Reflections on Borzoi Type

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, December 2019 issue.

Reflections on Borzoi Type

We breeders, judges, and exhibitors are entrusted with preserving Borzoi, a breed that was created centuries ago. To do this, we need to know and understand the history and function of Borzoi.

This article is not going to discuss and debate individual aspects of a Borzoi’s conformation, but rather look at some historic pre-revolutionary hunting Borzoi and modern-day Open Field Coursing (OFC) Borzoi. Modern-day OFC Borzoi were selected as very few judges and breeders get to see modern Borzoi doing work as it was originally intended.

Anne Rogers Clark once said to beware of a drag in breed type, a drift in breed type. A past Borzoi Club of America Member Education presentation was about “Changing the Breed through Stealth.” Three highly respected breeder judges, Nadine Johnson—Rising Star Borzoi, Pat Murphy—Oaklara Borzoi, and Helen Lee—Savladai Borzoi, presented. Both Annie and our respected mentors highlighted the importance of staying true to breed type and not drifting into the flavor of the month.

It’s back to the old form versus function debate. Looking at Borzoi in a ring or in your backyard, can that Borzoi do the function for which it was created? Borzoi are one of the fastest, most agile, strongest, and most graceful dogs ever created. Are you looking at one?

The AKC Borzoi Standard states:
“The Borzoi was originally bred for the coursing of wild game on more or less open terrain, relying on sight rather than scent. To accomplish this purpose, the Borzoi needed particular structural qualities to chase and hold his quarry. Special emphasis was placed on sound running gear, strong neck and jaws, courage and agility, combined with proper condition. The Borzoi should always possess unmistakable elegance with flowing lines, graceful in motion or repose. Males, masculine without coarseness; bitches feminine and refined.” Does the Borzoi in front of you fit this description?

Historic paintings and a limited number of historic photos and videos show Borzoi alongside horses participating in various stages of hunts. One description of a hunt describes the Borzoi traveling for twelve verst to the hunt site. A verst is 0.67 miles.

Although there are some paintings showing Borzoi traveling in sleds, most Borzoi likely trotted for the majority of those eight miles. Then, after a short rest, the Borzoi did their real work of galloping after and taking down the game, with the courses running from an estimated ¼ mile to multiple miles.

Upon completion of the hunt, the Borzoi then reversed course and returned to their kennel. Remember, the game was not waiting at the kennel gate, saying, “Chase me.” A Borzoi was expected to be physically able to get to the game, catch it, bring it back to the hunter, and then return to the kennel—an expenditure of many miles in a day.

The Borzoi Club of America lists the game of Borzoi as wolf, fox, and hare (in that order). However, history shows the majority of the hunting was for hare. These three different types of game created a very versatile dog, nimble and agile enough to capture a hare but strong enough to bring down and hold a wolf.

There were very few solo wolf killers. Borzoi were expected to work in teams of three, with multiple teams being released at a time. The teamwork between kennel mates during a course is beautiful and fascinating to watch. Most often, one will be behind the game, pushing it, while the other two flank it, each trying to turn it into one of the others.

Before the advent of the Czarist hunts, with the wildly extravagant 100s of dogs participating, the Borzoi were originally expected to be multi-functional hounds working alongside huntsmen.

It could be said for most that life was difficult, and Borzoi were expected to assist you. They fed you, clothed you, and protected you. If you grew crops, you or the hare could eat them. Borzoi helped keep their numbers under control, besides giving you meat from the hare kill to eat, and they provided you with fur pelts for clothing.

If you were raising ducks, chickens, sheep, goats, or other food sources that were preyed upon by foxes, lynx, or coyotes (in America), the Borzoi once again kept the predators under control and provided fur. If wolves were eating your cattle, horses, or even your serfs, the Borzoi were expected to hunt them and keep the populations under control. Remember, Borzoi existed long before the advent of firearms.

Today, live game coursing is prohibited in most parts of the world. However, some photos of live game coursing from Kazakhstan are included here. This coursing was not for sport but to feed the hunters’ families. As the pictures show, these Borzoi were more than capable of doing what they were bred to do—they were putting food on the table.

Borzoi, both in historic Russia and contemporary times, are subject to ancestral and regional style variations. Please remember the purpose of Borzoi when breeding or judging, and avoid getting lost in regional type or flavor-of-the-month trends.

Select the best combination of elegance, balance, and power. Faults negatively affecting movement and the ability to perform the Borzoi’s function are vastly more important than faults of bite, expression, or color preference. Please select the Borzoi with the most virtues, not the Borzoi with the least faults.