The big cheese is away

Gina's on an airplane, winging her way to Global Pet Expo, and she left me in charge of the blog. So I thought I'd regale you with adorable stories of my own pets reviews of a couple of absolutely classic sighthound books.



Gazehounds: The Search for Truth by Constance O. Miller. This classic book is based on a series of articles the author wrote for Gazehound Magazine from 1976 to 1980. Don't let the dates fool you, though; it is as vital and interesting today as it was when she first penned it.The origin of Gazehounds: The Search for Truth was Constance Miller's diatribe against what she perceived as lies, myths, and distortions about the origins of the sighthound breeds. While debunking myths may have been Miller's original goal, she ended up creating a fascinating history of sighthounds, liberally illustrated with photographs and illustrations. She discusses the revival of the Irish Wolfhound, the state of the modern Saluki, the history and creation of the Whippet, and how the Deerhound and Borzoi became show dogs. Her chapter on the Afghan hound, and its divergence from the Saluki, evokes an era of dog showing and breeding that few of us today can imagine.



Gazehounds & Coursing: The History, Art and Sport of Hunting With Sighthounds by M H Dutch Salmon. This is the best book about what sighthounds are all about that has ever been written. No matter how you feel about hunting, if you own a deerhound or other sighthound, read this book for the understanding it will give you of what your dog is all about.



Dutch Salmon is held in high esteem as a dog man, and my own contribution to that respect will be just a drop in the bucket, but I have to add that I couldn't help but revere a guy who writes, as he does, about my breed, "I like the Scottish Deerhound best of all the gazehounds. They are a fine pet; the ideal companion dog - quiet, but alert, devoted and loving but not sloppy about it. Courageous but not overly aggressive, either with people or other dogs; dignified but not snobbish. The deerhound is definitely not temperamental. This beautiful hound has a look in his eyes you won't forget; a distant look, until he knows you."



Now THAT'S an expert.