Natural History

Posted in Sighthounds, working dogs | Tagged hunting salukis, saluki | 6 Comments

6 Responses

1. on October 30, 2010 at 1:34 pm Jess

   One of my Facebook friends competes with his dogs; they call it racing. The dog are followed in a vehicle, and the gazelle (or hare) is scooped up into the vehicle before the dogs reach it. There is a LOT of prize money involved. My friend won five figures and two new SUVs one day.

   Of course, there is a great deal of controversy about breeding dogs for these contests among the romantic mythologists. The fact that the culture in the ME is not static, and as the traditional hunting culture has become very limited, and the dogs being adapted to these other pursuits means that they will not face extinction, is not considered.

   
   
2. on October 30, 2010 at 9:48 pm bill

   That. Was. Awesome.

   The great Toytota SUVs that you can’t buy in North America were an added bonus.

   BTW, I was ignorant about the way the average Saudi felt about pet dogs. These guys seem like real dog people.

   
   
   • on November 1, 2010 at 12:55 pm Jess

     These are not pet dogs. They are Salukis, which, as Lane says, don’t count as dogs.

     How the average Muslim in the ME views their Saluki is extremely variable. Some have a very western relationship with their Saluki, some are very traditional and keep the dogs outside and cleanse themselves after each contact. Out in the field, this may consist of a gesture like scrubbing the hands with sand after touching the dog.

     
     
3. on October 31, 2010 at 9:49 am Lane Batot

   Uh, Bill, (ahem!), those WERE NOT DOGS, but SALUKIS, a gift from Allah to course the gazelle! As every good Muslim knows, DOGS are unclean–Salukis are exempt–at least this is what I was told by an Arab Sheik who wanted to buy my Saluki at the Saluki Specialty show many years ago at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky, where the uppity-ups of the Saluki world hold their specialty show in conjunction with a huge Arabian horse show(I was merely a peasant observer). It is attended by people from all over the world! I was also accompanied by my Azawakh, the Tuareg(North Africa) tribesman’s choice of a coursing(ahem!) dog–this Arab Sheik was quite contemptuous of my Azawakh, who returned the contempt with interest! I didn’t sell my beloved Saluki, by the way, ruining yet another stereo-type of Americans that they can always be bought out(regardless of the incredible sums they might be offered–I was eventually offered more for my Saluki than I would have made monitarily in a YEAR!)……in regards to the video–what a course!!!!! Just INCREDIBLE running ability, both speed and endurance! Makes the piddly efforts of conformation breeders in this country(U. S. A.)–despite their substitute kindergarten “lure coursing”–seem truly pale in comparison, as to their efforts to “preserve” the breed…..

   
   
4. on November 1, 2010 at 9:52 am boxer

   What a run, great speed and stamina. That must be a super dog. Impressive!

   
   
5. on November 25, 2010 at 8:43 am Janet

   Awesome, Salukis doing exactly what they were bred for. They will never get that endurance out of a show ring, eh!

   
   

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