This breed developed in the Azawakh Valley, in the south Sahara region, in an area the streches through three African countries, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The breed arrived to Europe in the 1970’s, and soon became popular due to the grace, beauty and character of the dogs.
The FCI recognized the Azawakh as a race in 1981.
The first Azawakh in Israel was Aska, owned by Dr. Tzachi Nebo, who brought her to Israel from Slovakia.
Afghan
In the early 1960’s, Ms. Juliet de Berkely-Levy brought two dogs from the famous Turkeman kennel.
The first litter was recorded under the breeding name Al Joda of Hagar Weinteraub. Both parents were imported: Branwen Sheen Shankar and Branwen Sago Lilly. Many dogs were registered since then, mostty imported from England, the United States, France, Spain and South Africa. Until the mid-80’smany Afghan hounds were born in Israel, and the race was quite popular. Unfortunately most of the breeding lines dissappeared and the breed lost its popularity.
During the 90’s, many dogs arrived with the great wave of Russian immigration. These dogs were the basis for the dogs that exist today in Israel.
During the last few years, there are only a few representatives of the breed, which have had outstanding results in the local shows.
Borzoi
The breed was incorporated to the Israeli Sighthound Club in 1971. The first Borzoi in the club was a bitch breeded by English Matalone, which was followed by a number of dogs from Germany - Von Zar Solituzy. There were only a few litters during the 70’s and the 80’s as the breed did not gain popularity among Israelis.
Only in the early 1990’s the breed began to flourish as a result of the great immigration wave from the former USSR. Many dogs came with their owners, and these, became the basis for thje local Borzoi breed.
Galia Liebman brought two bitches and one male dog, and outstanded with her kennel, “Laly”.
Within a few years up to 60 dogs were registered, with some of them reaching the Champion titles. Additional breeders contributed with new blood-lines, and the Borzoi became quickly the most popular breed of the club during the mid-90’s
During the Gulf War, unfortunately ,two dogs imported by Micky Doar from Denmark were killed in the attacks with Scud missiles.
The popularity of the breed decreased through the millenium-end and as as such, the number of litters has also been affected.
Greyhound
The first dogs of this wonderful breed arrived to Israel from Switzerland in 1971. Two years later, in 1973, the first Israeli litter was produced by Roni Lev Ari under the breeding house "Zameron".
Swiss John of Blueflower and English Shaunvalley Sea Shell were the pillars for Ora Tamari's "Bet Yael" kennel.
Israeli Champion "Alice of Bet Yael" had an outstanding result at the 1978 Ashkelon Dog Show, winning the Best in Show.
In the mid 1970's additional breeding houses, like Eli Chen's "Gil Chen" and Rita Trainin's "Bar Zaken" joined the Sighthound Club. The 80's saw the addition of the breeding lines of the kennel "Sun" of Ron Eblas.
Israeli Champion Solstrand Liberty Light (English Import) had an impact in the local lines through his son, Israeli Champio "Joey Cochav Hataarucha" (his mother was "Alis of Bet Yael").
The Bar Zaken house led the Greyhound breeding in Israel through the 80's, with "Solstrand Maple Leaf" making an important collaboration to the development of the breed.
Greyhounds never really became popular in Israel, and since 1973, only 300 dogs were registered.
Irish Woolfhound
The largest sighthound dog, served in his native country - Ireland - for many years hunting wild boars and wolves. Wall paintings depict the arrival of dogs to Ireland with the Celts as early as 500 BC.
In 391 AC. Flavianus the Roman outposted in Ireland gave a gift to his close friend the consul Quintus Aurelius Symmachus- 7 tremendous hunting dogs. These type of dogs -called Wolfdogs- were awarded as gifts in the courts of Europe until 1652 when an Irish Act banned their export.
During the 19th century, lines of Scottish Great Dane and Deerhounds contributed to the breed which evolved to have the design familiar to us today.
Captain Graham and Captain Richardson established in 1885 the Irish Wolfhound Club. Three skulls provided in 1882 by Captain Graham to the Museum of Natural History in London show that the historic race was much smaller and delicate than what we know today.
Until the '90s only a limited number of dogs were registered in Israel. In 1995 was recorded the first and only litter to date, at Hillary Shoshan from Gush Etzion.
Recently a few puppies were imported from Russia and Hungary, and we hope that they will renew the growth of the awesome Irish Wolfhound in Israel.
Italian Greyhound
The smallest breed in the sighthounds group, with the first dogs imported from the USA in the early 80's. No litters were registered from those imports.
At the beginning of the 90's Italian Greyhounds arrived to Israel with the flow of immigrants from the former URSS. The most prominent dog was Israeli Champion Aristocrat (Filius v. Marchenland-Bessi San Migdal). About 20 puppies were registered during the 90's, all of them offsprings of Russian import dogs.
During the last few years there is a renewed interest in the breed with fine dogs being imported from Italy, Holland, Latvia and Sweeden.
Saluki
Salukis have been bred in Israel for a very long time. The Bedouins breed Salukis for generations, mainly as hunting dogs, but also as a symbol of wealth.
Desert Salukis participated already in the 1940's in the dog shows organized by the Palestine Kennel Club. With the end of the British Mandate in 1948, some dogs returned to England with their owners and helped in the development of the breed abroad.
Sheik Suleiman Al-Huzaiil was one of the greatest Saluki breeders in the Israeli Negev desert. His Salukis were traded for other Salukis from Jordan, Persia (Iran) and Sinai (Egypt).
In the 70's, Salukis from Sinai were introduced in Israel, mainly by Sheik Salim Ibn-Gazi, from Ein Portoga.
Imported "western" dogs also contributed to the the development of the Israeli Saluki. "Bernon Noshi" from Spain and "Sandstorm Nimrod" from the USA were two important dogs in the local breeding.
The 70' and 80's saw a boost in the popularity of the Saluki, although by the beginning of the 90's the registered breeding almost dissappeared. The Bedoiuns, though, continued breeding without registration and with no connection to the Israeli Sighthound Club. Following their own tradition, they kept the special hunting characteristics of the breed.
One of the objectives of the Israeli Sighthound Club is to keep, maintain and enhance the local Saluki "Negev Type".
During the last few years there is renewed interest in the breed in Israel and also abroad. The unique genetic bank in Israel, with emphasis in hunting skills in hard conditions attracts the interest of Saluki fans from around the world.
The Saluki has become the most popular among the sighthounds breeds in Israel.
Whippet
The first three Whippets in Israel came from South Africa by 1970, with blood lines from the famous Tulsa. These dogs were the basis for Beni Sela's "Gilboa" breeding house at Kibutz Yzraeel.
Four dogs donated by the Dutch Club in 1976 were very important for the development of the breed in Israel. These dogs had blood lines from the famous kennel "Samoe's" . An American addition was made with Sakonnet Tamarak, who came to Israel with his Diplomatic owner from the USA, won at the International Show in Tel Aviv and produced some local puppies before returning to the US.
The beginning of the 80's was a blooming period for the breed in Israel. There were new breeders and many litters, and Whippets were very popular. Two important aditions were made during those years. Dondelayo Arena from UKreinforced Nissim Dayan's "Peja Selaag" , and "Sporting Fields Scarlet", from the USA, contributed to the lines of "De Los Azares" kennel of the Carso Family. Both bitches are responsible for most of today's winning dogs.
The beginning of the 90's saw the arrival of two Canadian dogs from the Lorrickbrook kennel, but these did not have a major local impact. However, a few years later, though, three Scandinavian dogs from the the Finnish Woodbrook's kennel and one dog from the Sweddish Airescot did suceed in leaving their mark among the Israeli Whippets. These dogs contributed greatly to the existing lines and reinforced the young breeders, like Andreea Diaconsa with her "Swift Random" kennel and Elad Morag with "Bet Hameshi". Additional imports from England (from "Courthil" ), Greece and Slovenia also contributed to the development of the Whippets in Israel.
During the last few years, the main active kennel is Ziporet and Hilit Carmel's "Von Hilit".
The breed is very popular and suitable to families with children.