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SALUKI (GAZELLE HOUND) BREED NOTES

SALUKI NOTES WEEK ENDING 11 SEPTEMBER, 1998

Having competed against one another at the Witney and District Open Show, at Newbury Racecourse, Linda Langton kindly provided us with the list of Saluki Championship Show Judges approved for the Show Year 1999. The list is correct as of 28th August 1998. Manchester Dog Show Society, 12/2/99- Dr. J Van Arsdale; Hound Assoc. of Scotland, 27/2/99- Mrs. A Faber; Crufts, 11/3/99- Mrs. B Payne; Northern Saluki Club, 11/4/99- Mr. D.G.Graham; W.E.L.K.S., 23/4/99- Mrs.H.J. Graham; Birmingham Dog Show Society, 13/5/99- Miss M.A. Blake; Scottish Kennel Club, 22/5/99- Mrs. R.J.F. Clark; Windsor Dog Show Society, 2/7/99- Mr.E.A. Connolly; South Wales Kennel Assoc., 8/7/99- Dr. J.A. Hudson; Paignton & D.F.A., 14/7/99- Mr. H.J. Kendall; East of England A.S., 20/7/99- Mrs. D.L. Garratt; Hound Assoc., 31/7/99- Mrs. D. Allan; Bournemouth Canine ssoc.,14/8/99- Mrs. M.M Spavin; Welsh K.C., 20/8/99- Mrs. J.B. Cotterill; Scottish K.C., 28/8/99- Mrs. D.F. Tovey; City of Birmingham C.A., 3/9/99- Mr. N. Ziman; Richmond D.S.C., 10/9/99- Mrs. M.F. Knott; Darlington D.S.C., 18/9/99- Mrs. P.M. Everton; S.G.H.C., 16/10/99- (D) Mrs. M.E. Parker, (B) Mrs. C.J. Applebee-Burt and (R) Mrs. E. Gibbins; Midland Counties C.S., 28/10/99- Mr. M.J. Rawson; L.K.A., 10/12/99- Mr. P.J. Yardley. Judges were not yet listed for Bath, S. Counties, 3 Counties, Border Union, Blackpool or Driffield. Incidentally, for anyone interested there were no Saluki classes at Witney but we all went for fun and practice, entering the not seperately classified’s and not seperately or otherwise winning it (if that makes any sense at all).

Thank you, to Peta Tribe, who sent us an interesting if disturbing article cut from a national newspaper, as food for thought. The thrust of the article was the question as to whether dog shows and showing produces the best stock, in terms of health and temperament. It also lists alleged instances where ‘horrors’ such as drugging and poisoning occurred at shows and where bad tempered individuals threw things upon losing a placement. The feeling was that the competition between canines had become almost irrelevant as the human will to win took precedence. It was suggested that the K.C. should copy practices from other countries where dogs undergo temperament and health tests before showing or breeding, respectively. All of the points made certainly deserve consideration and indeed need to be addressed continuously but it was what was absent, from the article, that caught my attention. Through years of showing where arguments occurred, items were lost or stolen, accidents happened etc.,etc., the hours of positive dialogue that took place, to the benefit of the dogs and owners, as well as the pleasure that was generated, for both species, must, at least, be taken into consideration. The focus should be aimed towards the health and well being of the dogs, as stated by the author but it cannot succeed if done in a dictatorial way. There is no club or hobby group in this world where utopian practices exist. Dog showing is not any different, however, I personally would feel a great loss not having the opportunity to find out and I believe that my Salukis feel the same way.

Michael Williams (101547.503@compuserve.com)

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