A passion for dogs of the desert
Saluki breeder Hamad Al Ghanem is devoted to the preservation and future of ‘these special animals’
It is a family tradition that stretches back seven decades, and Emirati Saluki breeder Hamad Al Ghanem is determined to maintain it and preserve the future of the desert dogs.
He is the founder and owner of the Salukis of Arabia Club and owns about 80 Salukis, which he allows to run free in the desert near his home between Dubai and Al Ain.
Although no longer used for hunting, the breed can run at speeds of 70 kilometres a hour out in the open countryside.
“These animals need sand and sky, to run in the open space,” Mr Al Ghanem said.
“Salukis are very adaptable, like the Bedouin. When I go to Germany or England it is the same. I will first struggle with the cold but I will get used to it quickly and adapt. These animals are very hardy and would thrive anywhere.
“To look to the future, you need to secure the present. You cannot say the new generation will want to preserve Salukis, so they must learn about the breed now and what it takes to maintain the bloodline.”
In the beauty contests he hosts for Salukis at the annual Al Dhafra Festival celebrating Emirati culture, dogs must meet strict criteria to enter.
Only purebred Arabian Salukis are eligible and they must be at least one-year-old. The dogs must be microchipped, physically fit and have a complete vaccination record.
Dogs win points for their general appearance, gait and movement, physical build and overall impression.
Celebrated for their exceptional stamina, intelligence and loyalty, Salukis are referred to by Bedouins as the Wind Drinker, Daughter of the Tent, Son of the Desert or Desert Eye. “These dogs need to run by themselves and feel freedom – they are not slaves,” Mr Al Ghanem said. “They do not feel comfortable trapped in a house or flat. If you kept a bird in a cage, it gets weak and forgets how to fly. It is the same with Salukis.
“My dogs run for half a kilometre; they are free. They don’t come back for food. They come back for love and companionship. They know I am the master and this is their home.” Mr Al Ghanem is a member of the American World Kennel Club and board member of the Society for the Perpetuation of Desert Bred Salukis, based in Arizona, which he supplies with essential information and data about this rare breed. As times change and the UAE adapts rapidly to modern life, Mr Al Ghanem’s biggest fear is that the breed will be lost unless the next generation of Emiratis adopt his family’s passion for the animals.
“I breed with all the official papers so I know the bloodlines of the dogs,” he said. “I encourage others to start breeding Salukis.
“I want young people to show an interest, those who are 17 or 18 who have the power to make a difference to the future. “They need to know about nutrition and how to care for these special animals.”