Why is Saluki Judging So Weird?
If you go to some saluki specialties, or attend some saluki seminars or judges' education events, you may be baffled at the emphasis on dogs that look to your practiced showdog eye like "pets" at first glance. They may have little feathering, very little side movement, stand high in the rear, and have wide unrefined heads and bone. They sure don't look like the salukis in the group ring. That's because saluki breeders have a wide range in what they consider ideal, and many prefer what they believe to be the more traditional style of saluki. In some cases, this translates into an "anti-showdog" preference.
In some breeds of dogs we strive to perfect; in others we strive to preserve. Salukis, obviously, are one in which we strive to preserve. But is adding the better front on this one to the better head on that one perfecting or preserving? I think even the truest breed preservationists would say that's OK. What about adding the longer feathering of that one? OK, as long as it isn't the priority.
While today's show salukis look much more like their country of origin or early 20th century imports than do dogs of most breeds, there's no denying they have been changed. Today's successful show saluki is more refined, with a narrower head, more feathering, more angulation and more side movement. Some breeders like these changes, and some breeders don't.
You will find a wide variety of saluki fanciers, breeders and breeder judges, some of whom favor the more historical style and some of whom favor the more modern style. Some of the former eschew the idea of show salukis altogether, and prefer not to consider the points generally considered as "basic show dog" movement or structure; instead comparing each dog to their ideal of the original saluki and with the idea they can evaluate hunting or coursing ability without these show dog trappings.
This is why sometimes saluki judging by breeder-judges can seem a mystery to observers used to following more traditional dog show judging. It might be comparable to watching other breeds and seeing the judge point to dogs that look like the dogs of a century ago. The problem is that in many breeds dogs that resemble dogs of 100 years ago come from what we often consider pet stock, and in most breeds pointing to them in the ring would be frowned upon. In salukis this is not necessarily so. Another problem is that some breeders I believe have developed an anti-showdog mentality and penalize any dog that has standard "show dog" attributes.
As a prospective judge, what are you to do? Every saluki judge and exhibitor will caution you that this is a moderate breed, but what is moderate? I would remind you that we have a wide range, even when looking at country of origin dogs, and that show dressing like feathering should count neither for nor against a dog as long as it is in agreement with the standard. I have found both "traditional" and "modern" salukis to perform equally well in the field, although a super exaggerated saluki probably does not. Some breeders who breed only for field ability tend to have less of a show dog look and more of a traditional look, but that is true in all breeds and may simply be a by-product of not selecting for show dog assets. We have had plenty of BIS salukis that have proven themselves in the field.
I do believe that once we enter the dog show world we are bound to abide by certain almost-universal dog show requirements, such as fairly clean movement down and back and some degree of side movement and showmanship and basic conformation. Beyond that, if you wish to be a total preservationist, you will find plenty of followers, and if you wish to emphasize a show saluki, you will also find plenty of followers. If you wish to reward salukis from a variety of styles, this is not a breed where you must be style-consistent----as long as the dogs adhere to the standard and appear to be able to fulfill their job.
We as breeders are sometimes told by judges that they wish we would agree on one style. No. The saluki's diversity is one of the breed's hallmarks and strengths. While I might prefer one style for my own salukis, I value the fact that other breeders may prefer a range of very different styles. This disagreement about style means we are all selecting different dogs, and in doing so maintaining genetic diversity and perhaps health in the breed. We realize it makes it a difficult breed to judge, but it is one aspect I suspect few breeders will compromise on. We do not want a homogenous breed!
In some breeds of dogs we strive to perfect; in others we strive to preserve. Salukis, obviously, are one in which we strive to preserve. But is adding the better front on this one to the better head on that one perfecting or preserving? I think even the truest breed preservationists would say that's OK. What about adding the longer feathering of that one? OK, as long as it isn't the priority.
While today's show salukis look much more like their country of origin or early 20th century imports than do dogs of most breeds, there's no denying they have been changed. Today's successful show saluki is more refined, with a narrower head, more feathering, more angulation and more side movement. Some breeders like these changes, and some breeders don't.
You will find a wide variety of saluki fanciers, breeders and breeder judges, some of whom favor the more historical style and some of whom favor the more modern style. Some of the former eschew the idea of show salukis altogether, and prefer not to consider the points generally considered as "basic show dog" movement or structure; instead comparing each dog to their ideal of the original saluki and with the idea they can evaluate hunting or coursing ability without these show dog trappings.
This is why sometimes saluki judging by breeder-judges can seem a mystery to observers used to following more traditional dog show judging. It might be comparable to watching other breeds and seeing the judge point to dogs that look like the dogs of a century ago. The problem is that in many breeds dogs that resemble dogs of 100 years ago come from what we often consider pet stock, and in most breeds pointing to them in the ring would be frowned upon. In salukis this is not necessarily so. Another problem is that some breeders I believe have developed an anti-showdog mentality and penalize any dog that has standard "show dog" attributes.
As a prospective judge, what are you to do? Every saluki judge and exhibitor will caution you that this is a moderate breed, but what is moderate? I would remind you that we have a wide range, even when looking at country of origin dogs, and that show dressing like feathering should count neither for nor against a dog as long as it is in agreement with the standard. I have found both "traditional" and "modern" salukis to perform equally well in the field, although a super exaggerated saluki probably does not. Some breeders who breed only for field ability tend to have less of a show dog look and more of a traditional look, but that is true in all breeds and may simply be a by-product of not selecting for show dog assets. We have had plenty of BIS salukis that have proven themselves in the field.
I do believe that once we enter the dog show world we are bound to abide by certain almost-universal dog show requirements, such as fairly clean movement down and back and some degree of side movement and showmanship and basic conformation. Beyond that, if you wish to be a total preservationist, you will find plenty of followers, and if you wish to emphasize a show saluki, you will also find plenty of followers. If you wish to reward salukis from a variety of styles, this is not a breed where you must be style-consistent----as long as the dogs adhere to the standard and appear to be able to fulfill their job.
We as breeders are sometimes told by judges that they wish we would agree on one style. No. The saluki's diversity is one of the breed's hallmarks and strengths. While I might prefer one style for my own salukis, I value the fact that other breeders may prefer a range of very different styles. This disagreement about style means we are all selecting different dogs, and in doing so maintaining genetic diversity and perhaps health in the breed. We realize it makes it a difficult breed to judge, but it is one aspect I suspect few breeders will compromise on. We do not want a homogenous breed!
Eng. Ch Burydown Freyha, born 1955, held the CC record for many years in the U.K. and was generally upheld as the best saluki in that country for years.