WARREN & VICKY COOK SANTANA SALUKIS
BREEDER INTERVIEW BY ALLAN REZNIK
Where did each of you grow up? We were both born in California. Warren was raised his whole life there, while Vicky, whose father was a pilot for Flying Tiger, was moved around often, before finally settling back in California. Vicky’s first dog was an “Eskimo Dog” that her father traded for a bottle of whiskey when flying in Alaska. Warren’s first dog was an Afghan Hound that later gained its championship, CDX, High in Trial Hound and a Best in Show; a learn- ing experience for both he and the dog. We first met at a dog show while exhibiting our Afghan Hounds, and subsequently became “dog show buddies.” Do you come from doggy families? If not, how did the interest in breeding and showing purebred dogs begin? We were both dog show “newbies.” Vicky fell in love with Afghan Hounds while on campus at San Jose State. She saw one running loose that ran into a fountain—suddenly, a lovely dog with really skinny legs! After that, there was never any discussion—Vicky was intrigued with the Afghan Hound and purchased her first while still in college. Warren had originally wished for an Irish Wolfhound while in college, but then strolling around the benching area at the Golden Gate Kennel Club show, he found some lovely and aloof Afghan Hounds, with a sign on the benching that said puppies were available from Shirley and John Handley in Los Altos, which was minutes from where Warren lived in Palo Alto. Who were your mentors in the sport? Please elaborate on their influence. For Vicky, Betty Stites and Louise Merril. They explained the reality of dog shows, and the gamesmanship that ensues. Betty was a great teacher. The Handleys taught Warren the seemingly non-obvious differences that can make one dog a show dog and another not. What they all emphasized was that dog show judges are human, and that breeder-judges will often either over-penalize or overly forgive elements of a particular dog, depending upon issues they, as breeders, are dealing with in their own bloodlines.
124 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 2022
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