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Have you always admired the Saluki? :: No, not always and it took me 21 years to come to my senses! I remember vividly, sitting in front of the bookcase in my childhood, leafing repeatedly through the small, incomplete section on "Dogs" in the World Book Encyclopedia. It was my favourite, evidenced by the tattered edges and worn images on those few sheets. It had many terrible photographs of popular dogs as well as some of the lesser known breeds from every recognized group in Canada. The Saluki was among them, though not included in my favourites at that time.
I
recall the Beddlington Terrier as one of the most intriguing, for the photograph
made him look blue, soft and cuddly - the image of a miniature sheep - and
I was a romantic little girl. Also of note was the Doberman Pinscher looking
magnificent and dignified though very off coloured in his dreadful 70's picture,
but none drew my attention quite so readily as the exotic, silk laden Afghan
Hound!
Even as I child I knew that some dogs were special and through my childhood and adolescence I remained attracted to the Afghan. As a young adult I was determined that one day I would acquire one and it was about this time that I met my future companion - my husband that is - who was keen on having a Dalmatian.
Eventually, we decided to compromise and include both breeds, though he was not thrilled at the prospect of my hairy, high maintenance choice. Apartment living is not conducive to canine pets so we were obliged to wait until we purchased our first home and during this period we inadvertently discovered a canine we both fell in love with and agreed that this would be the breed for us. It was a Saluki! We inevitably became proud Saluki owners and have been addicted to this remarkable breed ever since.
How did you discover the Saluki?
:: 
While
attending a "Super Dogs" event at the 1987 summer exhibition we
observed, what appeared to be an Afghan sans coat (to my untrained eye), very
smooth except for feathered areas on the extremities. I couldn't comprehend
the reasons for an Afghan's coat to be shaved, so naively (or not) concluded
that this must be some other related breed. As we watched the pure, graceful,
unmasked beauty of this hound clearing an ever-growing hurdle with ease, we
vowed to discover it's identity. After the event was over we hurried to view
the "benching" area at the far end of the arena, watching like a
hawk for a glimpse of the imposing white dog we had seen in the ring. Then
at last, near one of the farthest booths, I caught sight of his tail and we
made a beeline.
There were many people marveling at the slender elegance of the three dogs contained therein; the large cream coloured dog from the ring as well as two smaller reds. Many commented on their exotic thinness while others just stood back and stared in amazement and disbelief. The woman tethered at the end of the dog's leash said they were Salukis and the word rolled around frantically in my head trying to elicit some recognition or stored information from my early forays through the encyclopedia. A vague photograph came to mind, then suddenly we were in the right position to speak with the "Saluki Lady." I heard myself uttering the same redundant speech that the others before me had and relating my interest at the thought of it being an Afghan. Did I get points for being in the right group? Leafing through her photo album I understood that this was a breed unto it's own, and a very ancient one at that, and I was in love.
I'm sure the "Saluki Lady" was not shocked to hear that we would someday like to purchase one of her hounds, as I am positive she has received many falsities regarding this over the years. But I was serious and my husband agreed. She spoke of a litter planned for the following spring and I was at once ecstatic and saddened for we were not yet ready for a puppy in our small apartment. I acquired her kennel card and discovered her name was Roberta Pattison - Iroki, a name I shall never forget. "We will keep in contact" I said before we left and I went home to research. Research back then was not nearly as convenient as it is now with the advent of the Internet!
During the years following our haphazard meeting with the Saluki, we moved several times, spawned a few miniature people and married. In 1988 we anxiously attended the exhibition only to discover that the "Super Dogs" were not performing that season. But the Saluki did not leave our thoughts. The 1989 exhibition once again saw the inclusion of the "Super Dogs" event and we trekked off to see the "Saluki Lady" in hopes of arranging to purchase our long awaited puppy. That fall would see us married and building our own home. We believed we were ready!
How did you acquire your first Saluki? :: Relieved to have found Roberta Pattison at the exhibition we exuberantly told her we were ready for our puppy, assuming she would be more than happy to accommodate. We were met with caution and skepticism. Understandable, in retrospect, from her point of view as a breeder but puzzling to us as novice purchasers. She informed us that she would possibly be breeding a litter in the spring of 1990 and offered me her card with instructions to call her then. I declined the card and emphatically agreed to call her as I retrieved the card she had given me several years ago. At this I thought I had seen a glimpse of interest arise in her expression and that her willingness to continue the discussion became more apparent.
By
January of 1990 we were in our new home. I could no longer wait for news of
the impending litter of puppies. Anxiously I dialed the telephone number from
the kennel card and was met with a somewhat breathless response on the other
end. Robbie, as her friends call her, had just come in the door after a trip
to have her bitch bred. "It is too early for assurance but please call
back in several months." Robbie stated. I agreed and perfunctorily allowed
her off of the phone. Fearing I had offended her with my enthusiasm, I promised
myself to be patient but by the end of March I had forgotten this promise.
On March 22 I repeated my call to Robbie only to interrupt her observance
of the whelping! What a royal pain I was becoming, but she was excitable and
it was infectious! I wanted her to invite me to watch and fantasized of picking
my puppy while it was still rat-like and moist knowing full well how ridiculous
that was.
Having pestered her now for 3 years I was not about to stop and called again only 2 weeks after the birth. Robbie agreed to allow us to see the puppies when they were 5 weeks old and those were very long weeks. The puppies were so adorable and I immediately chose a flashy little tri-coloured male but Robbie warned me she would need to evaluate his temperament and personality before agreeing that he should be ours. I was confused but was sure that it was him that I wanted. My husband chose the largest, boldest red male of the bunch, as men are apt to do, and received the same retort.
It was wonderful to meet the rest of Robbie's Salukis and she showed us multitudes of photograph's while describing all of the horrible traits of the Saluki. Yes, horrible, and as she spoke I remember thinking how cautious she was and finally realizing that this caution was for the benefit of all - to prevent us from romanticizing and wanting a breed for the wrong reasons, to educate us on their true behaviors, to examine our selves and our motivations and lifestyles and my respect for her grew tenfold. My appreciation for the Saluki did not waiver through any of her ranting or accolades and at the age of 8 weeks I brought home my first Saluki - the tri-coloured male - named Wizard!
What do you enjoy most about your Salukis? :: Salukis are, by far, one of the most unique creatures on this planet. They are so beautiful in movement that even an "awkward teenager" possesses a grace to which no other can compare (well, save for a few closely related breeds perhaps). Their appearance is the epitome of elegance, speed and power and their character reflects their noble lineage as the honoured hounds of many ancient mid-eastern cultures. These ancient peoples, of course, saw in the Saluki what we see today, but with much more intensity I would imagine, since the Saluki's skills meant sustenance. I could not possibly admire only one aspect of the Saluki, for it is the Gestalt that is his embodiment and his peculiar brand of companionship that I adore!
Do you have a mentor that has influenced you with regards to your Salukis? :: Without a doubt, my mentor is Roberta Pattison of Iroki Salukis. I have been acquainted with many Saluki people since my involvement in the breed but none has proven as influential in educating me with an objectivity rarely found in a breeder. She is, of course the reason I have come this far with the breed but it goes way beyond the purchase of a few puppies. Robbie has been a friend, a teacher and a role model for me and if I can become as caring, as informed and as open minded a breeder as she, I will have reached my personal goal as a dog breeder. Others would include Ingrid Romanowski, Catherine Hays and the late Leah Harrington, all of whom were willing to answer my plethora of questions with an open m ind, a friendly manner and educated comments. There are more, of course, and others to come who will all play a part in my involvement with the Saluki. I look forward to them all and especially to those with whom I may not see eye to eye because it is they who will remind to keep my eyes wide open.
Do you have a different focus now than you did when you first became involved with Salukis? :: Yes. When I began in Salukis I was primarily interested in having this wonderful creature as my companion. As I became more aware of the ancient history, function and unique qualities of the Saluki, I found myself becoming more interested in breeding but my goals remained the same. Now, just as I did then, I want a Saluki that is all at once functional, beautiful and a remarkable companion and this has drawn me into the addiction that so many of us have fallen for - the bizarre compulsion of the Human race to strive for perfection and breed my ideal Saluki.. My love for the breed only grows with time. What has changed is that I now want to aid in the continuance of the Saluki and through education, trial (and inevitably some error) and breeding occasionally I hope to give my contribution.
How
do Salukis fit into your life? ::
I consider my Salukis as members of my family. They give us joy and laughter
and sometimes sadness and strife and life would be so dull without them. They
live in the house with us as opposed to a kennel, ensuring socialization to
all things associated with our home such as frequent guests, children, music,
small animals etc. They have their own room where their "dens" (crates)
are kept, allowing them refuge at any time they choose. We live on 8 acres
of forested land backing onto a forested residential area that affords leisurely
walks along worn trails which we take in at least 3 times weekly.
They have a large, well fenced enclosure accessible from their room via a dog door allowing them to exit and enter at will. I spend most of my time at home and they are safely contained in the Saluki room and their yard when I am absent. I don't travel much but I make it a point to accustom puppies to traveling by taking them for car rides out to the cabin or into town to visit. I would say that Salukis fit very well into my life and I love to show them off and field the usual questions from others!
How did you decide on your kennel name? :: I had always vowed not to use an Arabic name for my kennel prefix, specifically not one that was made up to look like an Arabic name. Why? In many cases Arabic (authentic or faux) names are difficult to pronounce and in the case of an authentic Arabic word, one could never be quite sure of the true meaning unless able to draw upon reliable sources for an accurate translation.
I also rebelled at the idea of being "cliché" and following suit with so many others trying to capitalize on the Saluki's mysterious and foreign origins in Persia. In fact I had hoped to come upon the perfect snooty "British" sounding title - something classic and timeless to reflect the aloof demeanor and dignity of the Saluki itself.
When it was decided that I would CO-breed my first litter of puppies - at the request of my mentor and Saluki breeder Roberta Pattison of Iroki Salukis - I was at once thrilled and terrified beyond belief! Thrilled at the thought of having beautiful little Darbys and Jennys running around and terrified at such a huge leap into the genetic tome of one of the oldest breeds in history. That is not something to mess with lightly. It wasn't long though, before the thrill masked the fear and I began to contemplate the future of my "kennel." I had dreamt, for many years, that I would one day breed under my own prefix and now the time had come!
I set out to put everything in order and thus the hunt for "The Name" began. Several years earlier I had stumbled upon a perfectly wonderful name that had relevance and meaning and would have been ideal for such a purpose. We had used it to name our acreage - RavenWood Acres.. Unfortunately, a short time later in the "Dogs in Canada" annual publication, I discovered another breeder had beat me to it.
So the safari continued until I had exhausted my resources. I decided instead to pursue ideas for naming puppies. I sought out various themes such as colours, decorating styles, obscure play characters and other literary figures. My personal favourites included constellations, mythological deities and gemstones. None of these are entirely original of course, but seemingly more varied than restriction to a single letter of the alphabet! I found many wonderful names and as a result I was fully stocked for at least 20 or 30 litters!
One of these names, however, continually lodged itself in my mind, though I didn't really care for the sound of it much. Peridot - the gemstone said to represent August. While August happens to be one of my favourite months (wedding anniversary and long warm evenings) I could not fathom what kept drawing me to this oddly coloured stone. In the following days I found that Peridot was believed to have the power to dissolve enchantments and when set in gold would drive away night's terrors. To protect the wearer from evil spirits, it had to be pierced, strung on the hair of a donkey, and worn on the left arm and according to western astrologers, the wearer of peridot will enjoy happiness in marriage, the power of eloquence in speech and enduring freedom from insecurity-both emotional and physical. All very interesting but of no relevance to my Salukis.
Upon further investigation I discovered that Ancient Egyptians called Peridot "the gem of the sun." Archaeologists have found valuable peridots in Alexandria, Egypt, which reportedly came from the original source, the island of Zebargad (zebargad being the Arabic word for peridot). Well, admittedly this was a little more interesting but still not quite right! Then finally I came across the following:"Peridot (pronounced pear-uh-doe) is a French word derived from the Arabic Faridaat which means gems."
Suddenly, I was excited at having found something, albeit in Arabic, that was indicative of how I viewed my Salukis. I immediately continued my search for the Arabic word Faridaat and came up with many more references to it's meaning. Being ever skeptical about the translation of foreign words I sought out several Arabic language sites on the Internet and E-mailed to ask the true meaning of the word Faridaat. Each reply came back the same!
At any rate . . . I did end up choosing an Arabic name that I found to be very suitable for my Saluki prefix. Faridaat (pronounced far-ee-daaht) means "Gems" or "precious stones" in Arabic. Farida is singular. My Salukis are indeed like very precious gems to me! Each one having it's own exquisite characteristics and flaws that make it a priceless and a treasured member of my family!