Page 24 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

T H E S L O U G H I R E V I E W 2 4

Based on his biographical studies, Galton believed that desirable human traits were
heritable, although Darwin strongly disagreed with this elaboration of his theory! Traits

such as character or biographical peculiarities were therefore not genetically heritable
and isolating the goals of individual breeders beyond the handed-down overall traits was
not expedient.

However, as we have already seen above, the Sloughi is very capable of tracking game at
top speed over a long distance. This distinguishes it from the so-called “western
sighthounds”, which were subject to a different selection than the Sloughis.

The extreme sprinting characteristics of the Greyhounds and Whippets of today's
selected breeding, however, only developed in connection with the racetracks and races.
In coursing, the Greyhound hunts mainly for hares in England and Ireland, a type of
Greyhound was preferred that was very strong in sprinting, but not in endurance. These
sighthounds were very popular in northern Europe, so the Grand Duke Nikolai kept a

number of Greyhounds in addition to his famous Borzoi kennel at Perchino. The racing
dogs today are extreme sprinters in the special situation of the stadiums, but are not up
to the demands of the terrain and the enormous agility of the hares.

Greyhounds hunting hares in the 19th century