AKC Statement Regarding Color
John P. Wade
Director, Judging Operations
October 13, 2010
To: The Saluki Club of America
Judges that reference the Complete Dog Book of the AKC will read in the preamble to the standard "Salukis come in a wide variety of colors, including white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle & tan, tricolor (white, black & tan) and black & tan." This implies that almost anything is acceptable and that the listed colors are among those included. There is no indication that any particular colors are approved or even preferred.
The Saluki breed standard does not address chocolates, sables, blacks, other grizzle combinations, etc, etc, etc. and yet these Salukis compete in the show ring and are used in breeding programs. As the current standard is written all colors and patterns would seem to be acceptable and with such divergence of acceptable colors it is not the role of the judging community to decide allowable colors based on the present breed standard. A judge who interprets the colors specifically listed in the standard as the only acceptable colors could technically penalize severely a dog of a color, various shade or pattern that is not listed in the Saluki standard.
It is recommended that the parent club review the "AKC Guidelines for Writing Breed Standards" before taking any action regarding the brindle issue. Should the parent club not wish to completely revise the color section of the current standard, they may want to consider a single color, pattern, or certain markings as a disqualification or fault and simply clarify what is allowed?
Yours truly,
John P. Wade
Director, Judging Operations
October 13, 2010
To: The Saluki Club of America
Judges that reference the Complete Dog Book of the AKC will read in the preamble to the standard "Salukis come in a wide variety of colors, including white, cream, fawn, golden, red, grizzle & tan, tricolor (white, black & tan) and black & tan." This implies that almost anything is acceptable and that the listed colors are among those included. There is no indication that any particular colors are approved or even preferred.
The Saluki breed standard does not address chocolates, sables, blacks, other grizzle combinations, etc, etc, etc. and yet these Salukis compete in the show ring and are used in breeding programs. As the current standard is written all colors and patterns would seem to be acceptable and with such divergence of acceptable colors it is not the role of the judging community to decide allowable colors based on the present breed standard. A judge who interprets the colors specifically listed in the standard as the only acceptable colors could technically penalize severely a dog of a color, various shade or pattern that is not listed in the Saluki standard.
It is recommended that the parent club review the "AKC Guidelines for Writing Breed Standards" before taking any action regarding the brindle issue. Should the parent club not wish to completely revise the color section of the current standard, they may want to consider a single color, pattern, or certain markings as a disqualification or fault and simply clarify what is allowed?
Yours truly,
John P. Wade
| unlinked_saluki_color_document_jpw11310.pdf |