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DogHobbyist.com
Richard Hawkins
Sighthounds and their Work
March 1, 2006

PHChristy: I'm Christie Keith, the editor of PetHobbyist.com. Before we begin, all of us at PetHobbyist would like to mention that this year's Chat Week on DogHobbyist.com is dedicated to the memory of Kelly Coughlin, PHFrolic. Kelly was a part of our family and she will be much missed by all of us.

PHChristy: On behalf of all of us at DogHobbyist.com, let me welcome you to our special guest chat with Richard Hawkins on "Sighthounds and their Work."

PHChristy: Richard Hawkins has chased antelope with pariah dogs in Africa, coursed the hare with Borzoi and Whippet in UK, and the hare and the lure with Scottish Deerhounds and Galgo in Europe.

PHChristy: He has owned, coursed and lure coursed Scottish Deerhounds for 25 years. For a number of years he has been closely involved with all aspects of promoting, organizing, and running lure trials in Holland.

PHChristy: An internationally known expert on sighthound breeds, he is co-author of Arrianus, de lange jacht en lurecoursing, a Dutch book on the origins and characteristics of hunting and coursing with hounds, and the Dogs in Canada article "What, If Anything, is a Sighthound?"

PHChristy: Living now in Canada, he is currently working on a book on Deerhounds with his wife Barbara Heidenreich, who has bred Fernhill Scottish Deerhounds for more than 35 years.

PHChristy: We will open the chat with comments from Richard, and then take your questions and comments. If you have a question or comment at any time during the chat, please type a ? or ! and then wait to be called on by the host. Please don't talk in the room during this special chat.

PHChristy: Thank you very much for being here with us tonight, Richard - would you like to begin?

RichardH: Thank you Christie!

RichardH: I would like to point out that I do not consider myself an expert

RichardH: Simply a student

RichardH: Let's start with some questions, then perhaps you can get to know me better - and then I can learn something from you all ga

neonaura: ?

PHChristy: ?

PH FasDog: Ok neonaura, you're first!

Clicker59: ?

neonaura: I wonder if you are familiar with a condition that is being asserted that the prey, in this case jack rabbits, even when they escape are permenantly damaged?

neonaura: They call it "capture myopathy"

Renee_of_SD_nr: ?

RichardH: As far as I know we have no proof of this - if you are referring to severe muscle damage etc induced by long term stress.

neonaura: Yes, from exertiion - People from Marin Humane are stating this to promote a bill to make coursing criminal.

RichardH: it can happen if hares are chased for long stretches, by scent hounds, I think to amuch less degree by short runs from sighthounds

RichardH: Please go ahead with the next question

staffordmom: ?

PH FasDog: PHChristy, you're next

PHChristy: Richard, I admit I"m intrigued by the title of your article for Dogs in Canada, "What, if anything, is a sighthound?" Could you explain what the article is about?

RichardH: Oh boy

PHChristy: LOL

RichardH: Those of you who know me, will know that I have always been intrigued by the history and function of the sighthound

RichardH: That is to say their true identity

RichardH: Their work is what defines them ga

PHChristy: may I ask a follow up?

PH FasDog: Please do Christy

PHChristy: can you define their work more specifically, for the purposes of defining a sighthound?

RichardH: Yes of course, I didn't fully answer your question

RichardH: A little background to that article first

RichardH: Which is appearing in DIC in March

RichardH: The CKC lure group would like to add the IG and RR

RichardH: That would bring them on a par with AKC

RichardH: I have certain reservations as to the sighthound identity of a number of ASFA and AKC sighthounds

RichardH: To return to PH's last question, tere are number of hounds in the ASFA group which have never had sighthound work, and number which in their own country of origin are accounted as scent hounds

Cassie_nr: ?

RichardH: A sighthound pursues and captures its prey by sight and superior speed, not by scent ga

love_my_rr_nr: ?

PH FasDog: Renee, your question please.

PHChristy: thanks!

livanoff: ?

Renee_of_SD_nr: I'm am wondering how you evaluate a pup for possible structure and drive....well what to look for

RichardH: Interesting

RichardH: You look for a well built pup, but above all a pup with desire ga

Renee_of_SD_nr: may I ask about desire and how to see that?

RichardH: Test your pup at the earliest age

RichardH: For instance in your living room with its favourite squeeze on a string, will it chase it

RichardH: Will it chase it with abandon? That's the one I want! ga

Renee_of_SD_nr: thanks

PH FasDog: staffordmom, please ask your question.

staffordmom: what is the fastest breed in lure coursing or the best breed for lure coursing?

Gatorsmom_nr: hello

RichardH: Hi there

RichardH: The fastest breed (in any form of coursing)

RichardH: is the Greyhound

RichardH: The best breed for lure coursing you ask the judge

staffordmom: lol

RichardH: But my usual answer to that is the Whippet

staffordmom: ok ty

RichardH: please ga

PH FasDog: Cassie, your question for Richard

PHChristy: this deerhound in my avatar beat a whippet for ASFA BIF once

Cassie_nr: I have Irish Wolfhounds, Richard, but have also had greyhounds. I myself have mixed feelings about whether an IW is a true sighthound. Do you have any comments about them, given the definition you gave, defining them by their work, and that they track and take their prey by sight and with superior speed?

RichardH: Oh dear, this is always a little tricky

PHChristy: I know Cassie, she won't be offended by any answer you can give

PHChristy: she's a friend of mine

Cassie_nr: LOL, you couldn't be meaner than Christie on this subject

PHChristy: LOL

Clicker59: LOL

PH FasDog: Oops! We lost our guest.

PH FasDog: WB Richard!

Restless_nr: ?

RichardH: sorry about that i got cut off

PHChristy: did you see the question, Richard?

RichardH: The IW is a recreated breed

RichardH: Yep got that I think

RichardH: All the authorities agree that after WW11 IW's have become so massive they cannot function fast enough and with agility to be considered as functional sighthounds

RichardH: I believe that from the very beginning Captain Graham was mistaken in his dream of building a sort Rolls Royce of sighthounds - it simply doesn't work ga

PH FasDog: love_my_rr, your question

love_my_rr_nr: Thank you for taking my question. Why does a hound have to be pigeon-holed into either the sight or the scent group? Are you saying only sighthounds should be allowed to lure course/race? RRs hunt with their eyes and nose and most of the time it is with their eyes first. My 3yr old RR is so prey-driven he'll chase leaves blowing in the wind and has nearly caught white-tailed deer. He chases plastic bags (lure coursing) like the best whippets and greyhounds. If there is no scent with plastic bags, then why is he chasing it if he is a scenthound (according to his home-land South Africa)? And don't worry, I won't take your answer personally either. :-)

RichardH: Thank you for being so flexible

RichardH: The RR is a fantastic general guard and hunting dog - I've experiienced them in Africa - why make them into mediocre sighthounds

RichardH: The lure group in North America is called an informal sighthound group

RichardH: Some of those breeds in their country of origin are scenthounds and people resent that sort of appropriation

RichardH: It is misguided and I consider it to be falsification

PHChristy: by "lure group" do you basically mean the ASFA recognized breeds?

Renee_of_SD_nr: ?

love_my_rr_nr: Have you ever seen a RR course/race ?

RichardH: There is nothing wrong with all breed coursing I've even organised it in Holland. It is however different to sighthound coursing ga

RichardH: By the lure group I mean the AKC/ASFA eligible hounds

RichardH: Yes I have seen a few RR's lure chase, I have also seen Labs do the same ...

RichardH: Please go ahead

PH FasDog: livanoff, your question for Richard

PH FasDog: Renee, you're last in our queue, then we will allow Richard some comments.

livanoff: Sighthounds seem to have developed all over the world based on need and terrain. Why not native American sighthounds, why had none developed here?

RichardH: Good evening Lucy!

RichardH: That's a very good question

livanoff: Hi Richard

RichardH: I don't think thay have developd all over the world

RichardH: Generally speaking thay ahve developed on a East West axis across Eurasia

RichardH: Along with many domestic animals

RichardH: One of those was the horse

RichardH: Probably originating in Central Europe

livanoff: Why do you think that is

RichardH: There we may find a fast hunting dog developing along side the horse. An animal which had to be reintroduced to North America ga

RichardH: What is? Lucy

livanoff: I guess I mean - did they develop in Asia, Europe, Africa independently, or spread

RichardH: Your guess is a s good as mine

livanoff: Good answer. Thanks

PH FasDog: Renee, go ahead.

Renee_of_SD_nr: If you could add or substract one thing to your favorite sighthound (in general, not a specific dog) what would that be?

RichardH: DNA will one day help point out the connections between the several "greyhounds"

RichardH: I think they spread

RichardH: A Deerhound is perfect

Renee_of_SD_nr: LOL

RichardH: You migh want them to live longer

PHChristy: ROLF

PHChristy: they really are perfect, you're so right. What a smart man you are.

Dogaroo: good answer RichardH *giggle*

PHChristy: ;)

RichardH: You might want the modern dogs to be a little smaller

PHChristy: LOL

PHChristy: YES

PHChristy: oh sorry I'm supposed to be the moderator tonight, I'll shut up now.

RichardH: Then again you might want better temperament from a Saluki or Azawakh ...

Renee_of_SD_nr: In height or overall?

Clicker59: That's OK Christie

RichardH: Barb is the breeder, I just help ga

PHChristy: Richard, can I interject ... there are two books on sighthounds I love. One is Gazehounds: The Search for Truth by Connie Miller, and the other is Dutch Salmon's Gazehounds & Coursing - The History, Art and Sport of Hunting With Sighthounds. Do you have any others you can suggest, or any comments on either of those books?

RichardH: The modern Deerhound is about 3 to 4 inches too tall

Renee_of_SD_nr: both male and female?

RichardH: Both books are absolutely classic

RichardH: Don't forget Copold's coursing book

RichardH: There are a number of others

PHChristy: The Complete Book of Coursing by Steve Copold

PHChristy: for those who want to check it out

RichardH: Both genders in the SD have become too big ga

PHChristy: Richard, you said you'd like to hear our questions to get to know us, and then you might have more comments. Would you like to do that now, while we have a few minutes left?

RichardH: I think it's more profitable for you all to question me

RichardH: Anything goes ga

PHChristy: great, then I think Restless is next?

PH FasDog: Yup

Restless_nr: Well, I have greys, so I assume I'm safe in saying I have sighthounds. I live in California, and am wondering what you have heard, if anything, about the legislation being proposed to ban open field coursing, and what impact you think that will have on the development and perpetuation of the sighthound breeds?

RichardH: I've heard a lot and it saddens me

RichardH: This has happened almost everywhere in the world

RichardH: It will not change the hounds all that much but it will have a detrimental effect

RichardH: ga

pogo_nr: ?would you anticipate a fairly good correlation between enthusiastic free coursers (back country hikes) and organized coursing performance? We do have to call them off moose for safety, but they still chase the next time

Minuet: ?

RichardH: Will those same hounds run well at an organised live trail - it's a fair bet they will. Hi Joan ga

PH FasDog: Minuet, you have a question?

Minuet: I own retired racing greyhounds and I wondered what your take on greyhound racing is? Do you think it is bad for the dogs?

RichardH: That is both good and bad when it's professional and the dogs have to suffer for it

RichardH: ga

Renee_of_SD_nr: ?

Minuet: The act of racing in itself?

RichardH: the act is good, the cosequences, when they no longer can cut the mustard can be really bad ga

PHChristy: folks, I'm so sorry ... I'm afraid that's all we have time for - I'd like to thank Richard for being our guest, , and thanks to all of you for coming tonight!

PH FasDog: Thank you Richard!

RichardH: Thank you all

Renee_of_SD_nr: Thank you Richard. This was far too short.:)

PHChristy: Thank you VERY much Richard!

PH FasDog: Hound Chat meets every Wednesday at this time! Please join us!!!

PHChristy: I'll be posting the transcript in the morning for those who came late

PHChristy: and will email it everywhere I posted a notice about the chat

RichardH: Good night all