SASC Afternoon Specialty ~ Lompoc, CA ~ July 30th, 2021

Judge Steven Klein’s Critique

I was humbled and honored to be selected to judge this San Angeles Saluki Club Specialty.

It was great to be back in Lompoc. A beautiful afternoon spent with some gorgeous salukis, to say nothing of the exhibitors and our hosts.

When I judge, as I assemble the class, I quickly scan the group. I look for the classic hallmarks of that particular breed. I look for type, but keep on soundness. And one could argue that without soundness, there cannot be correct type. I make that determination during the subsequent examinations. I strive to be consistent with my picks. When I judge, I ask myself whether I believe this dog could accomplish its purpose.

Overall, a good display of the type, style and soundness. I saw only one or two poor-moving dogs thoughout the entire entry. Although I did notice a number of out-of-shape, soft dogs along with some being very thick through the loin. Not athletic at all. (Yeah, I know. I have a lot of room to talk). But the overwhelming majority of the entry was of very high quality.

Virtually every entry was worthy of recognition.

Class dogs:

6-9 puppy dogs:

1. #5, Sadik Catch the Wind of Akhtar

2. #8, Mossier RFR Livewire

   Both boys need to grow up a bit, but should mature into fine dogs. I preferred the movement of my first place dog, as he was a bit cleaner going and coming, and a tiny bit smoother touchline, as the second-place dog was a bit shallow in the croup for my taste. Also, although both dogs did appear to move well, the second place boy needed to settle a bit, as he rarely had four feet on the ground. But that exuberance and puppies is much preferred to having to drag a dog around the ring.

9-12 puppy dogs:

1. #19, Issibaa’s Memories Are Made of This

2. #21, Issibaa’s Memphis Into the Mystic

3. #15, Azharaani Nur Sweet Prince Hamlet

4. #23, Issibaa’s Maybe Monday

   All four boys were quite nice, came down to quibbling over gait. My first place boy had just a little smoother side gait. His neck was a bit better-set into his shoulders than the rest of the entry. All four boys had gorgeous heads and expression.

12-18 dogs:

1. #25, Kazper Alexander Mazada of Sundown

An impressive boy. Very lovely, quite handsome with his neck set well into shoulders of good layback. Excellent spring of rib and depth of brisket. Although a very lovely side gait, I would prefer to see not as steep a croup. Ultimately, my RWD.

BBE dogs:

1. Firedawn Redneck Riding Shotgun JC

2. Mazada Four Strong Winds

3. Kanrun Obi-Wan Irish Moss

4. Karanfil Nox

   Another strong class. It literally came down to “little things.” My first place dog was just a little nicer coming back at me, had a tiny bit better reach than the second place dog. All four boys again had lovely expression. I would have preferred a tiny bit more spring of rib on the third place boy. The fourth place dog was a worthy competitor, but not quite as strong overall as the dogs ahead of him. First place was ultimately my WD.

AmBred dogs:

1. #1 Firedawn Redneck Road Hunting JC

2. #37, Issibaa’s Lek Leka

3. #35, Kanrun Obi-Wan Sassafras

   Very nice overall, but no one really thrilled me, jumped out at me as something special. That said, any of the three are worthy examples of the breed. All three moved acceptably well, and all had lovely heads and expression. The second place dog moved a bit better that the first place dog, although he was not forthcoming in letting me examine him, hence the second place rather than first. It was more than merely being aloof, but not overtly fearful.

Open dogs:

1. #47, Lahhabeh’s Temptation Casanova

2. #51, Jamora Bahia Star Chaser

3. #49, Dadaelis Galadriel Pepper

4. #43, Hayat Sarea Cork High Bottle Deep JC, BCAT, CGC, TKN

   Four pretty nice boys. First place dog had a bit nicer side gait than the second and third place dogs. Although all four were quite lovely, the second place dog was just a bit too much dog for me, a bit thicker through the loin than I prefer. I would have trouble envisioning such a dog running across sand dunes all day long, let alone chasing jacks. The third place dog, also very lovely, dropped off a bit steeper in the croup than I prefer. The fourth place dogs was actually the nicest dog in the ring and probably would have placed at the top of the class had he let me examine him without protest.

Class bitches:

6-9 puppy bitches:

1. #8, Sadik Vahevala

2. #10, Zia Queen of the Outlaws

   Both girls were quite lovely, although need time to grow up. First place bitch had just a little smoother toppling and little nicer side gait. Both had decent depth of brisket and an amount of spring of rib I would expect in a puppy.

9-12 puppy bitches:

1. #16, Issibaa’s Magical Minx

   Overall, a pretty bitch. I did not care for her toppling, as she appeared a bit high in the rear. I attribute that to being a puppy.

12-18 month bitches:

1. #26, Sundara’s Akihla Rose

2. #17, Qirmizi Sofia

3. #20, Timaru Penelope

   The first place bitch was the strongest mover of the three. All three have decent depth of brisket and adequate spring of rib. I also preferred the head and expression of the first place bitch, ultimately my RWB.

BBE bitches:

1. #36, Vindhem Kyzyl Maha Callista JC

2. #30, Tibute Al Sayad Hot Lips

3. #6, Mazada Wind of Change

4. #24, Sundara’s Ms Elly Rose

   First place bitch, typey, sound, an effortless mover. Good depth of brisket, decent spring of rib. Had a bit better toppling than the other three placements. The second place bitch, although quite lovely was just not quite the mover as first place. Third place, an admirable bitch, quite lovely, but appeared a bit higher in the rear than I prefer. Fourth place, not quite as effortless in her movement as the first place bitch, and also a little bit more size than I prefer in a bitch. First place was ultimately my WB.

Open bitches:

1. #46, Jamora Bahia Stargazer

2. #50, Ariane Amaluna Mystere

3. #48, Desert Song’s Andromeda of 7Seas

4. #52, Heaven Phaeton Kerenza

   All four bitches were rather nice, although no one really “knocked my socks off.” All four bitches had lovely heads and expression, but as they don’t run their heads, it came down to movement. The first place bitch was the freest and easiest mover of the bunch.

Coursing dogs:

1. #53, GCH DC Jidda-Zibarre A Sliver Lining SC BCAT

   A Handsome dog, an effortless mover. No doubt this dog can do what it was bred to do. The right shape and outline, a wonderful example of the breed.

Veteran Bitches, 7 and under 10 years:

1. #56, GCH Sringat Reesha JC

2. #78m DC Impala Redneck GRRRL Like Me SC BCAT

   Both girls are holding up well. Refreshing to see veterans in such fine condition. Both girls moved well. I prefer the toppling on the first place bitch, as the second place bitch appeared a tiny bit high in the rear for my liking.

Best of Breed:

#66, GCH Krimzyn Love You to the Moon

A stunningly correct, feminine without being slight bitch. Impeccable mover, going and coming, lovely side gait. A beautiful example of the breed, easy to envision her doing what she was bred to do.

BOW:

#36, BBE Bitch Vindhem Kyzyl Maha Callista JC

Of the winners, she exhibited just a little nicer movement, overall a stronger example of the breed than the quite nice WD.

BOS:

#83, GCHB Excelsior Sundara Sands of Time JC.

A really nice dog, it was a tough decision between him and BOB. A very handsome dog, wonderful mover. But on a day facing a really spectacular BOB winner, the I could do for this really fine boy was BOS.

Select Dog:

#62, CH Mazada Mata Shiraz The Life of the Parti JC

A very handsome dog, worthy of recognition. An adequate mover, good size and substance without being too much or coarse.

Select Bitch:

#68, GCHB Karnak’s Ajah Rose of Sundara SC

A lovely, typey bitch, feminine without being slight. Again, a good mover, just not quite as spectacular as BOB.

AOMs:

#53, Lure Coursing Dog

#56 Veteran Bitch

On a day with so many wonderful Salukis, and great examples of the breed, they deserved recognition, too.