Saluki Gazelle Hound Database and Breed Information Exchange (Saluki World Congress) |
1995 SALUKI WORLD CONGRESS REPORT (Page 4)
Bo Bengston
lts really interesting, from the examples given you have emphasised preservation - if you talk to other breeds they dont talk about preservation. To some ten years ago is ancient history, nobody cares about those old dogs. You're not even talking decades, you're talking centuries. I think this is fascinating and this is one of the things that makes the Saluki breed so fascinating. - that you in the breed have a tremendous sense of history.
Do you think that the top winner from when you started would still be a top winner. Would they still win in the ring today?
GEORGE BELL I think so; UTE LENARTZ/HOPE WATERS Yes; HERB WELLS Probably: MARIAN ALEXANDER No: VICKY CLARKE/DARRELL BLACK Definitely.
Bo Bengston
Most of you are breeders and have had tremendous success so my question is addressed to you as breeders:
Do you believe that we use: art science or simply pot luck?
GEORGE BELL
I think as far as I am concerned. only one category applies and that is pot luck. But. that is because two other categories are not listed knowledge and eye.
UTE LENNARTZ
Well I think you need a little of everything. but especially you need knowledge it's very. very important.
HOPE WATER
I think you have to have an eye for a dog and I think the secret of breeding consistently a good type is to study pedigree's and have a photographic memory. so you can look at a pedigree and say: Oh yes. that dog had lupright shoulders. that dog was cow hocked. that dog had a beautiful head. You balance the good and the bad in your mind with the pictures you've got in your brain and you work it out and do what your instincts tell you.
HERB WELLS
I think irs probably all of them. probably more art than luck and science. My general philosophy is to breed to dogs wilh characteristics that you want. I don't look so much into pedigrees. I do look back to see if there are any dogs I don't like. I just believe in breeding a good dog to a good dog. one that can run to one that can run,
VICKY CLARKE
I believe there are people with a definite eye for dogs, they know, they cansee, they cantell. I think there are people who are just better at telling combinations, and that's the method they use. There are people who look at pedigrees, and that's what they use. I think its a little of all and its certainly luck. I feel strongly about breeding good quality dogs to good quality dogs. I don't agree with breeding dogs for one specific purpose or another.. if someone is going to breed Salukis, then they are breeding for good Salukis, not for good coursing dogs or good showring dogs.
MARIAN ALEXANDER
I think its the horse people who say: the idea is to breed the best to the best and hope for the best. I think that's what most dog breeders do. My own observation is thal the people who succeed most are those people who are thoughtful and who study their pedigrees. who know whay they want, and if they don't have what they want, rhey go out and get what they want. They incorporate carefully, they have a strategy and mosl oftentIhey are successful. As opposed to breeders like myself. who try to breed the best to the best. Sometimes it comes OK, most times it doesn't. But for consistent results you need to know what you are doing.
VICKY CLARKE
I heard a statement made recently about an outcross who produced beautiful Salukis - that our breed will take care of iiself. I feel strongly about that, I think thatl no matter what mistakes we make. eventually you will see it come out alright in the long run.
DARRELL BLACK
I think the secret to a successful breeding programme is to have Karen do all the research.
Copyright(c) 1995 Saluki International