The Afghan Hound in Australia - A Brief History
by Jim Hickie , Gengala Afghans, Australia.
(Page 5)
This brief overview of Afghan Hounds in Australia would not be complete
without mention being
made of the influence of frozen semen, both imported and locally stored.
Because of Australia's
isolation from the countries where the majority of dogs are bred it is
to be expected that we would be
at the forefront of the development and use of this technology. In this
respect we were very fortunate
to have Dr. Harry Spira both as veterinarian and Kennel Control
administrator in the 1970's.
As a veterinarian Harry was keenly involved in research and
experimentation in this field and as an
administrator was able to influence the Kennel Control to implement
regulations that took advantage
of the potential of this emerging technology.
As a consequence 1976 saw the first Afghan frozen semen puppies born in
Australia for the Calahorra
Kennels. The dam was Calahorra Paradys Lost ( a daughter of the well
performed Ch. Calahorra
Mosque) and the sire was the Eng./ Ir. Ch. Saringas Abra Cadabra.
At this stage the exercise was expensive and the results unreliable. In
addition the only source from
which we could import semen was England and there was a declining
interest in the English gene
pool. During the 70's and 80's some semen was stored from Australian
dogs and imports but none
was used in Australia over this period.
It was not until 1989, when importation of frozen semen was allowed from
U.S.A. and a number of
other countries that interest in the technique was revived. In the
intervening period the reliability of
procedures had improved to the extent that normal sized litters could be
expected
The first frozen semen to arrive from U.S.A. ( and the most successful
to date ) was from Am.Ch.
Pahlavi Puttin on the Ritz imported by Stephen Wheeler (Jacosta) and Jim
Hickie (Gengala). This has
resulted in the Specialty Best in Show winner Ch.Jacosta Strike Me
Handsum(A.I.) (Wheeler &
Greenshill ) and some Champions for Gengala and the Battys (Pierhelo) .
American semen has also been imported by Gengala from Rhayders the Right Stuff -
two B.I.S. Champions including a winner of two Specialty C.C.s - and from
Am./ Mex. Ch. Genesis BT Express of Cani and Am. Ch. Sebring Simpatico.
The Hewitts have also imported semen from Am. Ch. Genesis Red Cloud.
In South Australia Kerry and Kerin Hutchings have had two litters from
Am.Ch. Qamari's Rainbow Rider.
The Afghan Hound World Congress in San Diego in November 1995 provided
the excuse for a
considerable number of enthusiasts from around the world to meet and
assess the American scene. As
a consequence frozen semen from a number of American lines is due to
arrive in Australia in the
immediate future. This will further test the breeding skills of the
Australian Afghan breeders.
In 1992 and 1993 the Slatyers had frozen semen litters by The Flying
Dutchman of Isfahan (U.S.A.)
and Ch. Calahorra Quetzlcoatl. The semen from both these sires had been
collected in 1976 !
In the current climate of falling entries ( and hence fewer litters
being bred ) it is likely that the
importation of frozen semen will give the opportunity to expand our
diminishing gene pool. It is
worthwhile noting that the importation of frozen semen has virtually
replaced the importation of
overseas sires.
In Australia today Afghan winners are almost always a combination of
English and American
bloodlines - a combination not always successful in other parts of the
world. Its success here is
undoubtedly due to the strength of the original English foundation
stock.
The Afghan Hound that we know today had its beginnings in the Western
World amidst much
controversy over two different types (breeds ? ) and indeed two
different breed standards existed in
England till well after the Second World War.
The consequence of this has been that there are still those who believe
that one or other of either
"mountain" or "desert" type is correct and that the breed must be
maintained unchanged from the
early imports to England.
In some parts of the world advocates of the "mountain" type have
virtually developed another breed
made up mostly of black-masked golds many of which are devoid of the
detail required by the breed
standard.
In addition we have those who would want the breed frozen in a
particular period of time (usually the
time when they had a measure of success) and believe the current winners
are (inferior) "show
ponies".
The breed standard gives an almost unrestrained hand to those who would
proceed to develop a show
dog that embodies the essential elements of the standard. In America and
Australia many breeders
have accepted the challenge of that standard and a number including
Australians have been particularly successful in their efforts.
No doubt in the future the breed will continue to develop along the
lines that have proved
so successful to date and the unconvinced will be left in their time
warp.
Copyright(c) JIM HICKIE 1996
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