John Owen, Hon Sec on The Northern Saluki Club has sent the following message: 
“Happy New Year to you all. Although in these troubled and difficult times this seems to be a strange greeting, hopefully 2021 will be better than 2020. Normally I would be contacting you with a reminder that your subscriptions to the club are now due. However, the committee has decided to give all the NSC members a subscription holiday for 2021. It was felt that 2020 was a year when the club was unable to provide the normal activities which we all enjoy so much. As a result, we feel that members may not have received the normal benefits of the membership subscription. However, if anyone wishes to pay their subscriptions, they will be very gratefully received and treated as a donation. I also realise that some members may have paid their subscriptions with standing orders already set up. Please let me know if you wish to have this refunded. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that you have very generously donated your subscription to the club. Please remember to update any changes of address or particularly email addresses, especially if you have recently gone online. This is the fastest way to contact everyone. I often have delivery failures when I email all the members so if you do change emails addresses please let me know.
I would like to provide an update on the NSC dog shows in 2021. Many of you will already know from Facebook posts, that because of Covid-19, we have sadly taken the decision to cancel the Championship Show, which was due to be held on the 18th April 2021. We have tried to compensate for this by attempting to organise two Championship Shows later in the year. The first of these will take place on the 17th July 2021 as a partnership show with The Hound Association, at Stafford Showground. Dr J Hudson has very kindly agreed to still judge the show. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide the final entry details yet. It may be that the entries will be online only, and the numbers of entries may be restricted to meet Covid-19 regulations. This is something which will need to be finalised with the Hound Association and will be published as soon as possible. Hopefully by July there may be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.
 
The second of the shows is also a partnership show to be held on the 19th September 2021 in conjunction with Darlington. Once more the details of this will be made available later in the year. Mr J Walton-Haddon has kindly agreed to judge on this occasion.
We are still hopeful that our Open Show planned for the 26th September 2021 will be able to go ahead as planned, at Shirland Village Hall, Nr Alfreton, Derbyshire. As before the final details will be made available as soon as the situation with gatherings and events has been made clear. Mr J Johnston-White is the judge. Once more our normal routines need to be adjusted to meet the Covid-19 restrictions. The Club AGM needs to be held in March and is planned for Sunday the 28th March 2021. We have made the decision to organise a Zoom meeting for the AGM. This will start at 2:30pm. It will be preceded by a committee meeting starting at 1:30pm. 
There will be two AGMs: the first to discuss the business from 2019 and the second the business of 2020, the meetings will run concurrently. It is necessary to have two AGM’s because of the impact of Covid-19 last year.  If you wish to join the AGM, you will need to have been a fully paid-up member in 2020. To help us manage the meeting I am asking that you register your interest with me, the secretary, in the first instance and then I will send you a zoom meeting invitation. If you have not used zoom before, let me know, and I will attempt to provide some advice. There is no cost to the members for joining the meeting, you do not need to subscribe to zoom, but you can register. You will need to register your wish to join the meeting by the 21st March 2021 to ensure you receive your invitation. Finally,I must thank all those people who sent me and Caroline all the lovely best wishes for my speedy recovery following my complete left knee replacement. Before the operation I was very severely affected by my knee. I had stopped being able to walk in the final weeks and was suffering a lot of pain despite massive pain medication. Thankfully, the operation has been a great success (8 weeks on). I am now walking about without crutches and am virtually pain free. There is some muscle and nerve pain which needs to recover but the knee is completely pain free!! The only problem now is the right knee which needs to be replaced next and the leg is now shorter than the left because of the damage in the joint.
I hope you are all managing to stay well and avoid infections particularly Covid-19. This is certainly a difficult time. Our start to 2021 was marred by the funeral of Caroline’s sister who had been diagnosed with terminal liver and pancreatic cancer, but actually died from Covid-19 in the first week of December 2020. So, wishing you all the very best for and a healthy 2021. Hopefully, we will all soon be vaccinated and can look forward to returning to some sense of normality and once more meeting each other in person.”
Birmingham National has announced a change of date for their 2021 Championship Show.  Hounds and Utility breeds will be judged on Saturday 25thSeptember.  Bath Championship Show will also be changing their dates.  Hounds and Utility breeds will now be on Monday 2ndAugust.  I am sure there will be more changes in days to come. The latter half of 2021 will be very busy with shows.
In this week’s notes I will take a short trip back in ‘memory lane’, looking at the breeding history of Kay Perkins and her Pennyworth Salukis.  She was very much a success story of a small kennel.  When I first met Kay, she and her husband, David had returned to the UK after living in Australia.  She said they were ready to settle down now.  Kay’s first breed was Afghans which she had shown and bred a couple of litters. She decided along the way that she might prefer to have a Saluki, purchasing a puppy from Jim Kenyon.  Jim was showing the lovely Ch Mazuri Lail, a smooth bitch.  It was a fairy tale beginning, the little black and silver bitch became Ch Kaus Kezia. Penny as she known went on to win 16 Challenge Certificates.  
Penny’s sire was Don Wieden’s Eng/Am/Can Ch Sedeki Barre and her dam, Ch Mazuri Lail.  Lail was the first smooth champion bitch in this country.    I remember Jim at dog shows, where he would always have his pipe in his mouth usually sitting on a hill watching the proceeding.  Showing was not Jim’s thing, coursing with Lail was.  Lail came out of the last litter ever bred by Gwen Angel.  The smooth line came down from her grandfather, the first smooth male champion, the Henderson’s Ch Kumasi Kommandan. Penny’s sire, Sedeki Barre won 14 CCs and 9 reserve CCs.  He went BIS at the Hound Assoc show in 19787.  He was top Hound (all breeds) in 1973.  He had four BIS at Championship Shows.
Kaus Kezia had two litters, the first litter was to Sue Rabey’s Ch Sedeki Haz.  The litter consisted of two males and two bitches.  Kay kept a black tri bitch, namely Alexa.  When Alexa was thirteen months old she was stolen, they managed to find her in the end but she had suffered a traumatic injury to one of her front legs.  Unfortunately, it left her unable to use it for the rest of her life   The other bitch in the litter, a grizzle, went to Daphne and Tony Parnham. She became Ch Pennyworth Belinda of Amirah.  Her second litter of two was to Diane Merchant Giles’ Ch Shamal Kharaz.  They were Ch Pennyworth Katiya and Pennyworth Riaz. Other champions from this line were Pennyworth Katinka, Pennyworth Kassim and the last being the smooth Ch Ermcote Ilex with Pennyworth (s).  She was out of Pennyworth Kestrel.  Ann Jones and Kevin Carter bred their Pennyworth Katisha producing Ch Clearwing Beraq.   Kay never bred for quantity but for quality and I think she achieved that.  Unfortunately, she became ill before passing in 2014. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 22NDJANUARY 2021
 
Time progresses, we are 6 weeks into our third lockdown.  I have heard from David Hartley, chairman of the Northern Saluki Club.  David has let me know that John Owen, Hon Sec of the Northern Saluki Club is recovering well from his knee operation.  The physio and the doctors are pleased with his progress.  He is doing so well that he shall soon have knee two done as well. John would like the readership to know he is available in his capacity as Secretary to help with dealings regarding the Club.  He can be reached either through the NSC website or on telephone number 0115 9305473
 
For many years we have been receiving a copy of the Our Dogs Annual. For those of you that have never had the pleasure of seeing one, they are the ‘Vogue’ of the dog world.   Even this year, in the most difficult of circumstance one could possible imagine, they have produced a magazine of 480 pages of exquisite photos and articles.  Of course, the first thing one looks for is their own breed and to see if any Saluki adverts are there.  Last year for the first time that I can remember there were two.  This year there are four, all beautifully presented as one would for our breed.  The advertisers are Debbie Copperthwaite, Nicolas Eriksson (Sweden), Karin Hedberg(Sweden) and Michael and myself.  Congratulations to the Our Dogs team for pulling the genie out of the hat and pulling this fantastic magazine together.  I might say the same to all the advertisers and writers of articles who have contributed.   
 
Congratulations to Denise Garatt, Sharon Oakey and Mr & Mrs Owen’s new Virtual Champion, Glenoak Lunah from Caryna.  Lunah was awarded her third virtual challenge certificate by judge, Julie Edwards.  
 
There is a new ruling from the Kennel Club about Grandfather Rights regarding judging.  Stuart Smith of Bondor Afghans has written “grandfather rights’ are a term coined from the rights of black American who were allowed to vote if their grandfather could, making it impossible due to slavery.”  He goes on “I really wish the KC hadn’t used this term, especially given that the saying cause offence.”  For further information on the grandfather rights for judging, please contact the Kennel Club’s web site.
 
Speaking of the Kennel Club, it would be good if they could use their voice to see if they can influence DEFRA on the new arrangements for international travel with our dogs.  This new AHC, we need to have, in order to travel is long winded and expensive both for the vets, who need to fix sick animals not spend all their time filling in unnecessary legal documents.  We had a perfectly good system that worked, it did not need fixing. I suppose in a lesser way this goes hand in hand with the problems of Northern Ireland.  
 
I would love to hear from some of my readers, someone must have had an embarrassing situation at a dog show.  
 

 
This week I will start these notes with a message from David Hartley, Chairman of the Northern Saluki Club: “Just to wish all our NSC membership and Committee a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR and to thank you for all you do for the Club.
Hopefully at some point in 2021 the vaccinations will be completed and we will be able to meet up in person. Meanwhile stay safe it wouldn't be good to have come this far and then get infected.”  
 
January means renewal of subscription time, so please remember that the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club and the Northern Saluki Club dues are due this month. SGHV membership dues need to be paid to Mrs C McCormick Smith, The Old Vicarage, Grove Road, Portland, Dorset DT5 1DB.  Costs are single membership £14.00 (Overseas £16.00), joint membership £22.00 (Overseas £24.00) which means two adults living at the same address, Members without Salukis £9.00.  Junior membership is available to person under 21 in full-education. The Northern is still in discussion about their subs and are planning to discuss it at their next Committee meeting.    
 
I have received a copy of The Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club newsletter winter 2020 with Season’s greeting and Best Wishes for a Healthy & Happy New Year to all our Members from the Committee.  It states that the Club’s shows are still scheduled for 2021- The Championship Show on 17thOctober at Stoneleigh with Denise Rogers judging, the Open Show on 20thJune at Digswell with Carolyn McCormick Smith judging and the Limited Show on the 11thApril at Steventon Village Hall with Susan Rhodes judging.  After the judging at the Limited show the 2021, the Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held. It is noted that this is subject to change.  Information goes on to say that special business items for the Agenda should be sent to the Secretary, (see above address) to arrive no later than 28thFebruary 2021, but if it is not possible to hold the traditional AGM, then the Agenda will contain no special business items for discussion.  I have written to the secretary, Carolyn McCormick Smith regarding a clarification of the last statemen, she has kindly sent me the following:
 
“
 
The ordinary business of the AGM is to receive the accounts for the previous year, the results of the ballots for committee and judges at Club shows, reports of Club activities and to appoint auditors to certify the accounts.
 
Anything else such as rule changes or items that members wish to have discussed is ‘Special Business’.     While we might be able to approve the formal items at a show, as has been done before, unless we can hold a sit-down meeting that people will actually attend and be prepared to discuss motions put forward by members or the Committee, there is no point having such motions on the agenda.   The restrictions of Covid have disrupted much of our lives and the SGHC is no exception.  I’m sure that everything will return to something like ‘normal’ eventually. “
 
 
 
The Kennel Club has issued a statement that “Cancellation of licensed events until at least 28thFebruary 2021”.  Let us hope that by April we can see the backend of the lockdowns and we are racing towards ‘normal’.  
 
There have been few highlights of 2020 dog showing season but I will try and review the information I have thanks to The KC Breed Supplements.  In the first quarter which is January to March 2020 we had 30 puppies registered from five litters.  There were three importations, one from Netherland, one from Germany and one from Ireland.  There were two Junior Warrants, which were Alishamar Rozane (IMP BEL), and Jay JPSea Bird El Panjsher (IMP JPN).  One Show Certificate of Excellence to Vadana Amira S Berega Turi (IMP ROS) and one Veteran Warrant to Ch Ulmarra Tropical Ice at Winton. There were three Salukis confirmed clear of NCL, no failures.   
 
The second Quarter was from April to June. There were 9 puppies registered from two litters. One Export Pedigree issued to USA.  Two Salukis were confirmed clear of NCL, no failures.  The third supplement was shorter because of the difficulties of lockdown putting together the document, as most KC employees are working from home, so they include just July and August 2020.   There were 19 puppies registered from 2 litters.  One Importation.  Five Salukis were confirmed clear of NCL and no failures.  So, comparing, 2019 had a registration of 78 and 2020 for the same period had 62 registrations.
 
Finally, the secretary of the SGHC and I am sure the same goes for the secretary of the NSC, if anyone is planning on breeding a Saluki litter to please let the secretaries know as they do receives enquiries from time to time. 
 
Helen Williams
Kasaque565@gmail.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Click here SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 7th January 2021
 
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I go cap in hand as I have missed a couple of weeks Breed Notes due to other commitments in our life.  Now we are in lockdown tier 4, and the business of Christmas has all but passed, I will endeavour to make sure there are notes every week.  I would like to take the opportunity at this time to thank all those who have contributed to these notes so that I could keep going during these darkest of times.  My biggest thanks to Jillian Knight Messenger, who has allowed me to collaborate with her brilliant Afghan notes.  We have both tried to give the readership something either historical or topical.  Who could of ever predicted that the world would be in the position it is in now. Unfortunately, it looks like we are not out of the woods yet but with the vaccination program already underway and ramping up, we soldier on waiting for normal.
 
Our dogs have not suffered from the pandemic, they have enjoyed having us home more.  This reminds me of a cartoon I saw of a dog hiding on top of a kitchen cupboard with his paws over his eyes.  As the rules stated, we could take the dog out for a walk, this poor dog had so many walks with each family member that he was hiding just in case someone else wanted him to go out for yet another walk.
 
 Now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, there are changes in how we can travel with our pets. Pet Passports will be required for travel between GB and Northern Ireland.  (It appears that is all Uk issued ones are good for) The government rules say for those travelling from England. Scotland and Wales to the EU the following applies :
1.You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.
2.Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated.
3.Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
4.Visit your vet to get an AHC for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU. 
 
Reading further it says that the certificate required for entry to the UK will be valid for four months but for only a single journey.  This seems a tad bureaucratic   
The government guidance also says 'For UK nationals living in the EU:-
If you’re living in the EU and plan to travel with your pet using a UK-issued pet passport, you should speak to your vet. They’ll help to ensure you’re compliant with EU Pet Travel Regulations. If you have a pet passport issued by an EU member state, you can use it to bring your pet to GB.'
 
 
For anyone that is interested, the German Sighthound Festival, Donaueschingen will be held on Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August.  Judging Salukis will be Per Lundstrom (hound specialist) from Sweden and Paula Bockman-Chato  (Baghdad Salukis) from Australia.  It is really a fun event to attend with two very interesting judges. 
 
So for "this week on the soap box”
There have been many postings on the social network sites regarding concerns about their once most sacred veterinary surgeries being gobbled up by equity companies and large corporations. Results of these purchases has not necessarily meant that the general quality of treatment has reduced but has had an effect in other factors.  One of the resulting factors is that the vets have quotas of how many clients they need to see, as there are now bottom lines with investors who want decent returns. Especially now with lockdown, the vets need to get the pets in as fast as they can and on to the next.  It is quite sad to see the young vets, who are at the bottom of the pyramid working under immense pressure, to see as many patients as they can in the shortest amount of time.  Looking at one large corporation, which is probably the largest single own corporation in the world, which has rapid growth in animal care is Mars Inc.  They are the owners of Snickers, Mars Bars, Pedigree, Royal Canin and James Wellbeloved. To name a few.  Under their Linnaeus umbrella they have bought five veterinary referral practices.  They are Anderson Moores, Dick White Referrals, Northwest Veterinary Specialists, Eye Vet, Veterinary Specialist Scotland. Another group is IVC Evidensia which has over 380 practices in the UK and circa 180 on the continent. So how does this affect us, the owners, exhibitors and breeders of dogs?  Well, with the knowledge of this first paragraph put aside, we need to look at pet insurance. 
 As we have never had insurance for our dogs, I will keep this very rudimentary.   Basically, when a person buys a dog from a breeder they are given a form allowing them so many weeks free insurance on their puppy and if they care to carry on with this, the insurance company is more than pleased to take their money.  Every insurance company, under the sun, now seems to offer some kind of ‘pet insurance’. Pet insurance is to cover any accident, illness or most mishaps your dog might encounter.  With the vet practices being taken over by these large corporations looking for a good return for their investments, the cost of veterinarian procedures has escalated, and the insurance is covering these additional costs. The positive side of this is that the surgeries now have more up-to-date equipment, be it for x-rays, scanning, endoscopy blood tests and operations.  Meanwhile the costs of the canine health insurance is escalating along with the costs of treatments.  I have checked one insurance company and the cost per month for insuring a pure-bred dog is £68.35.  If we insured our five dogs we would be looking at £341.75 per month or £4,101 per annum. These costs start to creep up every year, in some breeds at an alarming rate. The insurance companies do not seem to quibble about the costs of the individual surgical charge for their procedures though there is always an agreed excess, which as an animal gets to old age, generally, is the stated excess plus an additional excess of up to 20% of each total claim. 
On top of costs for the services the vets provide, in the last few years, the vets have come up with a new 'pet care plan’, for their clients. A typical ‘plan’ costs about £17.00 per month which is £204.00 per annum which includes : annual health check and vaccinations with a vet, six-month health check with a vet, 12 monthly supply flea and tick prevention, 12 monthly supply of worm prevention, a free microchip, free nail clips with a nurse,  free anal gland expressing by a nurse (dogs only), 50% off the cost of kennel cough vaccination, 10% off the cost of neutering, 10% off the cost of all pet foods.  This totals up so that including the health insurance and health plan to £85.35 per month or £1,024,20 per dog per year excluding food and insurance excesses. As a well seasoned dog owner I do not think the £17.00 per month would be of value to me.
 
It seems as if everyone wants a bite of the apple.  If you tell someone with a 10 year old chihuahua that you do not think they need an annual vaccination, unless they are going into kennels, the reply would be that the vet’s offer the service as they think it is necessary.  Also why are the vets offering microchips when all puppies are legally required to be chipped before leaving their birth place? 
So, no wonder the new cash cows are the veterinarian surgeries which are either still independent or being bought up by the large corporations, who expect clients to spend more than ever before, and often guilt trip them if they don't agree to their latest money spinning plans for their beloved pets care. 
 
Once again, if you have any interesting thoughts, observations or stories to share, I would be most appreciative if you could send them to me.  
 
Helen Williams
Kasaque565@gmail.com  
 
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Well, there is good news in England.  We can now go out shopping which at this time of the year is often Christmas orientated.  We can meet up in a somewhat limited fashion.  With the news of the new vaccines, hope is on the horizon that we might find ‘normal again. With the theme of ‘normal’ in mind The Kennel Club has announced the criteria for entering Crufts 2021.  It will be a little different but it sounds like we can have a great day.  
 
The statement from The Kennel Club regarding Crufts is as follows: “ The Kennel Club will be reviewing many aspects of the show in line with government advice and the evolving health situation, however, some decisions have needed to be made in advance to ensure it would be able to go ahead in a Covid secure way.  The qualification is open to those who qualified for Crufts 2020 apart from the 3rdplacing in class.  It should be noted no puppy classes will be scheduled at the 2021 show due to lack of opportunity to qualify.
 
Further to a review of the floor space and the number of exhibitors and attendees, the decision has had to be made that entries will be capped for all breeds.  Entries are due to open at the end of March and will be online only.  Entries will close on 31 May 2021 or when numbers have been reached.”   
 
Terriers and Hounds will be exhibited at Crufts on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 followed by the Houndshow and the Northern Saluki Club Championship show on Saturday 17thJuly 2021.  The Saturday event does clash with ‘Gundog Day’ at Crufts which unfortunately was unavoidable.  For those dogs coming from outside the UK which includes Ireland if the United Kingdom does not manage to secure an agreement with the EU then we will be listed as an ‘Unlisted Country’ The rules will be as follows: Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

1. Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory from either inside the EU or outside the EU.
2. The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml).
3. You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel - you do not need to wait if your pet was vaccinated, blood tested and given a pet passport in the EU before travelling to an unlisted country.
4. The vet must give you a copy of the test results and enter the day the blood sample was taken in a third-country official veterinary certificate.

The blood test will continue to be valid as long as your pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.
Going back to the Crufts qualifications, I remember the 1980s when we needed to have a 1stto qualify for Crufts.  It was extremely difficult as there were some very beautiful Salukis around and less championship shows to qualify.  Not to mention the entries, Windsor, for example, one year there were as many as 25 bitches in Post. Graduate. At most shows we were thrilled to even have a placement, but we needed that ever elusive first to qualify. Once we achieved the 1stthe heat was off and we could relax for the rest of the year. Many a good dog could not qualify as perhaps they only managed a 2ndin that year.  Conversely, I was told this story of the Poodles in the 60s, which were the rage to own. Everyone in London had one and wanted to be seen with their poodle as they were all gorgeous, of course. Crufts at that time was held at Earl’s Court with no qualifications. just could you afford to enter? They ended up with a Poodle puppy classes of 50 plus.
Paul Singleton, secretary of the Hound Association has sent the following update  regarding the Houndshow: 
We are delighted to confirm that the following clubs have supported us by continuing to be hosted on Saturday July 17th at Houndshow 2021. The Irish Wolf Hound Club, The Basenji Club of Great Britain, The Midland Dachshund Club, The Southern Afghan Club, The Borzois Club, The Cirneco Dell’Etna Club, The Cirneco Dell’Etna Club, The Norwegian Elkhound Club, The Northern Saluki Club, The Midland Basset Hound Club.
We can also announce that the Camping Site at The County Showground will be open from Wednesday 14th July until Monday 19th July and we are just 45 minutes from the NEC so a perfect base for Crufts and Houndshow. Camping fees will be announced ASAP.
We will also need additional Stewards for Houndshow this time so if you can help please email our Chief Steward Colin Makey at gairside@btinternet.com We are pleased to offer free camping for our Stewards
We look forward to welcoming all hound friends at the UK Houndshow”. 
Stay safe
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SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEK ENDING 4THDECEMBER 2020
 
Very pleased to have received a call from David Hartley, Chairman of the Northern Saluki Club.  He told me that John Owen secretary of the NSC has had a knee operation.  All is going well with his recovery so by the time you read these notes he should be back at home.  David has also given me an update on the Club’s plans for 2021.  As the Club could not hold a show in 2020, they have been given permission to hold two championship shows in 2021.  This should be ample opportunity for exhibitors to show their youngsters.  So, in last week’s notes I stated that Crufts has been announced as being held on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham, judging will be Adele Walton Haddon.  That will be a big weekend for shows as on the following Saturday, 17thJuly, The Hound Association will be holding their show at the Stafford Show Grounds with the judge Jerry Robinson.  In addition, the NSC will be holding their Championship Show at the Stafford Show ground.  The judge for that show will be Dr. John Hudson.  The second championship show will be held in conjunction with Darlington Championship show on Sunday 19thSeptember 2021.  Both judges at this show are to be confirmed.
 
Helena Haywood has posted a quick reminder that the SGHC 2021 calendar is down to the last box. If you want one before Christmas pleas order now to save her standing in the Post Office queues.  For further information e:mail: helenahaywood 191@btinternet.com or tel. 07771662303
 

  
 
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​SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 27THNOVEMBER 2020
 
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American compatriots.  We cannot meet with friends and family this year but we can celebrate never the less.  Normally, we have a few of our friends over for the big day, one friend had offered to host Thanksgiving dinner, one year, so I asked her if she knew how it was done, answer was “Christmas but early”.  Hopefully we may be able to have some sort of ‘normal Christmas’. 
 
Crufts has been announced as being held on Thursday 15thJuly 2021 at the NEC in Birmingham. Our judge will be Adele Walton Haddon.  That will be a big weekend for shows as on the following Saturday, 17thJuly, The Hound Association will be holding their show at the Stafford Show Grounds.  I have Jerry Robertson listed as the judge but if there is any change to this I will post in the notes. This will be very convenient for competitors coming from abroad as they will be able to attend two shows instead of the usual one.
 
Brian Duggan, has posted in social media that the American Kennel Club Gazette’s Saluki column, this month, is devoted to six children’s books about or with Salukis. 
They are Danielle Caro’sA Home for Sydney, Julia Johnson’s Saluki, Hound of the Bedouin, Barbara Lindgren’s Rosa Goes to Day Care, Linda Armstrong’s Tanya’s Desert Star, Royr Gerrard’s Rosie and the Rustlersand Lynn Hall’s FLASH Dog of Old Egypt.  With our experience with Salukis and children, they make excellent companions.  
 
In last week’s ‘Our Dogs’ in Jane Lilley’s column she wrote about ‘Our extraordinary and unusual dogs.’  She featured Harvey owned by Jimmi Johnston -White, a Saluki, of course.   Back to the article, Jimmi has kindly sent me his original copy: 
“A bit of background for you first, I saw my first Saluki aged 4 when living in Algiers, owned by a couple originally from Qatar. I had grown up with Mum's Great Danes and Dad's gundogs, but this Saluki to me was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen, it was however quite wild. I wanted one though and kept pestering Mum and Dad, eventually they got me an Afghan who was beautiful but mad and maddening. Move forward 33 year from my first meeting with a Saluki and having a household of Mini Wire Dachshunds and Italian Greyhounds, at Southern Counties Championship Show, Mini Wires were due in the ring following Salukis, I sat thinking
if only. Then a rather handsome male came and joined me and my Mini Wire Dhanka, they fell in love, and his owner and I struck up a friendship. Two years later he was used, in house, on the owner’s bitch and I was given the last born of litter Harvey or Anasazi Late Harvest as The Kennel Club know him. It is worth noting that when Dhanka was very ill Harvey gave her a direct dog to dog transfusion (she had another 2 and a half years of life).

Everyone I knew in dogs kept telling me I had lost the plot, that I couldn't have a Saluki with small breeds that run, cats and guinea pigs, I was certain I could though. Ten years on and I am so pleased I took the plunge.
From the very start he had utmost respect for my very elderly alpha male Italian, he very quickly got used to the fact that all the other pack members thought that when he laid in a bed he was just additional bedding for them and would lay on top of him. He ignored the cats completely and just wanted to kiss the guinea pigs through the bars of their hutches or runs.
I knew from day one that I had to work hard on his training, to be honest it was a doddle, he just wanted to please. Harvey has the very best recall of all the 9 dogs we currently have in residence. The one shame was that he wasn't keen on showing, he saw no point in getting in a ring with a load of other Salukis when you could lay down at the Dachsie ring and have them climbing and sleeping on you. He has come into his own in other ways though, as well as living with so many other smaller animals and dogs, he has been used by me to go into school and work with children who were afraid of dogs or wary because of their culture, he has helped with the training of a great many rescue dogs, his first was the tiniest blue Italian Greyhound who was terrified of us, in came big Harvey and laid beside her. Mostly he has worked alongside me and my other half (known to the masses as TKH, The Kennel Hand) in the rehabilitation of aggressive and nervous Border Terriers. He works instinctively understanding what they need and how to behave, one dog, Taz, gets very aggressive around other dogs yet with Harvey he just copies behaviour and can run around with them and even mix within my pack.
Working away from home kennel sitting I miss him greatly, though he was always my dog and shadow he has learnt that in my absence he needs to supervise and help TKH and become his shadow.
Ten and a half years on from getting him I can honestly say I don't regret a moment, how many dogs can you leave in a room with your dinner on a coffee table, come back and it isn't touched? How many dogs have instant recall? How many dogs have helped so many other dogs take their first steps towards a new life? People do ask if I will have another Saluki and the answer is no, it was my long held dream and it came true in so many ways, it wouldn't be fair to the next one, it would be like asking someone to sing like Callas, act like Olivier, or run like Farrah. It just wouldn't be possible, so I shall just go on enjoying my dream dog for as long as possible and remember all the fun we have had.
”
As a matter of interest Jimmi will be judging the Northern Saluki Club Open Show on Sunday 26thSeptember 2021.
 
I received a copy of the ‘Kennel Club Gazette’ for December 2020 today. A welcomed surprise. Gay Robertson has written an article “Sighthounds gather in the Cotswolds”. This refers to the lure coursing meeting which was held in October under the auspices of UK Sighthound Sport.   It was a Covid secure event. By the fact that this article appeared in the KC’s monthly magazine we hope in the near future they will recognize lure coursing as a legitimate KC activity.  There was a small photograph of two Salukis taking off after the lure.  They are Natasha Hamilton’s Alishamar Roxane and our own Kasaque Salaama.   
 
Stay safe
 

SALUKI BREED NOTES WEEKENDING 20THNOVEMBER 2020.
 
Glad to hear good news during week one of our ‘lockdown’.  Let us all hope
that the vaccines, which have been proven quite successful up to this moment in time, remain so.   With the weather becoming more miserable as winter progresses
it is more depressing to be stuck at home, not being able to meet up this year for Christmas get togethers.  Optimistically, I am posting a list of judges for 2021.  
I shall start with Crufts as we know that Manchester and Boston are cancelled.  
11/3 Crufts, Adele Walton Haddon; 10/4 Hound Assoc of Scotland, Dr RM James;
11/4 A.M. SGHC Limited Show, Susan Rhodes, P.M. SGHC AGM; 18/ 4 Northern Saluki Club Championship Show, Dr John Hudson; 24/4 WELKS, Margaret Fulcher;
6/5 Birmingham National, Avril Davies; 21/5 SKC, Jonathan Horswell; 28/5 Bath, Claire Boggia; 4/6 Southern Counties Championship Show, Bernard Barjot; 10/6     3-Counties Championship Show, Jenny Dove; 20/6 SGHC Open Show, Carolyn McCormick Smith; 25/6 Blackpool, Dr. AP Sergerseven; 2/7 Windsor. Maggie Holder; 9/7 East of England, Ben Reynolds-Frost; 17/7 Hound Association, TBA; 24/7 Leeds Rachel Wray; 8/8 Paignton, Jill Peak; 14/8 Bournemouth, Espen Engh;
20/8 Welsh KC, Karin Hedberg; 28/8 Driffield, Gavin Robertson; 3/9 City of Birmingham, Mike Caple;10/9 Richmond TBA; 19/9 Darlington TBA; 26/9 Northern Saluki Club Open Show, Jimmi Johnston White; 8/10 South Wales, Karen Fisher;
17/10 SGHC Championship Show, Denise Rogers; 28/10 Midland Counties, Kathy Webb; 11/12 Ladies Kennel Association, Elizabeth McKnight. 
 
Mary Parker has kindly sent me through an update from The Kennel Club: “New  breed judges will need to register with the KC, they will be able to once the computer system is up and running- they will be able to add their detail to ‘Find A Judge’, but can still just be on a breed club list.  However, not many societies will use them so it will be in their interest to sign up from next year”
 
In last week’s ‘Our Dogs’ in the section entitled ‘;50 Years in Dogs’ highlighted was Linda Aldous.  For 50 years it was Afghans until recently when she jumped ship, importing a young Saluki male which she has been doing quite well with.  
 
Continuing with my review of “The Saluki” Championship Show edition 2020.  Masha Shaverneva has written an article entitle ‘Salukis and agility’.  Altai is her first Saluki previously she was an Afghan person.  She purchased Qazal Sarbaz Har Kala Rachi, a black tri smooth male with intention of showing him. This did not work out for various reason which she explains., so she tried something new, agility, which has completely taken over both of their lives.  The article goes into great depth explaining the progress Altai has in the sport. The article is assisted by beautiful photographs.  
I will continue to review the articles on a weekly basis.
 

 

 
How disappointing to be in another lockdown.  This one is supposed to end
on a certain date so hopefully the virus will have taken notice and we can have a period of freedom of movement.  Dog shows will probably not start up again until the outdoor shows. Meanwhile the show societies, by then, will have figured a plan of how to run them safely.  Crufts as we know it, I doubt it, but maybe there will be a different type of show, outdoors in a beautiful estate.  As there is no agreement with the UK and the EU, as of yet, on the status of animal movements, the concept of dogs coming from the Continent is still in the balance.  To compound all the doom and gloom, buy your summer garden and veggie seeds now.  If the UK exits the EU without a deal, seeds may be unavailable as they mostly come from Holland. 
 
Just a couple of updates from last week’s Breed Notes.  Dianne Merchant Giles passed away in 2003.  The year Kharaz won the Hound Group at Crufts under Terry Thorn it was 1986 and the breed judge was Catherine Sutton, not as I printed.
 
Our Dogs is now working on their ‘Annual 2021’.  As we have not had the opportunity to exhibit our dogs this year, this is an opportunity for owners, breeders, exhibitors to show their dogs off in the UK and all over the world.  It is a truly unique publication of quality, the layout of the adverts are dazzling to view.  For further. Information please contact Kerry on 0161 709 4566 or email kerry@ourdogs.co.uk.
 
This week I was delighted to receive a copy of ‘The Saluki’ the magazine of the Saluki or Gazelle Hound Club.  As one would expect from the publication it is beautifully presented and of the highest quality.  Filled with interest articles and adverts.  The first article was written by Anna Freegard, archivist for the Club. With the Club’s Centennial in 2023 not far off, she looks back at an earlier milestone of the Club, it’s 75thanniversary.  One of the interesting points she makes is that many of the owners of the dogs are still around and showing.   I will continue my review of the magazine in the weeks that follow.  For obtaining a copy contact the editor Diana Klein on email editorsalukimagazine@gmail.comor tel. 07751 061719 
 

 
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First notes in a new month.  No one is going to be sad to see the end of 2020.  Somehow, we automatically think 2021 will be better. Southern Counties Championship Show has posted “A clarification on an optimistic note!  We are planning our 2021 Show and are raring to go ahead all things being equal.  The dates will be June 4th, 5th, and 6th.  Group splits will not be rotating as announced previously, we are keeping to our arrangement of June 4thHounds/Toys, June 5th  Pastoral/Working/Terriers, June 6thGundogs/Utility.  The reason for this is that after a bit of a jigsaw puzzle, we have managed to move all our 2020 judges (who were still free) on to 2021. This means that our 1sttime judges will not have to wait 2 or 3 more years for their eagerly anticipated appointments. If we had rotated the Group splits this would not have been possible.  We would like to thank all the previously invited 2021 judges who agreed to move their appointment to 2022.  All we hope now is that a) it goes ahead and b) we get the wonderful weather we would have had this year.  We wish all our friends, stewards, exhibitors, judges and everyone connected with the show all the very best until we see you again.  Stay safe.
Oh-and please if you have any questions on this post ask them here rather than speculation on some other post that I may not see and therefore cannot clarify.’
 
Carolyn McCormick Smith has posted on the SGHC members page that the judge for the Club’s 2022 show will be Denise Garratt.  Diana Klein editor of ‘The Saluki’ has posted that the magazine is now available for sale.  This issue only £10.00 UK, £12.50 Europe, £15.00 for the rest of the World. Digital copy now available for £6.00. To purchase a copy contact Diana Klein editor at editorsalukimagazine@gmail.comor telephone 07751 061719.
 
Jillian Knight Messenger in her Afghan Breed notes has asked her readers for embarrassing incidents which have occurred while showing dogs. Jill Cross sent her the following and has not only allowed us to reprint it, but has also sent an interview with the late Dianne Merchant Giles:  Jill writes“ Some years ago we went to SKC and were staying the weekend in a hotel as you do, and when we went for dinner that evening, we were joined by Christian Gardiner, Kenny Wright (Gardwright) and Di Merchant-Giles (of Saluki fame). We were having a great conversation and it eventually drifted into tales of Di’s own stage career - stories which were illustrated by her standing up and bursting into an operatic aria in the restaurant. The whole place - including Christian - was spellbound and at the end of it, everyone stood up and applauded!”
The interview follows:
 What breeds are you interested in?
There are not many breeds of dogs that I don’t like.  My grandparents bred Pomeranians in the early 1920s and kept them for many years.  My father bred racing greyhounds for about 20 year and as far as I can remember my family have bred and owned breeds from every group.  At the moment my main interest must be Papillons which my husband and I are currently showing and breeding, and although we don’t breed them anymore, I must include Salukis as I think they will always be dear to my heart. 
 
 
What dogs have you owned?
I have owned so many dogs over the years, mainly as pets, but I have shown Sealyham, Cocker Spaniel, Old English Sheepdog, Dachshund, Saluki and now Papillions.  I have bred a champion Sealyham -not made up by me I hasten to add-not carrying our present affix.  My old English Sheepdog was shown briefly in this country and then sold to Canada to become a champion in double quick time. The most famous must be the Saluki CH SHAMAL KHARAZ a legend in his own lifetime owned and bred by us.  He won virtually every accolade in his time and although tragically lost him in 1989 he has been top Saluki stud 
dog every year since except one.  
 
How did you become involved in the world of show dogs?
I have always been interested I showing anything, even flowers; but mainly horses and dogs
I dabbled in showing dogs on and off for many years when my career would allow it, but it was my late Mother-in-law who really made it an obsession.  She was showing two beautiful Salukis, one belonging to my husband.  I took over the handling of this one and he became CH SEDEKI HAJ.
 
Did you begin your working life as an artist?
No, definitely not! I was as an opera singer and worked in London with Sadlers Wells Opera Company and then went on to sing in West End Musicals such as Hallo Dolly, Funny Girl, Robert and Elizabeth, Camelot, The Ambassadors and Trelawney to name a few.  I also appeared the films of Oliver and Half a Sixpence among others.
However, I had drawn and painted since I was a very young child (drawing only dogs and horses horses-I might add)and at the age of 15 won a scholarship to the Royal West of England College of Art; unfortunately due to family crisis I was unable to take up the scholarship-something I have always regretted. 
 
Did you come from an artistic background?
Not as far as I know.  Although I remember my mother telling me once that my grandmother’s brother was both musical and artistic.
 
What is your greatest achievement in showing dogs?
I think this must be winning the Hound group at Crufts in 1986 with a home bred dog namely CH SHAMAL KHARAZ – surely this must be the dream of everyone who shows dogs.  
 
Champion Shamal Kharaz’s sire was Ch Jeddah Al Caliph and dam Sedeki Tamineh of Shamal.  He was born on the 14thApril 1982 and died in 1989.   He was from a littler of 5.  His brother, Shamal Khamoun also became a champion.  He was owned by Diane Duckenfield.  Kharaz had 6 mating partners producing 21 off springs.  Five of his children became champions.  Kharaz won BOB at Crufts twice, first time in 1987 under judge Catherine Sutton and the second time in 1986 under judge Valerie Stringer where he went on to win the Hound Group under Terry Thorn.  Kharaz won 
A total of 10 CCS also going Best in Show at the SGHC Open Show and the Club’s championship show. 
Kharaz’s champions get were Pennyworth Katiya. Pennyworth Riaz, Kasaque Eve, Kasaque Ezekiel and Bishr of Kasra.
 
If anyone would like to pass on their embarrassing/interesting episodes at shows I would be most grateful.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
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