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(UK AFGHAN CONGRESS 96)UK AFGHAN CONGRESS 96 Seminar held at Birmingham 25th August 1996, organised by the UK Afghan Hound Breed Council - Report by Steve Tillotson Video 1
Whilst we were waiting for the proceedings to start we were entertained by a video with music (which I believe was produced at/for the USA congress) which was simply breathtaking in its portrayal of our beautiful breed. If you havn’t got this video, either go and buy it or beg/steal/borrow it from a friend who has - essential viewing. It helps remind us how lucky we are to be owned by an Afghan Hound.
Welcome
David Paton, representing the Breed Council opened proceedings. First was a warm welcome to everybody in attendence and some special guests which included Simon Parsons, editor of the weekly canine newspaper “Dog World”, Miss Helen Barnes (Davlen Afghans) and President of the Midland Afghan Hound Club as special guest , Rene Fairlie (Scotland) and Anne Mathers (Metewand Afghans, Northern Ireland) as panel speakers. David expressed the BC’s appreciation to Jan Felder for her wonderful work on graphics, artwork, illustrations and promotion of the event. David thanked all the organisers involved, and the several UK Breed Clubs who had set up stands in the exhibition area and then handed over to the master of ceremonies John Eirera.
Introduction
John Eirera explained that the BC had asked each speaker to provide a few words about themselves which he would use by way of an introduction. John then sketched out the events programme and proceeded to introduce the first speaker.
Session 1 “Looking Back” (40’s, 50’s, 60’s)
1.1 (Miss Patricia Kean, England, Ajman Afghans and Saluki’s)
The first speaker was Miss Patricia Kean of the UK’s Ajman Afghans. Miss Kean acquired her first Afghan in 1950, registered the Ajman affix in 1955, bred the first Ajman litter in 1962. In conjunction with her partner Miss Elizabeth Mckenzie she imported the famous and influential USA bred stud dog Ajman Branwen Kandahar. Miss Kean has judged the breed in the UK very many times as well as in several european countries.
Miss Kean’s presentation covered the period from the war up to the late 60’s. Miss Kean explained that the breed began to recover after the war, and that this was an exciting period with new names such as Khorrassan (Miss Snelling) , Carloway (Miss Devitt), Horningsea (Mrs Dods) , Khanabad (Miss Niblock) emerging. The war period was devastating, it was very difficult to feed big dogs and lots of kennels had to be disbanded. Dr Porter (El Kabul) sent stock to the USA, Barbara Fielding (Kuranda) disbanded. Molly Sharpe (Chaman) who was a teacher, managed to breed about two litters a year during this period. Miss Kean mentioned Julitte Bairacli Levy (Turkukman) and explained that Miss Levy was responsible for several extremely important Afghans - not bred by Miss Levy but owned by her. Miss Kean explained that pre war the number of registrations was small but that the genetic base was very wide due to the blending of the Bell Murrays and the Ghaznis. Miss Kean explained that many of the early imports were of unknown parentage/bloodlines and this contributed to a wide gene pool and breeders were perhaps “embarrassed” by the wideness of bloodlines. By 1939/40 the lines were so closely bleneded that is was no longer possible to differentiate them. Miss Kean explained that despite this blending,the two types would emerge in a litter. Miss Kean stated that the UK Miss Kean explaied that outcrosses produced recessives which breeders did not know about (noting the wide gene pool/blending etc), therefore all you could was to mate like-to-like. Certain dominant lines emerged, particularly Molly Sharpe’s Chaman Afghans. Miss Kean revealed an interesting fact about Chaman Afghans. Miss Sharpe sent a bitch down soutch (Chaman located in Scotland at that eime) but the dog/bitch were not interested in each other. Apparently, by good chance, and perhaps to make the long journey worthwhile, the Chaman bitch was mated to Kulli Khan of Kuranda, an important mating in the history of Chaman and UK Afghan breeding. Miss Kean mentioned the Pushtikuh kennels of Miss Semple who mated Rasti Of Istalif (Ghazni breeding) back to Sirdar and had fixed a type known for its houndiness and long knecks. Miss Kean explained that in this era it was quite usual for a dogs name to be completely changed and mentioned Turkuman Bamboo (ed note: Turkuman Bamboo was bred by the Brantwood kennels of Miss Moss and was originally resgistered as Black Sampson. For more details on Brantwood reference the 1995 Afghan Hound Year Book which features an article on the Brantwood kennels with multiple references to Juliette Baircli Levi who was a kennel maid for them in the early days). Miss Kean knew Mrs Gibson (Acklam) and often visited her in Jersey. Apparently, due to food shortage in the war period it was quite usual to feed “limpets off the rocks” to the Afghans. It was difficult for Mrs Gibson to journey and show her Afghans and her well known Amanullah Khan was exported first to Belgium (Mme Deckers) then onto Norway where he proved a significant stud in the foundation era. Miss Kean gave her view that Turkuman Damnar Pinetree, an important stud behind the Carloways and many other kennels of the 50/60’s was not too good in front and possibly a bit rickety due to the poor feeding available post war. (ed note. See the humour section/page “afghan in disgrace” on this site for some amusing stories about Turkuman Damnar Pinetree). Miss Kean mentioned Jalalabad Barwala of Carloway, descended from Pinetree lines, as a very important stud and a most beautiful dog. (ed note. Barwala dominates nearly all UK pedigrees from around the 7-9th pedigree, he is endemic in UK pedigrees, with a few exceptions). In response to a quetion from the floor asking how these early dogs “moved” Miss Kean responded by saying that breeders did not worry about movement too much as it was easier to exercise dogs in those early days and movement did not seem to be a problem. Miss Kean explained that heads were subject to heated discussion, round eyes were creeping in. Coats were a problem and thinning scissors were an “essential” tool to aid presentation and to cope with the increasing coat. Miss Kean stted that she did not know at the time where these long coats came from. Miss Kean explained that generally so much coat was unattractive to her own eyes and she felt breeders were looking for good muscle not bloomers. Miss Kean explained that backs were a bid dicey and there were some “dicey” backs (ed note. for our overseas friends “dicey” means suspect of questionable). Another question from the floor was how much, or important was “showmanship”? Miss Kean felt this depended mainly upon the temperment (natural showman?) of the dog. Another question from the floor was what colours existed and were popular? Miss Kean explained that blacks and brindles were unpopular because they were very hard to sell. This concluded Miss Keans presentation.
1.2 (Mr Sid Pollock, England, Tarril Afghan Hounds)
Mr Pollock saw his first Afghan hound in the Himalaya’s when he was stationed out there as an officer in the armed forces. He sat on a peak in the Himalayas , hanging onto the tail of a donkey, with a 400 foot drop to the side when he saw two gold animals running over ths rough rocks so easy. Later at camp he saw perhaps 6/7 of these hounds and went over to touch and stroke them. A native warned him against this as these hounds were in fact guard dogs and not to be touched. Mr Pollock obtained his first Afghan which was called Budmash Khan and was mated to Restarr Of Televee (Mrs Wilkinson’s kennel). Mr Pollock explained that he handled the Tarril Afghans at shows because “Joan (Mrs Pollock) could not run in high heeled shoes” (chuckle from the audience). Joan wanted him to breed “Silver” Afghans and he succeeded in breeding his first silver dog in 1959. He got into showing in a serious way with his Kismati Khan of Tarril. Mr Pollock is very keen on movement and sees good movement as an essential breed characteristic. Mr Pollock explained that he had judged the breed 26 times in his home country.
Mr Pollock provided attendees with photo-copies of many of the photographs contained in Clifford (“Doggie”) Hubbards book on the Afghan hound, and proceeded to use these photographs to illustrate various pounds throughout his presentation. An early point made by Mr Pollock was “tails up”. He explained that the UK did not like US tails which were carried higher, but, referencing the photographs from Hubbards book - nearly all the tails were carried high. Mr Pollock stated that this high tail carriage was “inherent in the breed”. Mr Pollock explained that Chaman were mainly Ghazni type, but stated that “nature divides out these two (ed note; Ghazni/Bell Murray) Afghans each decade”. Mr Pollock explained that Chaman were probably the strongest line of their era and Chaman lines run through very many lines that have followed this era. He explained that a number of Chaman were of the Bell Murray type, he estimated that Taj of Chaman was probably half/half (Ghazni/BM) being straighter, stiffer , higher and more elegent in front, whereas Taj Akbar of Chaman was more Ghazni type. Mr Pollock stated that “Heads were a Molly fettish”. Molly Sharp was quite a character apparently, Mr Pollock recited an incident where at Waverley show both his exhibits escaped from the benching. As he was searching for his hounds he ran into Molly Sharpe - who had his two Afghans, one under each arm! Molly Sharpe was quite a strong lady as well as a tremendous enthusiast of the breed. Mr Pollock referenced the sensitive are of “culling” and explained that he had known that Molly Sharpe would take a dog out and shoot it if it was not suitable. Mr Pollock commented that he agreed with the sensibility/need to cull, but personally “did not have the guts to do it”. (ed note; There was audible support from the audience in response to his comment about the need to cull). Mr Pollock mentioned Hank Heron who used to handle and present Molly Sharpe’s dogs - his presentation was remarkable . Mr Pollock stated that he would not take his dog into the ring - “unless he was happy with it”. Mr Pollock mentioned several famous lines (Bletchingley, Three Streams, Khanabad etc that all had Chaman influences behind them. Mr Pollock explained that he never saw the famous bitch Marika Of Three Streams in the show ring, but one day stopped off at Mrs Dods (Horningsea) who owned Marika. Mr Pollock explained that by then Marika was quite a mature lady, a deep red mahogany and that she was an extremely graceful moving bitch, even at a mature age. Mr Pollock explained that he was an admirer of Bletchingley (Mrs Riley) kennels , a strong kennel of winners, allthough he considered them not to be a classic shape, not strong boned, poor in shoulders, high and steep on shoulder. He explained that Bletchingley had Horningsea Khanabad Suvaraj in their breeding, and he admired Suvaraj. Mr Pollock commented about high/steep shoulders on USA bred dogs, but he liked Wazir of Desertaire (ed note USA import into UK) for his great showmanship and the colour was important to Mr Pollock. He commented about Miss Niblock (Khanabad) and that he “didnt think much of her as a judge”. He caveated this somewhat in that he considered her very knowledgeable but “went to pieces in the ring”. Mr Pollock explained that in their first era the Khanabads were bred fro UK stock and in era Khabanads were bred from USA dogs (ed note. I Once discussed this with Miss Niblock who explained that many people remember her mainly for her whites, blues etc but in fact she bred both lines together for most of her time as a breeder and she also bred many golds). Mr Pollock was very keen on Suvraj and considered him a “great ambassador for the breed” as he won many groups and helped bring the breed to the fore. Mr Pollock referenced Suvaraj’s litter sister Sarasu, owned by Joyce Purdie (Patchouli Afghans) who was “difficult” to handle, but gaained her final CC at the age of 7 years. Mr Pollock then moved on to Carloway which he described as “prolific” kennel and owned the excellent stud dog Jalalabad Barwala Of Carloway. In his view Miss Devitt (Carloway) was “not so much a purist breeder, more of an engineer who bred where she saw quality”. Mr Pollock explained that he owned Midj Of Carloway , who’s double grandsire was Barwala. In his view, most of the breed points existed in Chaman and Carloway breeding with Carloway showing a tendency for “long loins” very now and then (“eg Mazari Of Carloway”). Mr Pollock described Walliwog of Carloway as having a nice neckline and tremendous coat but unfortunately “chewed his coat badly”. Mr Pollock stated that Miss Devitt looked for was “smallest but correct type”. Mr Pollock stated that the 1960’s were a period of consolidation with “more good (quality) dogs than at any other time”, and that it was also the period when imports (Wazir, Ajman Branwen Kanadahar, Zardeeka, Grandeur) took off. Mr Pollock explained that breeders use these imports then “bred back into UK lines”. He commented that “today - there is a wide range of stock (quality) being used in the wrong way and that the UK needs a small pool of dedicated breeders”. Questions were then invited from the audience. Mrs Marie Howitt (Kazaba Afghans, and a breeder who has spent considerable time in Australasia) commented that Mazari Of Carloway (exported to Australia) was the “best showman ever went out to Australia”. Mrs Howitt stated that “Mr Roache (who imported Mazari and Walliwog of Carloway into Australia) would never import a dog that chewed his coat”. (ed note. Mrs Howitt may be correct that Mr Roache would not “knowingly” import a dog that chewed its coat, but other sources support Mr Pollock’s statement that Walliwog did in fact chew his coat, a surprise and likely dissapointment to Mr Roache). Alan Brooks (Bondor Afghans) comented on Carloway - “Watsatari Of Carloway was the sire of my first ever litter and in his and Shelia’s (Devitt) view had the best head ever, but was a bundle of nerves. Mr Brooks stated that Watsatari was the “only” dog Miss Devitt kept when she disbanded her kennels in the 60’s. Mr Pollock added that Carloway skulls were not good but eye and foreface were beautiful. Bob Margrain (Arkenstone, N. Ireland) enquired about coat texture on dogs in the 60’s. Mr Pollock stated that Chaman had the best, the finer/less of it there was the more prone it was to breaking when grooming out. This concluded Mr Pollock’s presentation.
Session 2 “Displays and Presentations”
2.1 (Mrs Ann Adams, England, Badakshan Afghans) Historic Photo Display/Commentary
Mrs Adams came into the breed in 1955. Her late husband Ron Adams was chairman of the Afghan Hound Association from 1968-1986. Mrs Adams still has two Afghans. Her first Afghan bitch had 4 lines to Taj of Chaman. Mrs Adams has bred same lines, same stock for the last 41 years.
Mrs Adams presentation involved a series of photographs, projected onto the screen. The presentation covers all the important dogs/champions from the early 1920’s up to modern times. Mrs Adams expertly provided a brief commentary on each and every one of the historic photoggraphs. Many of the photographs have not been seen by a wide number in the audience (me included) and it was an extremely interesting session. Unfortunately, due to time over-run Mrs Adams only had time to present two of her three photo carousels prior to the forum breaking up for lunch. The presentation is extremely interesting, especially with the very knowledgeable commentary from Mrs Adams, and I hope there is a future opportunity to see and hear the complete presentation.
2.2 Breed Clubs Display
The event included an exhibition area, well supported by a number of Afghan Breed Clubs who had set up displays of phtographs, records, etc. Also in the adjacent room, Steve Tillotson had his computer’s and was printing pedigrees and displaying the Internet etc.
----luncheon break----
Video 2
Upon our return from luncheon we were greeted with a second USA authored video - this time on coursing Afghans (and Saluki’s Borzois and Wolfhounds etc). Yet another masterful and beautiful production presenting our and other sighthound breeds superbly. My own personal recollection is of an arab horse rider, accompanied by a Saluki - I can only describe this as “perfect and beautiful harmony between man, horse and dog” - the synergy between all three was a marvellous sight. I understand Liz O’Connor provided the two video tapes mentioned in this report. Due to timing over-run the afternoon schedule was modified slightly with the film “Champions All” having been moved from session 2 to session 3.
Session 3 Film “Champions All”
3.1 Film - Champions All. (John and Jo Holden Ereira, Oolyghan Afghans)
This is a wonderful film, full length it include 120 UK Champion Dogs. Today we were able to enjoy a special abridged version from 1977 onwards and featuring 36 Champions. The full version was running all day in the exhibition area. This film has been put together by John and Jo Holden Ereira (Oolyghan) who have transferred reels and reels of “super 8 cine film” onto Videotape. This is a most precious and valuable visual record of the breed. From my own perspective, having owned Afghans for 21 years but only participated in the show world for the the last 10, this tape is enlightening. I never saw many of the dogs in the back pedigrees of my own stock - this film brings them alive. It was quite thrilling to see great dogs such as Montravia Kaskarak Hitari (who I had actually seen in the flesh), Amudarya Shalar, Amudrya Khala, Amudarya Pagan, Sacheverell Zukwala etc etc moving in the show ring at the peak of their careers. Its also interesting to see the people. Keith Thornton (Karnak) Watch out! Now I know you really did run around the ring in great big boots, wild hair and beard - expect only merciless leg pulling from me!..). It would perhaps be interesting, with the benefit of modern technology, to have someone put together a dual/screen video with the historic dogs one one side and modern dogs on the other so we could compare them and see how things have changed. Just a thought... It was most interesting to see these great dogs on the move, and I look forward to seeing the complete video at a future date.
Session 4 “Movement and Structure”
4.1 Dr Ann Hodgson - (Anatomist)
Dr Ann is an “Anatomist” and regularly gives presentations to “doggy people”. Its quite a challenge for a medical, academic person to explain complicated anatomy to lay people - but Dr Ann was brilliant. The first thing I noticed was the “pointing device” she used to point at features on her slide - it was a bone! Actually it was a human leg bone! Nice touch Dr Ann, well appreciated by all in the audience, and indicative of the very enjoyable way in which she explained the subject matter. Due to time over-run Dr Ann had to restrict her presentation to “Form as relates to function, front assembly, rear assembly)”. Dr Ann introduced her subject by stating that she hoped today to help us understand “why dogs moved as they did - not like in the show ring today”, clearly implying that things have changed. Dr Ann explained tht form is related to function and if we forget that - the dogs just look nice”. Dr Ann opened up the oft used analogy of horse/dog anatomy and explained early in this century - people based comments about the dog on the structure of the horse” However, since XRAYS were available these show that the horse has front angulation “towards” 45 degrees and has a shoulder blade longer than the upper arm, whereas in the dog the shoulder blade is shorter than the upper arm and the angulation is much less than 45 degrees!. Dr Ann continued - the front in the dog is the main “support of weight and absorbs concussion waves up the legs”. Its very important for (Afghans?) to propell on the turn and the front helps maintain the centre of gravity. If there is poor musclecuture the dog will not move well!. Dr Ann emphasied that “muscles enhance what is pre-desposed in angles” and explained that the shoulder is not linked by bone to the body it is linked by “muscle” and “floats in muscle”. Dr Ann stated that it is “steep shoulders for galloping breeds”. In the case of the rear assembly, the pelvis is about 30 degrees. Dr Ann commented “more is always better to dog people”. She went on to state that “most GSD are not functional for an everyday gait”. I understood the basic messages to be- 1, Muscle - has an essential bearing on the movement of the dog . 2, Dog/Horse “angle” analogy - is invalid because the two animals have different proportional lengths of shoulder blade/upper arm (and designed for different functions!) and therefore different front angulation (less on the dog!). 3. Breeders breeding “more” (extremes?) in the way of angles than is natural which perhaps result in form not matching original function of the breed. Food for thought in the context of the ongoing debates in the breed about fronts, shoulders, rear angulation etc?
(ed note: for further reading, see also Anne Mathers article on Afghan Movement in the library section this website)
4.2 Alan Brooks (England, Bondor Afghans)
Mr Brooks has owned the breed for 40 years, exported to 17 countries, there are 15 champions carrying the Bondor affix, he is President of the North Eastern Afghan Hound Club.Mr Brooks stated he was “very concerned” that faults that were bred out years ago are “rapidly rapidly coming back in!” and that “judging exams have not helped”. He went on to say that we “have to conform to a standard. Best dogs should not have serious faults and must have some excellence of breed type. Cant keep having so much variance in the line up 1-4 where not one bugger looks like the other”. Mr Brooks is well known for his sometimes controversial view - so he set the tone clearly from the outset. He also found it useful to “borrow” Dr Ann’s “bone” and use it as a pointer to his own slides. Mr Brooks continued “In the last 10 years, unless you are a face, you havn’t a cats chance of making up a dog. The first thing you see (“God given”) is to understand balance!. The picture fits together, no exageration. Height ranges between 25-29 inches - “give or take an inch or two” (then staring at the audience). Head must be balanced with body. In this country we have a slight stop. Eyes do not stand out like searchlights. Return of upper arm most important - underneath the body. If its short you dont get reach/ground cover. No flag tails, no striaght tails, no double tails - should just reach the hock. I am appaled at Afghan “”rat tails”” sparsley covered!. In the 60’s the tail had 6-10 inches of feathering, it was treasured! An Afghan does not have to be charged around! The Afghan’s tail comes up when it is excited - not going to do that with todays judges!. Hocks should be slightly under and in. Should be short and flexible on the front pasterns (then gesticulation of flexible wrist) - perhaps thats why there’s so many gays in our breed. . Strippers (ed note, dog strippers as opposed to the er em other ones) - this is artificial, it is the people who own stripped dogs that are artificial!"
Mr Brooks presentation ran at quite a pace, this reporter just about able to keep up with his many “one liners” as above. Clearly there is some tongue-in-cheek comments in the above, interdispersed with humour - and mixed up with many serious points. A difficulty for the audience perhaps will be sorting out the serious from the tongue in cheek. Without doubt the presentation was well received with generous (indeed enthusiastic) applause to many of the one-liners/jokes/serious points - entertaining, certainly!
Session 5 Open Forum
Hazel Arris (England, Sharazah Afghans) acted as facilitator/moderator for this session where all the speakers returned to the rostrum, joined by Anne Mathers and Rene Fairlie.
Richard Kirkham (Jhansi Afghans) directed a question to Dr Ann to ask if “pacing - is this serious”. Dr Ann responded by stating that any dog can pace, its a natural “fatigue gait”. It can also occur if too short in body compared to leg length, or the handler not moving the dog not fast enough. Gloria Haywood asked a question “conformation vs temprement” - referenceing her own exhibit who apparently excells in conformation but is introvert in the showring. Rene Fairlie pursued the genetic theme asking what were the parents like because she would not like to encourage (breed) it. Sid Pollock suggested socialising dogs almost from birth so they get used to noise, sounds people etc, and made the point that if we had not bred from poor temprements in dogs in the past we would have lost a lot of good dogs (applause from various places in the audience). Sue Rhodes (Shadofax Afghans) suggested that the owner has got to think about why brred from this dog - what will you lose if dont breed or is something lost to the breed?. A member of the audience (didnt see who) commented “When you talk temprementyou are talking about the show-ring. IF its ok at hoke its worthwhile persevering with it”. Jean Lloyd (Krishan Afghans) asked the panel for their view on the judging syhstem. Sid Pollock explained that years ago he was asked (as Chairman of the then Breed Council) to come up with a system which he did and was similar to todays. The system fell down because two breed clubs didn’t agree with it. The discussion then opened up into “screening”. A consensus view appeared to emerge that the Breed Club Training/Exams had “open up judging” but the lack of screening was producing poor judges? There was concern expressed that “experience” in the breed was being discarded as part of the judges qualifier. Questions from an Irish contingent revolved around the difficulty for Irish Afghan people not having sufficient shows/opportunities to accumulate the required number of classes to qualify for senior judging and this was anomolous. Another question was “how does the panel feel about the Kennel Club recent ruling that judges cannot judge exhibits they bred”. Sid Pollock (who owned Midj Of Carloway) commented that Shelia Devitt (Carloway) never, ever gave him a first placing - but he did get a second place which he was very pleased with. Alan Brooks commented that the KC should have made this rule years ago, then went on to state that he gave his own breeding (Bondor Azim Khan and Bondor Dera Ghazi Khan) challenge and reserve challenge certificates at Crufts. Anne Mathers (Metewand Afghans, N Ireland) commented that the KC ruling is an insult to judges (applause).
End Of Program - John Ereira and David Paton expressed their thanks to all attendees, participants and organisers for making Afghan 96 a very enjoyable day and success. David Paton asked the audience if they would like the Breed Council to arrange future seminars like todays - audience gave a resounding YES!