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Melik Salukis
Our History Country of Origin Salukis Upcoming Litters
Our Philosophy
The years have seen my breeding philosophy evolve away from the AKC showring. While I do believe the showring can be a good place to showcase potential breeding stock, I, as many before me, have come to the realization that the showring is more about politics and extremes than about preserving our breed. I hope the following philosophical beliefs of ours will provide thought for those who read them. We believe in pedigrees, and we believe in pedigree honesty as there is no replacement for this tool in dealing with health issues which can devastate both hound and owner. We believe in the value of the Country of Origin Saluki but they are not the genetic savior some would hope for. Rather, they are an opportunity to be used judiciously and with caution as they come with no genetic history. Their gift is their genetic potential. We believe form follows function and these hounds are superbly adapted to open plains and mountain sight hunting where ever that open plain or mountain may be. Whether hunting in Turkey, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Egypt or New Mexico, they excel and that is why the phenotype is so widely dispersed..it WORKS.
photograph courtesy of Herb Wells
Melik Halaaleh at Hawksview C.C.,C.M.
We believe anyone who thinks they can preserve the phenotype we know as the Saluki by consistently inbreeding, line breeding and shutting out 95% of the rest of the population is doomed to DCM, PRA, hip dysplasia, cancers and the eventual die out of that population, not to mention a very quick loss of hunting ability. ANY Breed standard or person that eliminates a dog based on color is just plain wrong. The only exception to that would be a color pattern that is linked genetically to a fatal or debilitating disease...In the Saluki, color is truly immaterial. And finally, we are completely opposed to any further splitting off of strains from the basic Saluki phenotype as separate breeds. We think it is important to preserve the various strains as strains are generally supremely suited to perform in their particular geography, but to isolate them as a "breed" is the sure path to extinction. ..:.. Remember A Saluki’s function is to be an effective hunter. A Saluki is beautiful because of his function. To deny this truth is to deny the Saluki.
George and Mary Beth Rogers-Melik, Chris Mason-TSH, Rosie Lewis-Knightellington
Hesam, Greta and Whiz
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Dr. George and Mary Beth Rogers
All imagery, be it photographs, jewelry designs, or artwork, are Copyrighted to the Artist, Mary Beth Halsey-Rogers unless otherwise noted. ANY use without the express permission of the artist is prohibited. |
