Borzoi History

A quick look at one famous woman in Borzoi from a 100 years ago: Nina Alexandrovna Korff-Sumarokova. Baroness Korff was born in 1877, graduated, and spoke four languages. Living on the family estate (Stary Yuriev, Tambov province), she was a passionate lover of borzois and a great horsewoman; together with neighbours, G.E. Delvig, and A.P. Liharev, she took part in hunting with hounds. Baroness Korff had a kennel of English Setters ("Hi-life") and became at the beginning of the 20 century among the first of the kennels of Russia. Nina Aleksandrovna met Konstantin Vladimirovich Sumarokov and [...]

Introduction: Until the second part of the 19th century, the concept of standard, as it is conceived today, did not exist in Russia. "The standard was a tradition that was transmitted not by canine societies but by father to son, by connoisseurs and all users" (Prince Serge Kantakouzenos). The first document that is akin to a standard (description of what the Borzoi must be) was written in 1888 by Nikolai Petrovich Ermolov, at the request of the Russian Imperial Society. It was to remain in force in Russia for about thirty years. But other standards was also published during the same period [...]

The Borzoi section of the Leningrad Dog Society was formed in 1926. The founders were A. Mezencev, K. Matvejev and E. Dezor. A number of borzoi of the Gatchina imperial hunt was rediscovered at that time. From the same litter were: Tchaus (Maler), Tchvan (Mezencev), Tchara (Matvejev) and Tchaika (Dezor) by Vampir (Gatchina) out of Tchaika (Gatchina), along with a litter from Ukhod [[(Leningrad Zoo) out of Tchaika (Dezor). Ukhod and Tchaika were in the Leningrad Zoo, on exhibition as a reminder of the "regime of the Tzar". Both were confirmed by G. Kartsov to have been bred at Gatchina. Tchaika [...]

Borzois from the Show (Link to a short film) (Picture below from an earlier year)

Translated by Jean Vandongan [verbatim] “Account of the judge, Royal St. Hubert Show, Brussels [Belgium], May 7 and 8: Borzoi” Appointed by the Hound Club and invited by the Royal St. Hubert Club to judge the borzoi at this show, I have accepted this task, even though I thought that after the load of work for the Show of the Int. Union of Hound Clubs in Gent last April23 and 24, the number of entered dogs would not be considerable. That nevertheless 19 borzois were entered surpassed my expectations, especially after a conversation with Mr. Creuwels, President of not less than 14 clubs, judge [...]

In Defense of the Russian Borzoi, 1928 Nikolai Nikolaevich Tchelicheff Excerpt from the Permanent Special Commission for promoting development of pure bred dogs. In the report the Commission proposed, in view of the insignificance, it is limited solely to maintain breeds threatened with extinction: the borzoi and the Gordon setter. The proposal of the Sub-Commission was unanimous. In fact, private hunters can do nothing now to maintain the fading borzoi breed. This becomes understandable if we imagine the conditions needed for raising puppies of this breed. Their upbringing should be in full [...]

A short film from "British Pathe' about The Pyenot kennel

Rasswet’s Jo was just one bitch in a line of quality Borzoi to come out of the important Rasswet kennel in Germany. Like so many from this kennel, she was a deep red sable with white trim in color, whelped April 7, 1929. She was bred by R. Kerler and owned by Dr. Berk, sired by Arwed von Hohenfelds out of Rasswet’s Dalaika. She carried four crosses to the great sire, Russian import Asmodey Perchino and four to the great dam, Russian import Ptitschka Perchino. Jo produced one litter in 1932 when bred to Rasswet’s Hochmut [Bessberk breeding], with one daughter breeding on; the line bred on for [...]

Melanie Richards posted the Russian text a while back, and I've completed the translation of that chapter and my wife Catherine Shilov finished the editing, Dmitri Shilov! The content or part of the content in the article has been questioned but it can't be denied that Nikolai Chelichtsev had seen some of the dogs he describes! Some notes: The full Russian word for 'Borzoi' is "Русская псовая борзая". Transliterated, this reads as “Russkaya psovaya borzaya” which translates to "Russian furred sighthound." The distinction made about furred (псовая 'psovaya') and thick-furred (густопсовоя [...]

The Early Days: Mr. & Mrs. Russell O. Everhart [overview written by Russ Everhart] Mr. & Mrs. Russell O. Everhart of Ann Arbor, Michigan [U.S.A.] purchased their first Borzoi in the Fall of 1929 and soon after selected the name Arborzoi as a composite of Ann Arbor and Borzoi. Their first two purchases were of ranch-raised stock with magnificent coats, but lacking quality of head, depth of brisket and sound feet. Visiting the 3-day Detroit dog show in March of the following year, Mr. Everhart was enticed by the singling out the tactics of Nega of Woronzova who, at one year of age, had defeated [...]