.
• They all have a rise over the loin.
• They all have upper arm return.
• They all have the necessary S-curve underline.
• They all have moderate angulation in the rear, and are balanced and well-muscled.

Don’t be blinded by “spit and polish” and “perfect training,” because the best dog in the ring may be the more understated one or the one that doesn’t grab your eye immediately. Look for the Saluki whose body could have come through time!

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