Samira, the Arabian Princess of Bahrain

Published in the DWZRV-Magazine “Our Sighthounds” (Unsere Windhunde), Edition 9/2001

Salukis are really fascinating! Their beauty in appearance and charm in motion as well as their sovereign attitude to people and dogs, combined with intelligence and gentleness inspire every Sighthound-friend again and anew. Since my earliest childhood I admire and love Sighthounds, that is why I was especially interested in books and stories about this race, but lifeless things, such as dolls, did not find any attention to me. Then, thirty years ago now the English Sighthound, a Whippet, had come to my home at last.

Above all I have been very much impressed by the biography of a certain Sighthound. This is the story of a Smooth-Saluki-Bitch, called “Samira”.

This bitch was imported as a whelp to Germany by a ship-engineer, for he got her as a present by the Sovereign of Bahrain.

Unfortunately Samira did not find the necessary importance in breeding here in Germany which suited her as an imported bitch for the heredity of her valuable genetic potency. That was the reason to make some investigation. I detected that she was a very special Saluki-Bitch. And, to honour her I would like to tell “her” story now:

This mentioned salesman was working between 1974 and 1978 with the Merchant Navy that was stationed at Manama/Bahrain, when in 1975 he got to know His Highness the Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al-Khalifa.

Visiting him at his private Seashore Palace, he had a cup of Arab Coffee and sweet Tea. Then he was sitting together with the Sovereign of Bahrain on the sofa of the living room. They were chatting about general questions of politics of the day. To the coffee and tea little cookies were served.

His Highness appeared to be worldly-wise, open-minded for every-day problems, was very interested in discussions and world-policy, and was talking about the art of gazelle-hunting. He was friendly and fond of pleasant matters of life. The Seashore Palace was European-up-to-date furnished, for the Sovereign had studied in England. The engineer told His Highness, that he has been breeding sighthounds and had had a Saluki himself. He learned that the Emir owned about 60 Salukis, smooth and feathered (about 25 smooth and 35 feathered). His Highness also explained, that he on principle sets a high value on the segregation of pure smooth and feathered Salukis breeding to strengthen the respective type. His family was known in the Gulf-Region for breeding of tall and strong Salukis. The whelps were kept in the central horse-stable and in the first weeks they were brought up there by the supervision of a British veterinary. He was responsible for the dogs and also for some hundred Arab horses. He as well carried on the Sovereign's corresponding private breeding-books.

Well, how did such a hunting expedition with Salukis for gazelles take place in Bahrain ? As soon as the administration made a leave possible the State Yacht with guests was being prepared for the departure as well as a landing craft on which there were horses, dogs, tents and food for 14 days. Then they put out to sea and sailed along the Gulf Coast to Qatar and Dubai. The landing craft could be driven directly on to the shore if the bow ramp was lowered. There they met the like-minded reigning princes to take up gazelle-hunting on horse-back in the bordering Emirates. The Saluki sat in front of the rider on the horse at first and was let down at the right moment. As the journey took about 10 or 14 days a huge camp was built. It was also the starting-point.

Now the visitor was very much interested in a whelp and he asked whether he could buy one. First His Highness wanted to know what the prices for Salukis were like in Germany and Europe. But then he promised him to think about it when the appropriate occasion arises. Shortly after that they met again and he showed him a litter of 12 Black- and-Tan Smooth-Saluki-Whelps. The engineer was allowed to choose one. They were just three weeks old. The man made his choice. He wanted a bitch. The bitches and the male-dogs of this litter were equally strong grown. After he had made his choice, he asked how much the dog was. His Highness replied, his Salukis were not to be sold but only presented as a gift to guests. Gerhard was very pleased with the Sovereign's generosity. He called his little Saluki-bitch after a Persian Princess “Samira”. Then they spoke the line of ancestors. The British veterinary drew up a list for at least seven generations of this litter, as well on the father' s side as on the mother's side.

That was more far-reaching than the European Saluki-Breeding-Clubs do. On Samira's Breeder's Certificate all the recorded ancestors were exclusively Smooth-Salukis.

The whelp stayed with its mother up to the age of 11 weeks and on the occasion of a flight home it was imported to Germany.

Though Samira came from a hot desert-climate she soon got used to the cold winter in Northern Germany and she never fell ill. Concerning health she proved to be very robust. She loved water very much and jumped into every drain hole! Above all she loved swimming in the ice-cold water-meadow of the River Elbe or directly in the river. Her withers-height was 72 cm which was enormous. She was not frightened at all and she loved children very much. When a family member was present she did not show any shyness against strangers. In case of need she would have also protected or even defended her family. In the same way Samira got on well with other dogs.

In 1976 a copy of the Breeder's Certificate was sent to the German-Sighthound-Breeding-Club (DWZRV). In those days they would not decide to acknowledge that Samira was a purebred pedigree-dog in spite of all documents that were presented. In the Breeder's Certificate of the DWZRV the parents were therefore indicated as “unknown”. That decision is remarkable, especially since the Emirate of Bahrain joined the FCI as an associated member in 1975 already. Because of this only a proof of three generations would have been sufficient to draw up a Breeder's Certificate for Samira with her descent listed.

After several successful exhibitions (Winner of the Land Group North, CAC, V1) Samira was chosen for breeding and with proviso accepted. Further duties towards DWZRV: First litter with the test whether purebred and HD-free. Then the tattooing was done S 1 and the registration in the Breeding-book Nr. S-1693 (see Breeding-book 1976/77, page 135 at the end). The date of the litter-day, 12 th May 1975, was taken over from the Breeder's Certificate. Some of the judges wanted to attach the Smooth-Saluki-Bitch to the Sloughi-ring at the show. This was clear as Smooth-Salukis were not known in Germany in those days. Samira very soon got the racing-licence and was running nicely in the upper third part.

This engineer and sighthound-breeder had to drop his intention of breeding as there were no smooth-male-dogs in Germany. There was one in Switzerland but Samira would have had to stay there until she got her litter and then still a little longer. But that was out of the question.

His Highness got the exhibition reports, other information and photos directly handed over to him as desired, for the German engineer sailed three months more years to the Emirate of Bahrain and kept contact with HH the Emir of Bahrain, Sheikh Isa bin Sulman Al-Khalifa. On one of those visits he presented him a photo of Samira in a silver frame. His Highness was so glad about the present and appreciated it so much that he placed the photo on the desk in his Seashore Palace.

When Samira was four years old she had to change her home because of sudden severe biting on account of order of precedence with the Whippet-bitches. But Samira still had some nice years with a pleasant family near Hamburg. There I made inquiries about Samira's further life. Yet at the same time I learned the following:

The mentioned family had seen Samira for the first time in 1979 on the race-course and were impressed by the charm of the animal. Their 12-years old daughter Katrin longed for a long time to get a Sighthound whereby she favoured the extraordinary race of Salukis. Her mother did not want a dog, but when Samira sat in front of her and put her head into the lap, the ice melted and Katrin's dream has come true at last. Samira was the great love at first sight! So Samira remains unforgettable for the family up to this day. By charm, noble discretion, devotion and intelligence she managed the lady, when talking about this bitch, to be enthusiastic about her still today after so many years, although she did not want the dog at first. She reported that her family really had a nice time with Samira and that they were deeply impressed for she could comfort with her paws, speak with her eyes and she could even be offended. In the same way she was her daughter's Katrin a true companion. Child and dog were inseparable that is why Samira even accompanied her daughter to the tennis-court or to the skating and pulled her over the ice-rink by her scarf. All over she was known as the Girl with the Sighthound. From the very beginning Samira did not need a lead, as she obeyed each order and returned at once if called! Other dog-owners liked the Girl and her “Companion” very much. The dogs were running with Samira until they were exhausted – she had fun, the others were “flat on the ground”. “Samira was really extraordinary: Gentle and a toady, she took care of me and protected me in dangerous situation or against strangers. When we talked about her, I always thought she understood everything”. This is how Katrin describes her Saluki-bitch Samira still today. Aren't such words about a Sighthound after so many years to be more estimated than every cup that was possibly won in an exhibition or a race-course?

Samira had further five happy years with this family but then had to put to sleep because of a lung oedema. At the age of nine and a half years she died on 18 the October 1984. This sad experience was very painful and the 17 year-old Girl suffered. Her mother swore never to buy a dog again. She did not want to have such a sad time again.

As far as I know Samira is the first Saluki-Bitch from Bahrain in Germany up to now and one of the first Smooth-Saluki-Bitches of modern times. Nowadays I have a Saluki meanwhile myself, that descends from an imported Iranian male-dog.

Here I also want to thank Mr. Gerhard Meinecke particularly, who has been the aforesaid ship-engineer and who often travelled to the Bahrain. He owned Samira and from him I learned to know mainly Samira's story. Meanwhile he is married to my sister for many years.

But I should also like to thank every one for assisting me with my inquiries on Samira's path through life.