Borzoi History

I am publishing these articles in The Borzoi Encyclopedia to encourage better understanding of the function of the Borzoi and its development as a breed. They are for all to enjoy reading but no part of my contributions to The Borzoi Encyclopedia may be copied, downloaded, printed or used in any way without my prior express written consent. A direct descendant of Genghis Khan, Leo Tolstoy, the celebrated author of War and Peace, Anna Karenina and other novels, was born Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana, the ancestral estate in Tula Oblast, Russia on 28 August 1828. Orphaned as a [...]

Deceased Borzoi Stars by Erich Zeiß, Berlin im January 1926 Under the same heading, I described the old borzoi-winners of the years 1890 to 1910, some years ago. And this time I am concerned with the three thoroughbred borzois, which were imported by Dr. Arthur Wegener from Perchino, the kennels of the Grand Duke Nicolai Nikolajewitch in the year 1913. For that, this old meritorious breeder still deserves the thanks of the entire borzoi-world. Firstly I will mention Ch Ptitschka Perchino DWZ 513 since she was the best of them. Ptitschka was the best Borzoi bitch, I‘ve ever seen during my years [...]

Remarks on the Borzoi Award in Kassel, 25.-26. October 1913 by General George de Meyer. Kieff, February 12, 1914 Photo from the magazine "Hundesport und Jagd" 1913, Nr.45, pg.1044, through courtesy of Andrus Kozlov. When I, at the request of Dr. Ing., A. Wegener took over the judges assignment over Borzois (Russian greyhounds) at the exhibition in Kassel, I was highly curious about how the type and conformation of our Russian Borzois bred in Germany bred on, and our beautiful breed in the care of German lovers has become. Through this kind of expertise, the Borzoi owner learn to know the [...]

Click the picture to see the film (can be enlarged)

Chack Bielaja Mr. Müller deals extensively with Chack Bielaja 410 in his essay: "The German Generations" and confuses his description by expressing the German fanciers favor and hatred with this dog. To get to know Chack better, at least from pictures and from descriptions of "contemporaries". In the German greyhound newspaper No. 2 of 1917, he is dedicated a longer essay, which is likely to be more up-to-date now than before, all the more so since B was often a guest in the kennel "Bielaja" and reports from his own experience. But let's hear what B writes: Russian borzoi Chack Bielaja DWZ 410 [...]

Воспроизводится с любезного разрешения Светланы Абашиной Псовая охота (рассказ из журнала «Столица и Усадьба» 1914г) Счастливый случай дал мне возможность несколько раз побывать в Першине , в этом великолепном охотничьем имении Великого Князя Николая Николаевича . Был я там на садках, бывали на псовой охотах и даже один раз в дальнем отъезжем поле , и не может забыть этот славные дни, это отражение совсем иная жизнь. Что за красота! Какой чудное наследие наши прадеды, оставивший русский охотник такой тонкий и сложная охота, в которой человек, конь и собака сливается воедино и одолевает и [...]

The Color of the Borzoi, Artem Boldereff Chasseet Peche [Fishing and Hunting], 1914 Translated by Jean Vandongen Of all the points of the borzoi, the color is certainly the one that causes the most controversy among the owners of the breed. Not only abroad, but even in Russia, in the country of birth of the breed; the breeders are far from reaching an agreement in this regard. Without pretending to settle the matter, I think it is useful to submit to the breeders abroad some considerations which, I hope, will ease the task to clear up this so complicated matter. Many of our breeders or, as we [...]

The Hassia kennels was founded in Germany in about 1915. The owner Ms R Apler moved to Austria when the WW 1 ended and was there associated (married to?) to Mielawetz Berti and bred litters in Austria as R Berti. Later, after about 1922 the Berti name disappears and R Apler is again the breeder. The Hassia kennels first recorded litter was in 1915 and the last entry in the studbooks was from 1934. There are 127 entries with the Hassia prefix. One of these was the white borzoi, Eros Hassia, exported to Sweden and became a Swedish Champion and a valuable factor in the Swedish line of Borzois!

Given to me by a Russian friend many years ago.Looking forward to seeing the names in the archives.

The Russian wolfhound and its history Editor, Rudolf Wolff Sport im Bid No 33, 1918. Translation from the German original by Marina Cornaglia Much has already been discussed on the origins of our dogs. Our knowledge limits itself largely to assumptions that require an exact explanation. Science has given us clarifications to these questions only in two ways, though both are still flawed: the historical and naturalistic approach. Since ancient times, the sighthound already held an important role between all dog breeds. The first historical appearance of sighthounds can be traced back to the [...]