In his career in dogs since 1965, Dr.Richard Meen had Afghan Hounds, exhibited and bred Borzoi, Skye Terriers, Harriers, Italian Greyhounds, French Bulldogs, Old English Sheepdogs, Scottish Deerhounds and Doberman Pinschers under the prefix “Kishniga.” He was a founding member of Borzoi Canada and Skye Canada. and a past President and Chairman of the Board of the Canadian Kennel Club. He once defined nine characteristics that all sighthounds share (how many did you name when we asked earlier on Facebook?)
1) Keen eyes need to sight prey;
2) Clever enough to work and turn prey with its hunting partner;
3) Fast enough to catch up to the chosen prey;
4) Strong enough to throw it to the ground;
5) Determined enough to kill or hold the prey;
6) Extremely elegant;
7) Graceful in outline;
8) Floating movement, and
9) Essentially silent and not barky.
Did you get them, or do you even agree?
Image by Nan Kilgore Little
http://
https://www.facebook.com/
Despite what many Sighthounds people will argue…that is a description of a basenji. Pure and simple!
Indeed, Mel!!
He’s got it pegged! I’ve only run into a handful of barky whippets over the years. Well, unless you count coursing or racing events, where they bark, shriek, whine, and warble just to keep from exploding with excitement! However, you could also interpret these characteristics as/
Eyes keen enough to sight a sandwich placed on top of the fridge.
Clever enough to figure out how to get on top of the fridge to retrieve the sandwich and check for more.
Strong enough to swing from the refrigerator door if startled and footing is lost somewhere between the stove and the fridge.
Determined enough to get the sandwich anyway while swinging from the door.
Grace enough to achieve this stealthily…with floating movement.
Fast enough to do all this before the owner returns from the bathroom.
Elegant (and winsome) enough to be forgiven. Every time.