Valerie Hamilton has had exposure to the dog show world since the early 1960s. Her family obtained their first sighthound, a Borzoi, in 1964. A few years later, they had a group winning Borzoi (one of the nation's top-ten
Borzoi) and established the kennel name of Khiva. Valerie's parents purchased a Whippet for her in 1971 so that she could participate in junior handling. This Whippet went on to be the foundation bitch of Khiva's Best in Show line of Whippets. Having always admired the beauty of the Salukis, Khiva purchased their first Saluki in 1975. Valerie continues to show and breed Salukis under the kennel name of Khiva.