7. Can you offer a comparison of Salukis in different parts of the world? Having judged and seen Salukis around the world I think the breed is very strong and we only have to stay on top of the health issues and make sure all our breeding stock are free of any of the health issues in the breed. I do per- sonally do thyroid and heart testing yearly. WENDY & BRIAN BIOS Kyzyl Kum has had Salukis since 1974; judging just under a decade; highlights: breeding the only smooth to win the national, winning vet sweeps at the national, running the dogs in open field events (when we were able). 1. There is a disagreement about brindle Salukis. How do you feel about them and should the parent club get involved? Speaking for Wendy, there is some historical evidence pointing towards brindles in the early days; my biggest concern is breed type and quality, not color. Good dog, good color. Bad dog, doesn’t matter what color it is! 2. What, if anything, do you feel all-breed judges get wrong about the breed? Movement. They want TRAD [Tremendous Reach and Drive] and speed and overreaching, showy but incorrect. 3. What do handlers do in presentation that you wish they would not? Stuffing bait down their mouths constantly; and overstretching. 4. In order, name the five most important traits you look for in the ring. 1. Outline must say “Saluki” not “generic sighthound”. 2. Balance. DUGGAN KYZYL KUM, US
goes away from you crossing in the rear, well… toplines also need work. As for better, it’s actually hard to say. I see fads and trends—bad fronts, then breeders work on that, and they are better, but then rears let us down—it’s a cycle. 6. What previously campaigned Saluki(s) come close to your ideal? Please explain. Ch. Srinagar Sakuna Indra and his descendent Ch. Ziba Indus. Stallions of dogs, balanced, sound and pretty. I know Indus could chase rabbits also, which is a big plus. Ch. Windstorm Shalom Cabaret and Ch. Issibaa’s Echo, both beautiful smooth feminine bitches (not smooth as in coat, smooth as in balance). As for overseas, Ch. Almanza Kafiat; a Swedish dog, Geshed el Gamir, that I saw in Sweden in 1998. There are plenty more, but those come immediately to mind.
BOB FROST KAROB KENNELS, US Left to right: Ch. Windstorm Shalom Cabaret and Ch. Issibaa’s Echo. Echo’s (photo by Sharon Kinney).
BIO I got my first Saluki in 1971 and haven’t been without one since. 1990 was the year I started judging our breed and now am approved to judge the Hound, Non-Sporting and Herding groups. I have judged throughout North America, Mexico, Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and believe it or not, in Guam. We have bred, owned, shown and coursed National specialty BOB win- ner, Futurity winners, Sweepstakes winners, Multi Best in Show winners, Multi Best in Field winners, Multi Spe- cialty winners, Dual Champions and ASFA Field Champi- ons, obedience and rally titles. 1. There is a disagreement about brindle Salukis. How do you feel about them and should the parent club get involved? First, I am surprised that this would be the first question for us to answer. When I see brindles I do not see type, making it very hard to judge them. If the Saluki people ever vote to allow brindles, then all changes.
3. Ease of movement. 4. No exaggerations. 5. Not barrel chested or slab sided.
5. What traits do you see popping up these days that are going in the wrong direction? What is getting better?
TRAD TRAD TRAD is racing around the ring again. For a few years that had somewhat died back and moderate Salukis actually had a chance, ones that moved with ease and power, but not looking like they were working hard to get around the ring. I see that coming back, sadly. Unfortunately I see a lot of rewarding of dogs that fly around the ring, but on the down and back are seriously out of whack. I’m not a fanatic for “perfect soundness”, but when a dog comes at you flapping its elbows and
274 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A UGUST 2015
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