Warning: strip_tags() expects parameter 1 to be string, array given in /var/www/v002255/data/www/site/wp-includes/formatting.php on line 664
Oriental or Eastern Greyhounds- breeds common in Asia and North Africa. All of them are very ancient and are used mainly for sighted hunting of hares, gazelles and wild boars. Greyhounds are deeply respected among the peoples inhabiting these territories. They are considered the breadwinners of the family and are given rides to the hunting grounds. It was impossible to buy dogs of these breeds; they were given as gifts to especially respected people. Hunting with a greyhound was considered a privilege of the nobility. Individual breeds are discussed in more detail below. eastern (oriental) greyhounds.
Eastern Greyhound Breeds
Ancient breed, whose place of origin is the Sinai Peninsula. Afghan hounds were common in many countries, but since Europeans became acquainted with this breed in Afghanistan, the breed received the appropriate name. They were used to hunt big game and were highly valued for their courage and independent thinking. They were quite aggressive, European kennels worked to soften the character of the Afghan Hound and succeeded in this. These beautiful, elegant dogs have a distinctive character. But they love their family very much and are immensely devoted to them. They may be difficult to learn because they are independent and stubborn, although they are very smart. Also, we should not forget that dogs of this breed require daily and careful care to look really good.
Goes back to the distant past. When and how did it arise? There is a legend in the east, which was recorded by A. Tchaikovsky in 1879. One day, King Suleiman ibn Daud (biblical Solomon), according to the command received from the Almighty, ordered all creatures to gather so that each of them could express their needs and desires.
At the king's call, all the animals gathered, except the hedgehog. Angered by the disobedience, Suleiman ibn Daoud addressed the assembled animals with the question: “Who will go in search of the disobedient one?” Two people volunteered - a horse and a dog.
The horse said: “I will find the rebellious one, but I will not be able to grab him, my height is too large for this and my nostrils are not protected from needles.” The dog said: “I’m not afraid of barbed needles, but my muzzle is too wide and I won’t be able to stick it into the hedgehog’s den if he disappears there before I grab him.”
After listening to all this, Suleiman replied: “You told the truth. I don’t want to disgrace the horse by reducing its height, this would be a bad reward for diligence and obedience. I’d rather add beauty to the dog to reward it for its zeal.” Having said this, the king took the dog's muzzle with both hands and stroked it until it became completely thin and sharp. Then everyone present saw that the dog had turned into a slender, graceful greyhound. Both volunteers immediately set out on a search and soon introduced the stubborn hedgehog to the king. Considering obedience and execution of orders to be the highest dignity of every creature, the chosen one of God said to the horse and dog: “From now on you will be man’s companions and the first after him in the face of God.”
This is a legend, but what do researchers say about this?
Saluki is the oldest breed, formed in northern Africa and the Middle East - in Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Egypt and other countries on the North African coast. The Saluki occupies an intermediate position between its closest relatives - the North African slugi (or servant) hound from Morocco and Tunisia, the Tuareg hound from the southern Sahara, and the African hound, both the plains type (bel-Murray) with a sparse coat, and the long-haired mountain type.
The division of the greyhounds of North Africa, the Near and Middle East into three main breeds (Saluki, Slugi and Azawakh) is to a certain extent artificial and carried out in a Western manner. For all their variability, eastern greyhounds from different regions often hardly differ from each other - it is quite obvious that they all belong to the same type of dog. There is no doubt that the Central Asian and Kyrgyz Taigan also have common ancestors with the Saluki and other sighthounds of the eastern group.
The appearance of a greyhound meant little to its owner: the dog was required to have speed, strong build and endurance. The type of coat, eye color and width of the skull still have little meaning in the eyes of the nomadic hunter.
Eastern or fold-eared greyhounds belong to a very ancient subgroup of the greyhound group. They are characterized by hanging ears, a tail drooping down with a rigid ring at the end - the last vertebrae are often fused. They can withstand long pursuits of animals in hot climates (sometimes reaching speeds of up to 50 km per hour) and, although less frisky than Western greyhounds, are more resilient and adapted for running longer distances.
Eastern greyhounds search for animals not only with the help of sight, but also use their sense of smell. Eastern greyhounds have a calm attitude towards a caught animal, near which they wait for the hunter, or even serve him the prey.
The ancestors of this breed most likely originate from North Africa. In the middle of the 19th century, the prevailing opinion among dog handlers was that all greyhounds trace their origins to the Egyptian hound with large erect ears and a characteristic lean silhouette. Moreover, some researchers were inclined to think that the appearance of this group of dogs was influenced by their possible relationship with the Abyssinian desert wolf (Canis simensis), lean and long-legged.
The origin of dogs of this type can be traced through surviving ancient Egyptian mummies and tomb images. The oldest mummy of a greyhound dog is more than 9,000 years old. In the 7th-6th millennium BC. the type of this breed is already fully formed. Their images have been preserved since ancient times, when there were no pharaohs in Egypt.
For example, a carved ivory head of a hound from 6000 - 5000 BC has reached us, its long neck decorated with a collar. Hunting scenes are also reflected in the monuments of ancient Egyptian art - on a bas-relief dating back to around 2500 BC, three greyhounds are depicted chasing a gazelle. On the walls of the tombs were found images of greyhounds of red and red-piebald colors, whose collars were decorated precious stones. They were used to hunt antelope, wild asses and hares.
In the now classic works of L.P. Sabaneev, published at the end of the 19th century, indicates that the homeland of these dogs should be considered North-East Africa and, above all, Ancient Egypt. According to L.P. Sabaneev, the ancestor of all modern greyhounds was the legendary namesake - the greyhound of the pharaohs, distinguished by large erect ears and a ring-shaped tail.
Widespread settlement of greyhounds to the west of L.P. Sabaneev associated it with the migration of Aryan tribes from the Middle East to Europe, which took place over three thousand years ago, and to the east and south along the African continent somewhat earlier, thanks to the founding of African colonies by the Phoenicians. Thus, all current greyhounds, according to this scientist, are, to one degree or another, descended from ancient Egyptian ancestors.
Professor S.N. was more careful about the origin of greyhounds. Bogolyubsky (1959), the largest authority in the field of studying the breed formation of domestic animals - he allowed for the Eurasian greyhounds both the possibility of independent origin and their emergence from North African forms.
Later researchers agreed that the ancestor modern breeds The greyhound is the Saluki, which was formed by the ancestors of the Arabs in the 10th-7th millennia BC. Thus, we must talk about two different breeds ah greyhounds and two centers of their breeding: Tezem, with erect ears, possibly originating from Asia Minor, came to Egypt in ancient times, and the Arabian fold Saluki - to North Africa.
Subsequently, starting from the 2nd millennium BC, the Tezem lost its privileged position in Egypt (certain breeds believed to be related to it were preserved in isolation on some islands of the Mediterranean Sea), and the Saluki with the Arab conquerors spread throughout Europe and Central Europe. Asia, giving the world almost all currently known greyhound breeds. These or similar views on the origin of greyhounds were held by the leading expert in this field, V.I. Kazansky, classic of Soviet cynology A.P. Mazower, as well as a number of Western dog handlers (J.-F. Courau, H. Glover, E. de la Morena, etc.).
The principled separation of the Egyptian greyhound breeding center from the Arabian, however, seems arbitrary. On ancient Egyptian paintings there are greyhound-shaped dogs with floppy ears, reminiscent of modern ones. On the other hand, island dogs of the Mediterranean with erect ears similar to eastern greyhounds (Maltese, Ibizan dogs, etc.) were not necessarily brought there by the Phoenicians. They could have reached these islands along with Arab settlers in the 9th-11th centuries, when the fleets of Muslim states threatened the existence of Byzantium and landed troops on the shores of Italy. Be that as it may, the group of eastern greyhounds, the ancestor of which is now considered the Arabian Saluki, is one of the oldest surviving to this day.
For the era of late antiquity, sources about these dogs are few and scattered; at this time, various breeds of western greyhounds were formed, which pushed the eastern ones into the background. They again entered the broad historical arena at the beginning of the Middle Ages, thanks to the emergence of Islam and the aggressive campaigns of Arab tribes. The modern name of the breed is also associated with Arabs.
It is not known exactly where the name "Saluki" came from. Possibly from the Arabic word "salaka", meaning "to tear the skin." The most plausible, however, seems to be the version according to which the name of the breed arose from the name ancient city Seleucia (in Arabic - Salaukiyya) in present-day Iraq (its ruins are located south of Baghdad). Thus, the Saluki is originally a “Seleucian dog.”
The words "Saluki" and "Slugi" essentially mean the same thing, only in different dialects. In Persia, as well as in Asia Minor and Central Asia, greyhounds of this type have been called differently since ancient times - tazy, tazi.
Most likely, this name is also associated with the Arab conquerors, whose troops stationed in these regions were called “taji” - crown, from the Arabic “taj” - crown, crown. In Europe (primarily in the UK), the Saluki is also called the gazelle dog and the Persian greyhound.
The Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula preserved the ancient breed in their nomads and perfected it in the extreme desert conditions. Here the excellent hunting qualities of the breed were revealed to the maximum. Rub al-Khali is the most deserted part of these places and the best territory for hunting, which to this day remains a stronghold of Saluki breeding. Hunting takes place from October to March, when it is quite cool and humid, but best time for her it is spring.
Salukis were trained to hunt a wide variety of prey: jerboas (desert rats), hares, foxes, jackals, wild cats, gazelles, deer, partridges and other birds. They often hunted in cooperation with falcons, with the keen-sighted birds stalking and circling prey, while the fleet-footed greyhounds hurried to the target, sometimes many kilometers away, while the hunter followed on horseback or camel. The Bedouins used a mixture of henna and vegetable oil to strengthen the feet of hunting dogs - this was necessary in the hot rocky desert.
Among the nomadic Arabs, Salukis have always been surrounded by love and reverence. One of the Muslim lawyers even came out with a special explanation that Muslim prohibitions do not apply to Salukis. In any case, from ancient times, eastern greyhounds were considered by Muslims to be “clean” animals, in contrast to herding dogs.
The name dog (“al qalb”) was never used in relation to them. They were called "al khur", which means "pure", "noble". Greyhounds enjoyed special privileges in the Muslim world: after petting a Saluki, a devout Muslim can then sit on a prayer mat or go to prayer in a mosque, having performed only those ablutions that he wishes. At the same time, he does not lose his bodily purity, as happens when he comes into contact with things or animals considered unclean - for example, with a dog of any other breed.
A greyhound dog was valued no less than a wife or a horse, and for good reason - after all, a hunting dog was often the breadwinner of the family. It was considered unacceptable to leave a Saluki on the street or lay it on the ground. They were allowed to live in the same dwelling with a person - on female half tent, in a special place, fenced off with a curtain, where the Saluki lay on a soft mat.
In cities, special platforms were built for Salukis over the roofs of houses so that they could rest in the coolness and not be bothered by insects. Salukis were surrounded by special care from women who sewed them warm blankets for the winter and light raincoats that protected them from overheating and flies for the summer, and women often fed orphaned puppies with their milk.
The death of a beloved dog was perceived as a great grief, and a Saluki could change its owner only in one case - if the dog was presented as a valuable gift. It was not customary to sell Salukis - they were given only to friends or relatives, but with the right to receive any gift in return.
Since it was believed that Salukis were given to people by Allah for entertainment and benefit, they always occupied a privileged position in the Arab world - they were allowed, for example, to eat the same food as their owner. The greyhounds' food was nutritious and light, consisting mainly of meat. In addition, the Arabs gave them a nutritious mixture of dates and camel milk ground into dough.
Animals hunted by the Salukis were considered permissible for consumption by devout Muslims, unless the Salukis themselves attempted to eat them; At the same time, they referred to the following hadith (a statement by Muhammad, recognized as a guide for a true Muslim):
“Abu Hurayrah narrates that the Messenger of Allah said: “If anyone keeps a dog, except for a shepherd, a hunting dog or a guard dog, he should have a qirat (small coin) deducted daily from his property as compensation. And so - in relation to anyone who keeps a dog not for hunting or protecting the herd. Hunting for the purpose of earning a living, income or food is permitted. But this is undesirable if it is done solely for relaxation or entertainment. It is permissible to use any dog or other animal suitable for hunting for this purpose.
However, two conditions must be met. First: all dogs must be let off the leash with the words “In the name of Allah!”; and second: the dog, thus freed, must be taught the rules of hunting, but if the dog begins to eat the caught animal, such an animal becomes unlawful for humans, even if it was previously permitted."
In ancient times, poems and songs were written about the Saluki. One of the earliest references to the Arabian hound can be found in the poems composed by Abu Nuwas, an Arab poet of the 9th century. In one of Abu Nuwas's poems, written in honor of the Saluki, he describes its remarkable qualities:
How can I glorify the Saluki who belongs to me?
His hunting luck will never run away from him!
All the delicacies that I have are my hunting trophies -
His merit and spoils, my guest is fed up with his labors.
When, casting aside his drowsiness, my dog goes hunting -
Gazelles tremble in horror, deer trembles in despair...
In other brilliant lines, Abu Nuwas describes the movements of the greyhound:
So she, like an arrow, flew,
As if she wanted to get out of her own skin;
Like the lightest cloud in the blue sky,
A weightless body rushed over the ground.
Interesting information about hunting with Salukis during the Crusades is provided by the memoirs of the Syrian emir Osama ibn Munkyz, a contemporary of Saladin and Richard the Lionheart. In his "Book of Edification" he devotes a separate section to the description of various interesting cases hunting, which he witnessed throughout his long life.
Osama passed on his passion for hunting from his father Murshid, an avid hunter and dog lover. Every second day he devoted himself entirely to hunting, thinking it through as a military campaign - up to forty servants, numerous dogs, birds of prey and cheetahs went with him. “My father,” Osama writes, “organized the hunt as if it were a battle or some other important matter. None of the participants were distracted by conversations with their comrades, their only concern was to spot the animal or bird... When we left the city gates , we had with us all the equipment for hunting - nets, bows, shovels and hooks for breaking holes... With us were hunting birds of various breeds, as well as cheetahs and dogs... None of the huntsmen, grooms or squires was allowed to lag behind or hesitate in chasing game."
The dogs of medieval feudal lords, like Bedouin dogs, often hunted in cooperation with birds of prey. Here is how Osama describes one of the methods of such hunting: “Emir Shihab ad-Din, the ruler of the Jabara fortress, gave my father a dog trained to hunt gazelles under a falcon. She showed us amazing things.
Falcon hunting happens this way. First, the “first” is lowered, he grabs the gazelle’s ear and beats it with his wings. Then a “helper” is released, which attacks another gazelle, and the second “helper” attacks a third, and the fourth falcon is released in the same way, and each of the “helpers” attacks one gazelle from the herd. “The first” continues to hit his gazelle, while the others drive the others away from it and leave them. The dog follows the flying falcons and attacks only the gazelle on which it sees a falcon sitting."
The world is changing, and so is the life of the Bedouins, but they still have an ardent devotion to hunting and Saluki hunting dogs. The fate of this breed in different countries The Middle East is different. Saluki has been highly valued for centuries and continues to be valued to this day. Even in countries where hunting is prohibited by law, the Saluki is nevertheless highly valued and in constant demand: a Bedouin may not have a job or land, but he considers it a matter of honor that he has a magnificent hunting dog.
The fate of the purebred greyhounds of Saudi Arabia was happy. In the interior of the country, some tribes still lead a patriarchal lifestyle. To this we must add that hunting and breeding greyhounds remain an indicator of nobility and prosperity for city residents, who are often ready to pay any amount for a purebred puppy of an illustrious line. For example, the Jordanian King Abdullah and the King of Saudi Arabia Ibn Said (1880-1953) were connoisseurs and experts of this breed.
But not everywhere the attitude towards greyhounds remains as favorable. In Israel, for example, the situation of the Salukis and their owners can rather be called disastrous. Hunting with greyhounds and hounds is prohibited in Israel. The police shot dead many dogs that the Bedouins were hunting with illegally. Current situation Israeli Bedouins are similar to that occupied by indigenous peoples pushed into reservations. Many of them were unable to adapt to modern conditions life. Unencumbered permanent job, they freely manage their time by poaching.
Hunters no longer spent whole days on horseback under the scorching sun. They drive off in cars to places where no one will see them unleash their dogs on a hare or gazelle. Hunting is done mainly for sport and to compete to see whose dog is faster.
They don't use guns. Judging by the story of the Bedouin Sultan Abu Rekiek from Tell Sheba, hunters still strictly adhere to ancient customs: “We can hunt all night. If the dogs do not tear the gazelle, then we can use the meat and eat it. If the animal is badly bitten, then We give the meat to the dogs."
The first Salukis entered Europe along with the Crusader knights, but mixed with other greyhounds. In the 19th century, Salukis began to be exported to Europe from Syria, and in 1840, Hamilton Smith brought several Salukis from Persia to England, where they were displayed as exotic animals in London's Regent's Park. In 1874, the breed was first mentioned in the Kennel Club stud book and calendar under the name “Persian Greyhound”. In 1897, the daughter of the English Egyptologist Amherst Hackney, Florence, became seriously interested in the breed. Florence fell in love with this breed during her trips to the East with her father. At her request, Colonel W. Jennings-Bramley brought two puppies from Egypt, which he selected from a sheikh of the Tahawi tribe in the Egyptian Saliha desert.
The Saluki appeared at an exhibition in Europe in 1900 under the name "Gazelle Dog". In England, the Saluki was recognized as a breed in 1923, after Brigadier General F.F. Lanz presented a black and tan male named Sarona Kelb and a piebald female named Sarona Rizhan, brought from Iraq. In 1927, the breed was recognized in the United States. In 1954, a club for Arabian horse lovers was organized in Europe, which at the same time became a club for Saluki lovers. In England at that time, more than a hundred dogs were shown in the rings, which were of different types, as they came from different regions of their vast homeland. They were conventionally divided into small, medium and large, as well as long-haired and smooth-haired.
In Russia in 1887, at an exhibition in Moscow, the Saluki (basins) Grumis was presented, which received a silver medal. This greyhound came from the dogs of the Tekin Khan. However, breeding of the breed began in our country only in the 1990s after the import of European-bred Salukis.
It was on the basis of the European population that the modern standard Saluki; It's hard to believe, but many true, native populations of Eastern Greyhounds that do not meet this standard are not recognized by the Kennel Clubs that exist today.
Kirill Retz
AUSTRALIAN GYREHOUND (kangaroo dog; Australian Greyhound, Kangaroo Dog), a breed of short-haired hunting dogs. Developed in Australia by crossing Greyhounds with Deerhounds to hunt kangaroos, which at one time caused serious damage.
18,000 rub.
An ancient breed of hunting dogs, they were traditionally used to hunt ungulates, primarily mountain goats and sheep, as well as wild cats, foxes and wolves. Works on animals in pairs and alone, less often in a flock.
Africanis (lion dogs) - dogs that have helped people in difficult situations since ancient times. climatic conditions Africa. They performed a wide variety of functions; these dogs served as hunters, shepherds, watchmen, and, of course, were devoted companions. ABOUT
Ancestors Irish Wolfhounds known since the times of the Celts. The second birth of the breed occurred in the century before last. Dogs similar to the modern Irish Wolfhound are the heroes of many ancient Celtic legends.
From 60,000 rubles
Italian Greyhound is one of the most ancient breeds in the world. Mummies of Levretok have been found in Egypt since the time of the pharaohs. Also, the Italian Greyhounds lived in Ancient Rome, were companions of great emperors.
from 400 to 1000 US dollars
Hunting dogs. Polish Harts are used for hunting hare, fox, roe deer and wolf. Strong and hardy, this hunting dog is also good as a companion.
The Russian greyhound was used for baiting various animals and hunting wolves. Currently, the greyhound can be found as a companion and an excellent hunter.
13-17 thousand rubles.
