Dubai:
In a harsh desert environment surrounded by wilderness, it is usually
hard to find food and that’s where Saluki dogs would come in handy,
helping their Bedouin masters catch their prey.
It’s a partnership
that has endured thousands of years, until recent past when the desert
dwellers found new easier sources of meat, rendering the dogs useless.
However,
to many ancient Bedouins, the Salukis were not just their hunting
mates, rather the man and the beast would share a genuine companionship
that went far beyond finding food. Handlers
prepare the Salukis to race during the preliminary rounds of the 11th
Saluki Championship. The finals will be held on March 25. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
That is exactly what the new generation of Bedouins is finding out as they try to revive the ancient bond.
Rashid Mohammad Al Katbi
“This
is an age-old practice of our ancestors and not a new hobby. Our
forefathers used to treat Saluki dogs as part of their family,
accompanying them wherever they (the masters) went. Dogs used to be the
Bedouin’s best friend, who would raise the Salukis for hunting as well
as for the love of it,” said Rashid Mohammad Al Katbi, a Saluki breeder
from the town of Al Dhaid in the emirate of Sharjah.
Hunting by sight
Arabian
Salukis are one of the oldest breeds of domesticated dogs in the world
and are well-known for their speed, intelligence, stamina and loyalty to
their masters.
Salukis, named after the Bani Saluk tribe of
Yemen, belong to the sight hound family, which hunt by sight rather than
smell. Gazelles and hares are their typical prey. Hamdan Al Muhairi with his dog at the Saluki Championship. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
“Dogs
along with the falcons used to play a crucial part in the lives of the
ancient Bedouins. Salukis would help guard the Bedouin’s possessions and
for shepherds they would help in controlling the herds and on top of
all that they were magnificent hunters. They used to be the perfect
companions of the Bedouins,” added Al Katbi, who currently owns 30 dogs.
The 40-year-old uses his dogs to take part in many Saluki races that are now gaining in popularity.
“Hunting
with Saluki dogs is an ancient traditional sport which has been
practised for thousands of years in the Arabian Peninsula, the original
home of these desert dogs. However, with hunting banned in many
countries, the tradition has now turned into a professional sport.
Several Saluki races are held in the GCC countries, including the UAE,
throughout the year,” Al Katbi told Gulf News on the sidelines of the
11th Saluki Championship organised by Hamdan Heritage Centre.
Features of Salukis
Deep-chested
and long-legged, the Salukis are known to be the fastest breed of dogs
over long distances, with their ability to clock a speed of up to
75km/h.
“With
their endurance and speed, the Salukis are perfect for racing, females
with their stronger bones and muscles proving to be better than males.
The dogs begin their training at the age of one and are ideal for racing
from 18 months to four years,” said Mohammad Al Suwaidi, a Saluki
trainer with one of the shaikhs in Abu Dhabi.
Talking
about the breeds of Salukis, Al Suwaidi added: “There are two types of
Salukis, smooth hounds called Al Hess and feathered ones called Al
Reesh. A full grown animal weighs an average of 26kg.”
Crossbreeding
Interestingly,
with the races demanding faster dogs, many breeders across the Arab
world are crossbreeding the Salukis with the Greyhound.
“The
crossbreeding with Greyhound has yielded better results in terms of
speed, endurance, appearance and muscularity compared to the traditional
Arabian Saluki. This has helped in hunting as well as racing. Most of
the Salukis that are currently used for racing are imported from Turkey.
Depending on the strength of the breed, we mostly buy a dog at the age
of eight or nine months and then prepare it for racing,” added Al Katbi,
who fell in love with the dogs as a teenager and has been practising
the sport for 20 years.
Growing interests in racing among the youngsters has helped revive the tradition in the UAE with the HHC playing a leading role.
Musallam Al Ameri
“This
sport was part of the lifestyle of our ancestors, who would use the
dogs to hunt for gazelles, rabbits and other animals in search of food.
Hamdan Heritage Centre is helping revive the tradition by organising
races for Saluki dogs and encouraging young Emiratis to practise the
sport, which is the reason why we are seeing so many participants at
this race from the UAE and as well as from other GCC countries and,
every year, there are more participants, showing the popularity of the
event,” said Musallam Al Ameri,” member of the organising committee of
the Saluki Championship.
Saluki Championship
The
championship involves male and female Salukis racing over distances of
2,500 metres and 1,000 metres in amateur and professional categories.
Preliminary
rounds of 11th Saluki Championship were held over two days on March 10
and 11, with three teams each from professional and amateur categories
qualifying for the finals to be held on March 25.
Apart
from Hamdan Heritage Centre, a number of government as well as private
organisations are now involved in promoting the traditional sport across
the country.
A number of activities are held year round to
promote and preserve the tradition of Saluki hunting. Abu Dhabi is
currently building the country’s first purpose-built Saluki racetrack,
which will soon stage international Saluki race competitions.
CULTURE
Handlers
prepare the Salukis to race during the preliminary rounds of the 11th
Saluki Championship. The finals will be held on March 25. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News
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