Breed Priorities – The Saluki

BY NIKKI RIGGSBEE

This article is not intended to promote fault or part judging. Nor is it to imply that any characteristic called for in the standard is unimportant. Judging, and breeding, is about prioritizing and about what the judge or breeder will forgive. Discussing priorities can help in learning how to better evaluate a breed.
Questions, Comments, or Concerns? Contact AKC Judge Ms. Nikki Riggsbee at this email address: Nriggsbee@aol.com

The Saluki is considered one of the oldest breeds. Sighthound-type dogs have been pictured in tombs, including carvings in the ancient Sumerian empire that strongly resemble Salukis. The breed was used by nomadic tribes to hunt animals by sight. Salukis come in two coat types – smooth and feathered. Looking at pictures and drawings of Salukis over the past hundred years or more, one sees that the breed has changed little–unlike many other breeds–and the good ones would be competitive today.

The Saluki standard is fairly old, as well. The breed was recognized by AKC in 1927. I thought the standard was last approved in 1935, but I couldn’t find verification. The standard on AKC’s website and the parent club’s website do not list an approval date at the end of it as most standards do. I’ve been told that Saluki people don’t all tend to agree (think of herding cats) so that opening the standard to revision might be opening a can of worms.

Saluki breeder-judges were invited to participate in a survey on their breed’s priorities. Twenty surveys were returned. This group has been in the breed for over thirty-two years on average and have judged them for more than twelve years on average. Some have judged their National, and most have judged other Saluki specialties. The Saluki breeder-judges were quite consistent in their opinions. They were responsive and added more comments to their surveys than most other breed surveys I have done.

Saluki Virtues

The survey included a list of virtues taken from the standard for the breeder-judges to rank in sequence by its importance to the breed. Since the Saluki standard is one of the shorter ones, most characteristics were able to be included. Here is the list in sequence by average rank, with 1 being the most important.

1. Shoulders sloping, set well back, well muscled
2. Grace, symmetry
3. Back fairly broad, muscles slightly arched over loin
4. Chest deep and moderately narrow
5. Neck long, supple, well muscled
6. Great speed, endurance
7. Hipbones set well apart
8. Forelegs straight
9. Toes long and well arched
10. Hocks low to the ground
11. Head long and narrow, skull moderately wide between the ears
12. Teeth strong and level
13. Expression dignified, gentle, with deep, faithful, farseeing eyes
14. Tail long, set on low, carried naturally in a curve
15. Eyes dark to hazel, large and oval
16. Ears long, hanging close to the skull, mobile

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Posted by Alex on Jul 25 2019. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.