Not in the Standard...But....
The following is the saluki section for an article I wrote for Sighthound Review called "Not in the Standard" in which Judge's Ed committees have added criteria to the standard that are not in them.
Saluki
The Saluki Club of America has no online materials for Judges Ed. They do distribute a DVD at their Judges' Education presentations, and that is the basis for this comparison. The SCOA presentation starts with this short "quiz" about the standard:
1) "How often does the word elegant appear in the standard?" asks the narrator, who then replies, "zero." I would argue that "grace and symmetry" in the AKC standard's introduction would describe elegance, but they are correct, the actual word does not appear.
2) "What words are used the most in the AKC standard?" the narrator then asks, replying "Moderate" and "Strong." But this is not correct; the word "Long" is used the most, eight times, for head, ears, ear feather, neck, forelegs, toes, tail and tail feather. The word "Moderate" is used four times, for skull width, chest width, stifle bend, and foot length. The word "Strong" is used three times, for teeth, hindquarters and feet. Additionally, the word "Strength" is used under General Appearance: "...should give the impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and endurance..."
The AKC standard states "Dogs should average in height from 23 to 28 inches and bitches may be considerably smaller..." The JEC presentation states that this range is an average so Salukis falling outside of it are equally correct "as long as type is not compromised." Isn't size a component of type?
The AKC standard does not address temperament. The JEC presentation states saluki temperament is confident but aloof and advises judges should approach salukis from the front with slower movements. Personally, I think you should approach them as you would any other dog, with normal movements.
The AKC standard describes the head as "long and narrow, skull moderately wide between the ears..." The JEC presentation contends that this means long and narrow compared to setters, which were the predominant dog in the show rings at the time the standard was written. The AKC standard was adopted in 1928, copied from the 1923 English standard. I don't know what the top breeds in England were at the time, but not a single setter was among the Top 10 AKC breeds in the 1910s or 1920s. But Greyhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets, Russian Wolfhounds and Afghan Hounds were all AKC breeds, most around since before 1900, and some (especially the Greyhound) among the most competitive of show breeds. This assertion on the part of the JEC appears to be pure conjecture.
The JEC states "All good Saluki heads will exhibit the wider backskull, zygomatic arch and jaw muscle." I am not sure where they get this.
The AKC standard does not describe head shape except that the skull is not domed and the stop is not pronounced. The presentation adds that it should be a wedge shape both from above and in profile. It also states that "Some salukis have finer skin which gives the impression of chiseling under the eye which is acceptable as long as it is not at the expense of jaw strength."
The AKC standard does not mention lips. The JEC presentation states they should be tight.
The AKC standard states the nose should be "Black or liver." The JEC presentation agrees, but then shows and identifies a butterfly nose in a grizzle and somewhat confusingly comments "as long as the pigment is dark and complete it is correct."
The AKC standard does not mention ear set. The JEC presentation repeats more than once that a high ear set is desirable. The AKC standard states that the ears "hang close to the skull." The presentation shows a dog in which they do not and states "When raised the ears can lift away from the skull." The AKC standard states the ears should be "mobile" but the presentation cautions they may not be mobile in the show ring.
The AKC standard does not mention eye set. The presentation states the eyes should be set obliquely.
The AKC standard states the teeth are "strong and level." The presentation explains that both a level and scissors bite are correct. It adds that the teeth must be large.
The AKC standard states the forelegs should be "straight and long from elbow to knee." The presentation adds that the legs are "dry with tendons and ligaments developed and apparent." It further adds that "Slight toeing out is not uncommon in young dogs, and provides flexibility."
The AKC standard describes the hipbones as "set well apart." The presentation adds that the hipbones should be somewhat prominent. It also states that "viewed from the rear, the croup should appear to have a trapezoid shape" and that the "croup should always be long."
The presentation offers that "when standing naturally the rear may be higher than the fore."
The AKC standard states that the ears "are covered with long silky hair," the feet are "well feathered between the toes" and the tail is "well feathered on the underside with long silky hair..." The presentation repeatedly states that quantity and length of feathering is irrelevant and in the case of the foot, "optional." I don't understand why the JEC feels entitled to tell prospective judges to ignore a part of the standard.
The AKC standard does not describe movement. The JEC presentation states it is to be "light, balanced, effortless and efficient" and that "the only time a saluki needs to exhibit great reach and drive of hind legs is during the double suspension gallop." It further describes soundness as simply being "free from lameness."
The AKC standard lists colors as white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, tricolor (white, black and tan) and black and tan. The presentation explains these were the colors present when the standard was written, but that all color and patterns are equally acceptable.
I agree with many, but far from all, of the JECs additions, but they need to make clear what is personal opinion and what is the AKC standard. The SCOA JEC has recently come under new leadership. Perhaps they will issue an improved program that better separates the actual standard from personal opinion.
Saluki
The Saluki Club of America has no online materials for Judges Ed. They do distribute a DVD at their Judges' Education presentations, and that is the basis for this comparison. The SCOA presentation starts with this short "quiz" about the standard:
1) "How often does the word elegant appear in the standard?" asks the narrator, who then replies, "zero." I would argue that "grace and symmetry" in the AKC standard's introduction would describe elegance, but they are correct, the actual word does not appear.
2) "What words are used the most in the AKC standard?" the narrator then asks, replying "Moderate" and "Strong." But this is not correct; the word "Long" is used the most, eight times, for head, ears, ear feather, neck, forelegs, toes, tail and tail feather. The word "Moderate" is used four times, for skull width, chest width, stifle bend, and foot length. The word "Strong" is used three times, for teeth, hindquarters and feet. Additionally, the word "Strength" is used under General Appearance: "...should give the impression of grace and symmetry and of great speed and endurance coupled with strength and endurance..."
The AKC standard states "Dogs should average in height from 23 to 28 inches and bitches may be considerably smaller..." The JEC presentation states that this range is an average so Salukis falling outside of it are equally correct "as long as type is not compromised." Isn't size a component of type?
The AKC standard does not address temperament. The JEC presentation states saluki temperament is confident but aloof and advises judges should approach salukis from the front with slower movements. Personally, I think you should approach them as you would any other dog, with normal movements.
The AKC standard describes the head as "long and narrow, skull moderately wide between the ears..." The JEC presentation contends that this means long and narrow compared to setters, which were the predominant dog in the show rings at the time the standard was written. The AKC standard was adopted in 1928, copied from the 1923 English standard. I don't know what the top breeds in England were at the time, but not a single setter was among the Top 10 AKC breeds in the 1910s or 1920s. But Greyhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Whippets, Russian Wolfhounds and Afghan Hounds were all AKC breeds, most around since before 1900, and some (especially the Greyhound) among the most competitive of show breeds. This assertion on the part of the JEC appears to be pure conjecture.
The JEC states "All good Saluki heads will exhibit the wider backskull, zygomatic arch and jaw muscle." I am not sure where they get this.
The AKC standard does not describe head shape except that the skull is not domed and the stop is not pronounced. The presentation adds that it should be a wedge shape both from above and in profile. It also states that "Some salukis have finer skin which gives the impression of chiseling under the eye which is acceptable as long as it is not at the expense of jaw strength."
The AKC standard does not mention lips. The JEC presentation states they should be tight.
The AKC standard states the nose should be "Black or liver." The JEC presentation agrees, but then shows and identifies a butterfly nose in a grizzle and somewhat confusingly comments "as long as the pigment is dark and complete it is correct."
The AKC standard does not mention ear set. The JEC presentation repeats more than once that a high ear set is desirable. The AKC standard states that the ears "hang close to the skull." The presentation shows a dog in which they do not and states "When raised the ears can lift away from the skull." The AKC standard states the ears should be "mobile" but the presentation cautions they may not be mobile in the show ring.
The AKC standard does not mention eye set. The presentation states the eyes should be set obliquely.
The AKC standard states the teeth are "strong and level." The presentation explains that both a level and scissors bite are correct. It adds that the teeth must be large.
The AKC standard states the forelegs should be "straight and long from elbow to knee." The presentation adds that the legs are "dry with tendons and ligaments developed and apparent." It further adds that "Slight toeing out is not uncommon in young dogs, and provides flexibility."
The AKC standard describes the hipbones as "set well apart." The presentation adds that the hipbones should be somewhat prominent. It also states that "viewed from the rear, the croup should appear to have a trapezoid shape" and that the "croup should always be long."
The presentation offers that "when standing naturally the rear may be higher than the fore."
The AKC standard states that the ears "are covered with long silky hair," the feet are "well feathered between the toes" and the tail is "well feathered on the underside with long silky hair..." The presentation repeatedly states that quantity and length of feathering is irrelevant and in the case of the foot, "optional." I don't understand why the JEC feels entitled to tell prospective judges to ignore a part of the standard.
The AKC standard does not describe movement. The JEC presentation states it is to be "light, balanced, effortless and efficient" and that "the only time a saluki needs to exhibit great reach and drive of hind legs is during the double suspension gallop." It further describes soundness as simply being "free from lameness."
The AKC standard lists colors as white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle and tan, tricolor (white, black and tan) and black and tan. The presentation explains these were the colors present when the standard was written, but that all color and patterns are equally acceptable.
I agree with many, but far from all, of the JECs additions, but they need to make clear what is personal opinion and what is the AKC standard. The SCOA JEC has recently come under new leadership. Perhaps they will issue an improved program that better separates the actual standard from personal opinion.