THE WESTERN SIGHTHOUND COMBINED SPECIALTIES
LOMPOC – CALIFORNIA
I very much thank the American Saluki Association for inviting me to judge that glamorous show.
As great dog-lovers of the past said, judging is a mission, not a commading or dictatorial action. Judges have just to compare dogs to the current breed standard. Breeder judges shouldn’t impose their own preferred type, but using their knowledge with the purpose of better understand the standard in comparison to allrounder judges. Some of my placements and winner dogs witness that,
as they don’t respect my taste as for the type I breed.
I was surprised to realize that the outstanding bitch, winner of the Veteran class, whom I awarded the Select Bitch price to, was the mother of my Winner Dog, later on Best of Winners too, of the RU Winner Dog, of the Winner Bitch, who gained an Award of Merit too and of another bitch who gained a further Award of merit, an
embarassing coincidence, I dare say! Anyway a credit to their breeders, further more the Winner Dog and the Winner Bitch finished with that winning.
The American standard, although the oldest among those in force, is not very detailed and allows great subjectivity but generally the sentence I keep in my mind when I judge is: “The appearence of this breed should give an impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strenght and activity to enable it to kill gazelle or other quarry over deep sand or rocky mountains...”.
I found few faults going on the dogs, like an overshot bite, a level bite, which I didn’t point out as the dog was a veteran, very few short ears and a few kinked tails.
First of all I serch for Type, if the outline doesn’t let me recognise what breed I am in front of, I think the dog cannot be judged but, I must say, rarely Salukis show that problem. I didn’t care only for two extreme down-faced head profiles.
There was a brindle female, this is not the proper place to argue about this topic, but I judged her as any other, as the AKC standard doesn’t define any pattern; obviously, if I had judged her in Europe I would have taken into consideration that our standard considers it as an undesirable colour.
When I judge I don’t search for the perfect dog, it would be a vain search, and I have no prejudices about any faults, every light construction fault can be dimmed by outstanding qualities of type and movement. I look at the dog in its wholeness and that image must give me emotions. My greatest satisfaction is when I find great qualities in moderate and classical dogs...and that happened especially with my BoB. As she came into the ring she took my attention and the following deeper assessment didn’t disappoint me: great type, excellent construction and movement plus a lot of glamour and attitude.
I found great qualities in the older classes, veteran classes were truly excellent indeed. On the contrary I was a bit disappointed by the youngers, I must say that it was difficult to find quality in some of them. I would have liked the opposite, as youngsters are the future of the breed.
I was very satisfied of my winners, although of different type (some of them close to the extreme type). All of them had a good movement coming and going ( I don’t search for perfect movement going up and down but it must be quite good) and a great action which resulted in an efficient side gait. I think the side gait is a fundamental evidence that the skeleton and muscular apparatus work well, a vital condition for a chasing dog like the Saluki.
Puppy Dog
1 Timaru Sabatier
Masculin head, good neck for lenght and set, nice moderate outline, good pastern and feet, could have more drive.
2 Timaru Serendipity
Could have more refined head, too much lips, good outline and good movement.
3 Tamrick’s Happy Days
Lack underjaw, moderate outline, pigment only sufficient, too much angled croup
12 – 15 dog
1 Zabarre Xalimen Ardaxis
Masculin head, moderate and balanced angulations, good topline and good underline, good feet, good movement
2 Issibaa Hardley Hirsute
Elegant smooth of good outline and proportion, moderate angulations, good movement
3 Zabarre Ellora Jami
Pigment only sufficient, could have more balanced angulations, good pastern and feet, not mature underline, can have more weight, could be better coming and going
4 Wingfoot Pelement Einstein
Elegant, nice head, moderate angulations, very loose coming and going
15 – 18 dog
1 Jay JP Falco Peregrim Ariel
Most mature of three, lack underjaw, outline with lot angulations, smooth lines, very nice side movement, must improve coming and going
2 Blue Nile Special Keeper
Elegant dog, straight upper arm, can have a more fluid side movement
3 Kyzil Kum Apostolos
less mature, too much straight angulations
Amateur Dog
1 Timaru Titan
Classic type, moderate angulations, flat topline, good underline, good pastern and feet, good side movement, not very good coming and going
Bred by Dog
1 Shiraz Khasaad
Can have just a bit more masculine head, he has lovely expression, wonderful outline with balanced angulations, smooth lines, nice neck for lenght and set, nice topline and underline, straight pastern, good feet, coming could be more precise, very nice side movement, he is a very elegant dog. WD BW
2 Sundara’s Here Comes the Sun
Masculine head, good outline but can have less straight upper arm, good pastern and feet, very nice side movement
3 Jamora Smoky Quartz
Just a little bit heavy head, very nice outline, very nice neck for lenght and set, very nice side movement, could be more precise coming,
4 Zabarre Avi Ben Elaba
He must mature, very nice head and very good pigment, good outline with moderate angulations, too much sloping pastern, very nice movement
American Dog
1 Sadik Akhtar Paint it Black
Immature but very elegant dog, moderate outline, chest must drop, can have less high tail but he has a very elastic and classy movement with moderate reach and drive
2 Ladyhawk Guinness the Menace
Flat topline, too much sloping croup, good pastern and feet, good side movement, must improve coming and going
3 Sadik Akhtar Tequila Sunrise
Lack underjaw, good shoulder, upright upper arm, could be better coming and going
Open Dog
1 Shiraz Khadaan
Elegant dog, can have more masculine head, very nice expression, good neck, very good angulations, good topline and underline, good feet, could be better coming, just a little bit straight straight pastern but don’t affect the very nice side movement. RWD
2 Alyazhee Dhabyane al Rasheed
Very nice lines and proportion and angulations balanced but can have an head with more parallel planes, good pastern and feet, very nice side movement.
3 Srinagar Indu Ghandi
Good head, moderate outline, can have more angulated rear quarter, can have more reach on side movement, good coming and going
4 Kyzil Kum Tameen Faraj
Immature and can have more weight, moderate angulations, flat topline, good pastern, good movement from any angle
6-9 bitch
1 Alii Hooray for Hollywood
Head very feminine, can have more bilance angulations, good topline and underline, good croup, good pastern and feet, she has the best movement of the two
2 Timaru Sasparilla
More classic in outline, nice head, moderate and bilance angulations, flat topline, too much sloping croup, good pastern and feet, she need training on movement
9-12 Bitch
1 Asuwish Aziza of Arabesque
Nice head, bilance angulations, good topline, good pastern and feet, good movement from any angle
2 O Honesty JP Ranesaw Cover Girl
Very nice head expression and pigment, less balanced angulations, flat topline, good underline, good pastern and feet, nice movement
3 Asuwish Adriana of Arabesque
Most immature, good head but lack underjaw, moderate angulations, chest must drop, topline too much arched
12-15 B
1 Amala Zacatecas for Impala
Very elegant and bilance, very nice head and expression, moderate angulations, very nice top and underlines, good pastern and feet, nice side movement.
2 Hawksview’s Trouble with Secret
Refined female, very elegant head, moderate outline, good pastern and feet, nice movement.
3 Wingfoot Pelement Zirconium
Can have more parallel planes, moderate angulations, good underline, good feet, close behind.
4 Zabarre Springtime Serafina
most immature, feminine head, moderate angulations, flat topline, good pastern and feet, good movement
15 – 18 b
1 Blue Nile Special Promise
Nice head, feminine and with nice expression, nice outline, moderate angulations, good pastern and feet, very nice side movement.
2 Jay JP Falco Eleonora Ariel
Prefer more parallel planes, good expression, flat topline, very nice mover
Amateur Bitch
1 Wingfoot Pelement Magnesium
Classic outline, nice head, moderate angulations, flat topline, good pastern and feet, nice movement
2 Sadik Akhtar Layla
Very elegant bitch, straight shoulder, would like a more fluid side movement
3 Sur-ra Xanadu Kahala
Straight front, not good going movement
Bred by Bitch
1 Ranesaw May the Irish Caress u
Very elegant female, nice head, a little round eye but very nice expression, good neck, moderate angulations, good underline, very nice and classy movement.
2 Kyzyl Kum Al. Khanoum
Nice head, moderate outline, straight upper arm, good movement
3 Appalachia’s Taali
Big female, nice head, balanced angulations, too much sloping pastern
4 Tamrick’s Touched by an Angel
Promising puppy, nice head and expression, good angulations, very elastic movement.
America Bred
1 Ramazahn Meleri
Nice head and expression,moderate outline, straight upper arm, lack underline
Open Bitch
1 Shiraz Khassandra
Very elegant and classy female,, very nice head, very nice neck for lenght and set, good angulations, to be critique only a little bit less behind, very nice top and underline, just a little bit straight pastern, good feet, very nice mover even if could be more precise coming WB
2 Issibaa’s Gittyup Go
Very nice female, very nice neck and shoulder, moderate outline, nice topline, nice movement
3 Karrakush Gion at Jay
Good head, more underjaw, very nice smooth lines, bilance angulations, good movement
4 Timaru Magie Noir
Too much stop, very nice outline, good pastern and feet, could be more springy on the move, could be more precise coming
Veteran dog
The best class I judged on the day
1 Ranesaw Sindbad of Sintara
Substantial male of great impact, masculine head, very nice neck for lenght and set, accentuated angulations that use very well on the very nice and proud movement, lost underline and tone muscle on second thight
2 Sadik Solar Flare
Very nice male of more classic outline, nice masculine head, very nice expression, good mover from any angle
3 Blue Nile Vanilla Ice
Could have more refined head, very nice outline even if I prefer less flat topline, very nice shoulder, very nice mover from any angle
Veteran Bitch
1 Enchanted Shiraz Dreamcatcher
Wonderful bitch, could have more bilance angulations but has a beautiful and balanced movement head, neck and shoulder rarely seen.
2 Timaru Nocturne
Very nice bitch with more bilance outline, nice top and underline, very nice feet, good movement.
BOB
Ch. Zabarre Solo Marcella
Female full of quality in a classic package. Wonderful outline with a classy, elastic and balanced movement, Great carriage and charisma, a top quality bitch, Proud to have judged her.
BOS
Ch. Srinagar Glory Halleluya Ladyhawk
Dog of great impact, BOB had better topline in movement but he has a great shape, wonderful movement and regal carriage
Selected Dog
Ch Aurora’s Walk This Way
Selected Bitch
Ch. Enchanted Shiraz Dreamcatcher
AOM
Ch. Carmas Indian Summer
Ch. Shiraz Dreamweaver
Ch. Ranesaw May You Sail a Gentle Sea
Ch. Ranesaw Sindbad of Sintara
Shiraz Khassandra