THE SLOUGH IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE
© de Caprona
It was in 1979,
following the importation of two German Sloughis, that Ms. Carole Cioce
did some preliminary work to initiate an "American Sloughi Club".
Although this was not brought to fruition at the time, through her inquiries
she was advised, in a letter dated November 1, 1979, from Marianne
Goldstein, manager for foreign registration for AKC, that a new breed folder
on Sloughis had been opened by AKC and that they awaited with interest
information regarding further progress of the breed in the USA.
In 1986 and 1987, several
people with Sloughis and other Sighthounds revived the idea of forming
a Club for the breed. In 1987, A rare breed exhibit sponsored by
the Rare Breed Kennel Club was organized in collaboration with the Kennel
Club of Beverly Hills in California. Representing the breed for the first
time was the beautiful red brindle Jaaram Nubia, owned by Jack McGuffin,
who manned a booth with information about the breed.
On January 1, 1988, the
SFAA was officially established as a breed club, encompassing the hopes
of this handful of enthusiasts interested in establishing a safe haven
for this marvelous creature we know as the Sloughi. The founder members
were Carole Cioce, Gisela Cook-Schmidt, Jack McGuffin, Mario Rechtszaid,
and Kaethe and Carl Rodarty.
As all-too-frequently
occurs, the SFAA experienced a rocky start. Due to unresolvable conflicts
and differing philosophies between the Presidency and the membership, the
Club's membership voted for dissolution (in accordance with Article XIV
of its Constitution and By-laws) for purposes of reorganization. The subsequent
premature death of three of its members was a second blow that also slowed
the activity and progress of the Club for a time. After these painful episodes,
the Club managed to pulled itself together again and has since continued
to work to accomplish its goals: to be an organization that monitors, promotes,
preserves and protects the interests and well-being of what has miraculously
come down to us through the ages as a remnant of centuries of cultivation
under the hardships of nomadic life in the arid regions of North Africa:
the Sloughi.
Today the SFAA
is an active conservatorship alliance which includes some of the oldest
pioneers and experts of the breed in the world, as well as more recent
enthusiasts, from many countries in both hemispheres. The SFAA promotes
an integration of the Sloughi among all Sighthound activities in the Western
Hemisphere.
In this context, the
achievements of SFAA members and their Sloughis are many and are best described
as setting milestones for the development of their breed in the Americas,
and summarized as follow:
1973 First
Sloughi Import, Tagiurie el Sian from Lybia (K.&C.Rodarty).
1979
First import of German-bred Sloughis Picaro and Nisa Schuru esch Schams
(C. Cioce).
C. Cioce does some preliminary work to start
an "American Sloughi Club".
1980 Fahran
of Mumtaz-i-Javanadmi from Holland and Tounsia Kahloul de la Treille from
France are imported (K.&.C. Rodarty, M. Rechtszaid).
1982 Picaro
Schuru esch Schams wins the first Champion and the first Temperament Test
titles in the Western
Hemisphere
1986 The
first litter of Sloughis to be shown in USA is born (Fahran X Tounsia).
1987 Jaaram
Nubia is the first American-born Sloughia to participate in a dog show
(J.McGuffin).
1988 The
Sloughi Fanciers Association of America is founded. The SFAA's Stud
Book is opened.
1994 The
first American-bred Sloughi is Champion and first Best of Group, A'ssissa
Shi'Rayân.
The first Sloughi wins Best in Show, Aswad Shi'Rayân.
The first Sloughi wins Best Puppy in Show, in
Canada, El Emin Schuru esch Schams.
The Sloughi is recognized for non Commercial
Oval Racing (NOTRA).
1995 The
first 5 Sloughis are pre-qualified for lure coursing. The first Sloughis
participate in a dog show near the Capitol.
Sloughis are presented to the public attending
the well known Western Sighthound Combined Specialty Shows in Lompoc,
California.
The Sloughi is a foundation breed of LGRA and
8 Sloughis launched the first sprint race of the newly founded LGRA in
Utah.
The first 2 supported entries for the breed
in the Western Hemisphere
are organized by SFAA with Sue Grant,
in Toronto, Canada.
The first publication in USA about the breed,
"The Sloughi," is published.
The perpetual Jaaram Nubia Memorial Cup
for excellence in coursing is awarded for the first time, Amir Shi'Rayân.
The SFAA defines the conditions for the different
levels of its dual Championships titles.
1996 The
American Sighthound Field Association creates the miscellaneous stakes
to allow rare breeds, including the Sloughi, to participate in their lure-coursing
events. SFAA presents the breed at the ACoD that year.
The first Oval Racing Champion title and the
first Foundation Field Champion title in lure coursing are won.
The first American-bred Sloughis win the FCI
International title, Temperament Test and Best Brace in Show.
Another brace wins the first Best Brace in Show
on the American Mainland.
The first supported entry for the Sloughi
in the USA is organized by SFAA with the States Kennel Club.
The first Canadian Champion title for the breed
is won.
The first Reserve Best Veteran In Show is won.
The first Reserve Best Breeder's Group In Show
is won.
1997 The
first 2 litters out of all Champion parents are born. They blend Dutch,
French, German and Moroccan Lines (at Shi'Rayân).
For the first time American-bred Sloughis win
the World Champion title, bitch (BOB) and dog (BOS), together
with a Best Brace in Show at the Mondiale in Puerto Rico .
The first national specialty for the breed
is organized by the SFAA with the States Kennel Club.
SFAA becomes SKC's parent club for the breed.
The first Sloughi bitch becomes Oval Race Champion.
The first Reserve Best In Show Bred by Exhibitor
Puppy is won.
The first 2 Veteran Champion titles are won.
Faced with an increased number of Sloughis showing
up at shelters, bred and abandoned by non-SFAA members, SFAA adopts
the policy of tattooing or microchipping the dogs it registers.
A new registry is developed for rescue cases adopted by SFAA members.
1998 The SFAA
celebrates its 10th anniversary.
The second edition of the SFAA's book "The Sloughi"
is printed.
The first painting of Sloughis is accepted at
the 12th Dog Art at the Dog Show.
SFAA organizes the first National Specialty in
Canada with the Rare Breed Club of South Western Ontario, Woodstock July
12
1999 SFAA organizes
its National Specialty within a special event for rare breeds organized
by the Western Combined Sighthound Specialty shows in Lompoc, California.Some
20 Sloughis are entered and judged by Mr. Bo Bengtson.
The first Sloughi wins 2 back to back BIS, Faraascha
Shi'Rayan with owner Jennifer Newman.
By the end of 1999, 9 SFAA Sloughis are awarded
their Foundation Coursing Ch. Titles , one of them the only Foundation
Courser of Merit, by ASFA in recognition of their pioneer work in lure-coursing
The first Sloughi finishes the Superior Gazehound
Racing Ch. title in sprint racing (LGRA).
2000 The
first Sloughi becomes Supreme Oval Racing Ch. in oval racing (NOTRA)
The website www.sloughisonline.net is created
by 2 SFAA members, to make all Sloughi results in conformation and performance
on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean available to a wider public.
2001 The
Sloughi becomes an official breed of the American
Sighthound Field Association (lure-coursing).
The first 2 Sloughis are active in Tracking (Jinn
and Latiifa Shi'Rayan of Alison Tyler and Ellen Brady); Sloughi becomes
Herding Instinct Certified (ShiRayan' Iswaar at Mazoe of Ann Chamberlain);
the first 2 Sloughis are Canine Good Citizens (Latiifa Shi'Rayan/Ellen
Brady, Faraascha Shi'Rayan/ Jennifer Newman).
A Sloughi captures the # 1 all breeds position
in sprint racing (LGRA) Fahel Shi'Rayan/Dominique de Caprona.
The SFAA organizes its national specialty
with IABCA, in Gray Summit, Missouri, with a LGRA sprint racing event for
the first time under the sponsorship of SLASH (St Louis Area Sighthounds).
2002 The
first Sighthound finishes the highest title ever in American Sprint Racing,
of Superior Gazehound Racing Champion 4, this Sighthound is the Sloughi
Fahel Shi'Rayan. Fahel also finishes the year 2002 as #1 all breeds all
breeds in American Sprint Racing (LGRA) for the second time
Another Sloughi becomes # 1 Sloughi all times
in oval Racing (NOTRA) Bouthayna Shi'Rayan.
The first American standard for the Breed
is established, the result of the collaboration between SFAA and the
United
Kennel Club , prior to the UKC Premier Shows
that
year.
2003 SFAA
organizes the first ever Virtual Specialty on the web, with some 25
Sloughis from 8 breeders, entered from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom, the USA and Sweden. The Virtual Specialty is judged
by SFAA founding members Gisela Cook-Schmidt and Jack McGuffin. This virtual
specialty is presented on this website because of its highly educational
value.
August 2003, The
American Sighthound Field Association adopts
the UKC Sloughi standard.
2004 The American
Kennel Club welcomes the Sloughi in its Agility, Obedience and Tracking
events.
SFAA provides the AKC with an extensive folder
documenting the Sloughi's talent in coursing and the AKC enables the Sloughi
to participate in AKC lure-coursing tests.
SFAA's member Dr.Dominique de Caprona's book
"Sloughi" is published by Kennel Club Books, the only breed book about
the Sloughi with original chapters by the author.
SFAA's Sloughi Ch.Fahel Shi'Rayan becomes the
first Sighthound SGRC6 in the country (sprint racing, LGRA).
2005 SFAA's
I'Saar Shi'Rayan finishes # 1 all breeds in Sprint Racing (LGRA), and Ibtsama
Haifa Shi'Rayan # 1 Sloughi in lure coursing (ASFA) for the second time.
2006 SFAA's
Najeeba Shi'Rayan, finishes top ten in sprint racing (LGRA) and # 1 Sloughi
in oval racing (NOTRA), Ibtsama Haifa Shi'Rayan finishes # 1 Sloughi in
lure-coursing for the third time. I'Saar Shi'Rayan becomes the 5th Sighthound
in America to finish a Superior Gazehound Racing Champion IV title.
2007 SFAA
commemorates two pioneers of the breed, Aswad and Amir Shi'Rayan, with
beautiful stamps designed by SFAA member Sherry Zmuda.
SFAA's Ch. Odah Shi'Rayan, wins BOB at the ASFA
International Invitational and the Bouthayna Memorial Trophy. He wins,
for the first time for the breed, Best Bred By Exhibitor in Show at the
IABCA shows in Hutchinson, MN, in May.
The Virtual Specialty 2007 is judged by
Canadian Jocelyne Gagne.
The Spirit of Rescue Award is given for
the first time to recognize the commitment and courage of SFAA member Caroline
Mathews to help many Sloughis in need in the United Kingdom.
SFAA's member Dr. Dominique de Caprona's book
"The
Sloughi 1852-1952" is published relating in depth the first 100 years
of the breed in the Western Hemisphere. It receives highly appreciative
evaluations from professionals in various countries.
2008 SFAA
celebrates its 20th anniversary. For this special event SFAA members
organize an auction on line to benefit SFAA's partner club el Wafae in
Morocco. The auction is a resounding success and enables the Sloughis of
el Wafae in Morocco to receive the veterinary products they need.
SFAA member Sherry Zmuda creates a new stylish
stamp commemorating this 20th anniversary.
2009 Amal
becomes the first Moroccan Sloughi with an American Racing title, and the
40th
SFAA Sloughi Gazehound Racing Champion in Sprint Racing. Northland
Amateur Racing Club, Minnesota, August 2009.
Ch. O'Dah Shi'Rayan becomes the 5th Sighthound
Superior Gazehound Racing Champion 5 in Sprint Racing, and the second
SFAA Sloughi to do so, Shi'Rayan Sloughis Amateur Racing Association,Iowa,
October 2009
Ch. Najeeba Shi'Rayan becomes the first
Sloughi bitch in the History of the breed to finish a Superior Gazehound
Racing Champion II in American Sprint Racing, SSARA, Crescent, Iowa,
November 29 |
The
SFAA has also honored the work of dedicated Sighthound enthusiasts who
have worked for the Sloughi with members of SFAA. Its special
Service Award was given in 1995 to Mr. Jack. W. Lewis, president
of NOTRA & LGRA, for his support in accepting the Sloughi to participate
in these non-commercial racing events, and in 1997 to Mrs. B. Rogers for
judging the first Specialty for the breed.
SFAA members have also
been active in publishing articles about the Sloughi and photographs of
Sloughis in Sighthound Review, Dog World, Field Advisory News, Dogs in
Review, Rare Insight and on the Web, and in providing various show circuits
with very much sought after expert material for judges. To date, more than
one hundred judges have evaluated SFAA Sloughis in the show ring and many
have assessed their coursing ability in the field.
ASFA: American Sighthound Field Association, LGRA:
Large Gazehound Racing Association (non commercial sprint racing),
NOTRA: National Oval Track Racing Association (non commercial oval track
racing) , SKC: States Kennel Club.
SFAA: International membership, code of ethics,
Constitution & Bylaws, club championships, quarterly newsletter, rescue
service, reputable breeders, informative book about the breed.
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