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SALUKI (GAZELLE HOUND) BREED NOTES

SALUKI NOTES WEEK ENDING 2nd March 2001

The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club held their Limited Show last Sunday. As we were unable to attend, all my information has been provided, very kindly, by some of those that did . They advise that the atmosphere was very friendly and Brandon and Ian’s lunches were up to their usual excellent standard. Best Bitch, Best in Show, was Mr N & Mrs E.S. Stanmore’s Altaya Taamunah with the Reserve Best Bitch to Mr K & Mrs D Allan and Mr P & Mrs J Mahon’s Jazirat Shazaara. Best in Show and Best Dog was Mrs J Barker’s Tealby Sabaah of Tezeen with the Reserve Best Dog to Dr J & Mrs E J Hudson’s Glenoak Gushyar. Best Puppy was M. Cosentini and T. Farris’s Jazirat Kareem. Miss N Quadling and Mr G Tier’s Isieya Ukab at Malenkhai was Best Veteran in Show.

We understand that Joan Barker has recently had some medical treatment. We hope her success at the Limited Show will be a boost for her, during what I am sure is a difficult time. Also I have heard that Liz Metcalf is recuperating from surgery. We wish both these ladies a speedy recovery.

I have a copy of the latest edition of “The Classic Saluki”, an American magazine, that is published twice yearly. In this edition, the Saluki History of Jen Araby Kennel is explored as it was recently Wayne Jensen’s 80th birthday. Wayne and Marlys Jensen bred their first litter in February 1951. That makes them 50 years in the breed and I would have thought the oldest breeders of Salukis, maybe in the world. According to the article, the Jen Arabys were based on the Diamond Hill dogs as Wayne thought “that is how they should look”, though English Salukis have also influenced the breeding. In 1954 he imported Eersteling van de Oranje Manege, from Eta Pauptit’s kennel, in the Netherlands. He was sired by Mazuri Ruflgi. From this line the pre-potent Ch Huntsman descended. In early 1959, Wayne imported Shah of Daxlore from Eileen Skelton-Fortune. He was from Marathon of Daxlore and Charmion of Daxlore, helping to establish the breeding program of the Jen Arabys for the 60s. Knightellington Djado was purchased from Helen Baker in 1960. A quote from the article states, in reference to our English Salukis, “In 1966 Harry Cohen, a friend of mine, imported Burydown Tutenkamun, a white dog from Hope Waters. He was by Burydown Pasha out of Asphodel Alanya. Harry brought him up to my place and left him, and I used him in two breedings.” He goes on to say” in 67, Madeline Fuller was visiting at the Srinagar kennels and had brought Ghazala Dioysius, her big cream coursing male, with her. He was there two years and hadn’t been used for stud. When she was ready to go back to England, I decided that I would make her happy and asked her if I could breed my top bitch, Bekitaten to him. This is kind of a funny one, when I asked to breed to him, Srinagar suddenly decided to breed seven females to him.”

In the 80’s the English influence was through Classicus Bacchus owned by Alan Ewles. (this was a brother to Mary Parker’s Ch Classicus Belisarius. Born May 1981, bred by Mrs J Jaques by Classicus Serendipity Nijinsky out of Ch Burydown Iphigenia).

The Jen Araby influence over here was through the importation by Don Wieden of Int Ch Jen Araby Mahal Bey of Sedeki. He was born on 19th April 1972. He was by Am Ch Jen Araby Jurwadi Bey (a Knightellington Djado son) ex Am Ch Jen Mumtaz Mahal.( a Knightellington Djado grandaughter). When Don was judging at Santa Barbara he awarded Best of Breed to Ch. Jen Araby Jurwadi Bey. Don has kindly forwarded the following “ In 1972 I was invited to judge Salukis at Santa Barbara, California. The wonderful entry, which was the 3rd largest in show, saw Jen Araby Jurwadi Bey (as yet untitled) rise to the top of many outstanding animals to win Best Of Breed. He also had a Group Placement on the day. After the show I was "billeted" with Kay Finch, Crown Crest Afghan Hounds. People were kind and wanted to know if there were any dogs I would like to see. I jumped at the chance to visit and meet the once Top Winning US Hound and Saluki, Ch.Jen Araby Mumtaz Mahal. She had been BOB under Hope Waters some years previously. I was not disappointed in the ageing black and tan who still moved with reach, drive and parallel action. My hosts and drivers for the day thought I should "experience" the Wayne and Marlys Jenson's Jen Araby Kennel. What I remember most is Wayne turning a group of youngsters of various ages out together. They must have ranged from 8 weeks to nearly 8 months. A thing most of us don't do. A young dog of about 4 mo. old was boldly rushing about and I said, "I like that one". Wayne said, "What's the quarantine like in Great Britain?" and I said, "Forget it!" I had left home with a lot of puppies of my own. That was that, until I arrived back at Kays. She asked about my day and I told her of the young dog I had seen at the Jensons and of Wayne's offer. She said, "Wayne never gives anything away, why not have him?" The seed was planted. Upon arriving back in the UK I checked out quarantine, thinking of what a great temperament this pup had and how it was needed. I thought, "Why not!". Wayne was called and the puppy, known as "The Boss" came into Britain when he was about seven or eight mo. of age. Cynthia Wood, his breeder, pleaded with me not to call him "that" as he was very sweet and loving. However, it stuck. Not thinking much about his breeding, when I decided to have him, I discovered he was out of Mumtaz Mahal by Jurwadi Bey. Two greats I had seen and admired for construction and movement. He came unregistered so I selected names from both his parents registering him here as Jen Araby Mahal Bey of Sedeki. This "character", with a great temperament, only a few weeks out of quarantine won the Res. C.C. under Percy Whitaker and never looked back. He qualified for his Jr. Warrant in record time for a Saluki but I never claimed it, which was once pointed out. Gaining his title and winning a Hound Group at Ch. Show level he came back to North America with us to add Canadian and American titles to his name. Although he was available at stud, he was never used but lives on in all our Salukis today”.

Currently being exhibited is Mr & Mrs P. Mahon’s Timaru Valkyrie of Jazirat (imp) bred by Mrs L Brabyn. The sire, Am Ch Timaru Zephyrus is closely bred on the Jen Araby lines.

Michael Williams (cmhwilliams@hotmail.com)
kasaque@ukgateway.net

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