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The History
I saw my first Afghan Hound in 1970, I can clearly remember this
moment, and I was thrilled.
I was barely 10 years old and absolutely fascinated by this beautiful animal.
From this very day I WANTED one...
and usually, what I want, I get!!!
I collected every info, clippings, pictures... and it was only 9 years
later that I bought my first Afghan,
Riyad d'Orkhan Ghazi. He had an English/Scandinavian/French pedigree.
Riyad was not much of a showdog, but he was a fast racer. I took him to
a lot of races, and also to coursing that had just began in France.
In the same year, I got another male from the same kennel : Ritwidj d'Orkhan Ghazi. He had a different breeding : an Australian / European blend. He sired the first Soukistan litter. Ritwidj was a tall, elegant dog with a gorgeous chiselled head and a beautiful "lightfoot" movement. He lived to nearly 14.
I soon started doing some pedigree research, gathered a good lot of old pedigrees, books, show catalogues... and I became interested in the v.d.O.M. line (van de Oranje Manege kennel from Eta Pauptit in the Netherlands), as this line was prominent in the background of my dogs.
Eta became my mentor, and in 1981 I acquired a female from Holland, Ester Eco van het Martinihaim. She was a Dual Champion, but unfortunately she died unexpectedly at the age of 7 and left no progeny. She was a daughter to Multi-Champion Kyros von Katwiga, and her dam was sired by one of the last Oranje Manege dogs.
In 1984 I bought a female in Germany , Nausikaa's Ishala, who became the dam of my first litter. The v.d.O.M. type was not very appreciated in the French showring... Ishala got no title but she became a Top Producer !
