Sue with Ch Silvershadow's Comet. Photo: Ross

	Francis with Ch Elessar's Zeus Odi et Amo

I began showing dogs in 1974. My first breed was the Afghan hound. I met Francis S. Broadway in 1975, and so began our relationship. I was attracted to the Saluki because I loved their sleek lines and great expression. I also, as a Sighthound person, loved their independence and intelligence. So, obviously my first mentor was Francis.

I have had many other mentors as well and you know who you are. Life is a total learning experience. I will always be mentored and will always be a mentor.

The most important Salukis influencing my breeding program were: Rhea, Atlas, Zeus, Terra, Amber, Ate and Bubbles (see pedigrees included for whole names).

Ch Odi et Amo Atlas FCh
Ch Silvershadow's Ajax Tradition Photo: Cook

The most important Salukis I did not own, but chose to base my breeding on or cross to, were: Andi's Gaea of Rafelda, Ch Rafelda's Terra, Az Bahja Jedda on the Red Sea, and Ch Silvershadow Sakr of Ophir.

	Ch Odi et Amo Ate Elessar
	Ch Odi et Amo Amber Elessar Photo: Labrache

There was no way to limit myself to my best five as they were all dear to me. However, I would have to say that I feel Ch Odi et Amo Atlas was probably the best male Saluki that I have seen and Ch Odi et Amo Holly Elessar, Ch Odi et Amo Ate Elessar, and Ch Silvershadow's Just Do It were, and are, some of the best Saluki bitches I have seen. I also feel honored that other Saluki breeders have told me this personally, and in the show ring where they won many awards under breeders.

When I am breeding, I have a vision of what I consider the perfect Saluki. I try to strive for this vision. Within the framework of my Rafelda and Odi et Amo background, which is basically a mixture of Warm Valley, Hightower, and Kesari, I wanted to keep the beautiful type and particularly the extreme underline seemingly being lost in other Saluki lines. To these strengths I wanted to improve upon other characteristics that were not so desirable. I felt the fronts were set and angulated correctly, running into smooth, strong toplines with moderate rear angulation. I tried to breed away from the too narrow fronts with flipping pasterns and strengthen the hindquarters. I chose the best within the original pedigrees for these characteristics before I chose to outcross. The best I achieved with this plan was Ch Odi et Amo Ate Elessar (Ch Elessar's Zeus Odi et Amo X Ch Odi et Amo Terra Ombre) and Ch Odi et Amo Amber Elessar (Ch Odi et Amo Atlas FCh X Ch Odi et Amo Terra Ombre). These two bitches were the ones I needed to outcross. I looked for pedigrees which seemed strong for the qualities I required and still were the type Saluki I preferred. I wanted a dog that appeared strong in body and spirit. I wanted an animal that breathed "fire". I wanted a dog that carried type, soundness and, particularly, a great second thigh. I wanted to improve my second thigh since I thought that would give me the stronger rear I desired. Luckily, I had two partners in this endeavor and Francis found Carlene Kuhl's Az Bahja Jedda on the Red Sea. Jedda and Amber produced what I thought was an incredible litter of Ch Odi et Amo Cazpar Elessar, Ch Odi et Amo Balthasar Elessar, Ch Odi et Amo Holly Elessar, Ch Odi et Amo Marigold Elessar, and, soon to be finished, Odi et Amo Poinsetta Elessar.

Ch Odi et Amo Holly Elessar

Before this litter came about, my other mentioned partner in all this really became my partner. I married Bill Flynn, who was already a Saluki person of some note with his Silvershadow Salukis. People thought we would never mix his dogs with Francis and mine, as they were so different in type. Jen Araby/Srinagar could never mix with the Warm Valley mixture Francis and I were based on. It would be a disaster. We the disaster (Ch Elessar's Zeus Odi et Amo X Ch Silvershadow's Fox Fire) resulted in some of the most beautiful Salukis I know: Ch Silvershadow Ajax Tradition, Ch Silvershadow's Comet, Ch Silvershadow's Dawn, and Ch Silvershadow's Ivory. This combination seemed successful to me because the parents happened to give to the offspring the best of the combination. Zeus contributed a beautiful front, deep chest, and solid topline. Bubbles had the light effortless sidegate and good drive off the hindquarters. Both were attractive and with the smooth sighthound muscle that I cherish. They had the smooth, flowing topline from the tip of the tail- no bumps, bulges, dips, lumps, or gouges- a beautiful stong continual line on the top and underneath.

	Bally, Mari, Caz, Holly

Our latest issue from Bill and I is again this combination. She is the lone puppy, Ch Silvershadow's Just Do It (Nike). Her parents are Ch Silvershadow Sakr of Ophir (#2 Saluki 1995) bred to Ch Odi et Amo Ate Elessar. We believ we got the same attributes with this combination as the one mentioned above.

I believe genetics is the most important element in a breeding program. The environment can be supplied while the genetic makeup is a bit more difficult. I tend to breed one Saluki out of a litter. It really irks me to no end when someone breeds every dog in the litter, or at least most of them. Is that to say they all were that great? I think a critical breeder should pick only what they think is the best and breed from that. I also think it is horrible to breed from an animal that has any health problems or the breeder that has genetic issues in their breeding program. If a breeder has made a choice to do this, then the breeder should keep the entire litter and not breed further until they are at least six years old. It is imperative to make sure the litter is clean of the defect. The next generations would be suspect as well. It is irresponsible to burden pet owners or the others in the Saluki population with genetically defective animals. No one's dogs or lines are that valuable.

Ch Odi et Amo Cazpar Elessar Photo: Kernan

The most difficult characteristic to keep in a Saluki breeding program is an overall well-balanced, MODERATE Saluki. In trying to improve parts, we often get just that- parts- and lose the overall balance of an athlete. Unfortunatley, the exaggerated or exotic seems to do well in the show ring. I see so many severely faulty, overdone Salukis winning at all levels beacuse of their owner, presentation, color, etc. and they become the trend or should I say "norm". Everyone wants to jump on the band wagon and win! The breed becomes the loser. The need to win with incorrect breed examples, opposed to the need and desire to produce physically and mentally typical, healthy Salukis, is the single most destructive path for the Saluki breed.

The only testing I do is Brucellosis. I am not a fan of OFA. I am also quite skeptical of an OFA heart certification. Anyone who knows of some heart issues in Salukis knows that often a perfectly apparently normal Saluki can drop dead at any age for no seemingly explainable reason even after extensive investigation or autopsies. There are only a few lines in Salukis that have ever had hip problems. I also feel OFA can be tampered with. Testing in most cases is only as good as they individual that you are dealing with, therefore, I research and trust those that have a record of ethical actions.

People have taken the frozen semen issue too far. It is one thing to collect your dog that is getting on in years and who you think might not be around when you get to use him in your own program. It is another to mass collect and go back to a popular stud dog who produces, should we say, "winners". A breeding program should move forward, not just regurgitate the same thing over and over. It is more natural that way. I fear the breed goes stagnant with too much use of frozen dead stud semen. As a breeder, what is the point to redo that which you have already accomplished? It is my observation that hte second time around is never as good as the first. Perhaps the only dog I would have liked to use from the past is Ch Pine Paddocks Ebony Falcon and that is the direction my breeding has taken.

My views have not changed greatly. My wisdom has grown and my temperament has certainly improved. I feel I took my time to learn and, therefore, have beautiful, happy, healthy Salukis.

What I succeeded with in the 1990s was to produce many Specialty-winning champion Salukis of whom I am proud. I look forward to the 2000s wiht my friendships and partnerships intact and many better dogs from which to breed. I look forward to the children of: Amber, Ate, Eriel, Holly, Nike and, of course, Mr. Caz.

I hope I am not too jaded in thinking the future of the breed is vague. We have so many folks who are only interested in winning. So few judges that really have knowledge of the breed or are strong enough to do the right thing and buck they trends. I do not see people having the same interest as there once was to study animal husbandry, spend time learning from successful breeders, and to consider the essentials and difficulties of breeding. I feel that not many people involved in the breed in the last tne years even know what Pfaffenberger or Dog Locomotion and Gait are. I doubt they even have seen a copy of The Gazehound, A Search for Truth. We have individuals who are writing and doing seminars that are not really qualified. They are asked becuase they are in the public eye- winning. There seems to be a color prejudice that has become rampant within this breed, which is a pity since one of the things I love about the breed is that it comes in so many colors and patterns. Cream is not the only color and, as a dilution, can eventually cement certain aspects which are hard to overcome. I have no love or tolerance for weak judges who climb on the bandwagon as some type of "groupie". This type judge destroys breeds on a consistent basis by not knowing or just doing the "popular" thing. They should have complete control over their ring and be qualified to put up their educated opinion as to the correct Saluki regardless of color, owner, handler or record. One the other hand, my deep concerns are pacified by the knowledge that we have a basis of responsible breeders and owners who haven't been swayed by the popular, pretty, or trendy. This small group are our only hope.

Ch Raven Hill's Pandemonium Photo: Graham		Ch Silvershadow Sakr of Ophir