Borzoi: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Russian breed of dog}}

The system by which Russians over the ages named their sighthounds was a series of descriptive terms rather than actual names. [[:wiktionary:ru:борзый|{{Transliteration|ru|Borzoi}}]] is the masculine singular form of an archaic Russian adjective that means 'fast'. {{Transliteration|ru|Borzaya sobaka}} ('fast dog') is the basic term for sighthounds used by Russians, though {{Transliteration|ru|sobaka}} is usually dropped. The name {{Transliteration|ru|psovaya}} derived from the word {{Transliteration|ru|psovina}}, which means 'wavy, silky coat', just as {{Transliteration|ru|hortaya}} (as in [[hortaya borzaya]]) means shorthaired. In modern Russian, the breed commonly called the Borzoi is officially known as {{Transliteration|ru|russkaya psovaya borzaya}}. Other Russian sighthound breeds are {{Transliteration|ru|stepnaya borzaya}} (from the [[steppe]]), called {{Transliteration|ru|stepnoi}}; and {{Transliteration|ru|krimskaya borzaya}} (from the [[Crimea]]), called {{Transliteration|ru|krimskoi}}.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Сабанеев|first=Леонид|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XSQhEAAAQBAJ&dq=%D0%A0%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F+%D0%9F%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%8F+%D0%91%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%8F&pg=PA70|title=Собаки охотничьи. Борзые и гончие|date=2021-12-02|publisher=Litres|isbn=978-5-04-333011-6|language=ru}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2024}}

The Borzoi was popular with the [[Tsar]]s before the [[Russian Revolution of 1917|1917 revolution]]. For centuries, Borzois could not be purchased but only given as gifts from the Tsar. [[Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia (1856–1929)|Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich of Russia]] bred countless Borzoi at Perchino, his private estate.{{r|scott|p=10}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Kalamaras|first=G.|date=2019|title=For All the Russian Wolfhounds—the Borzoi—Slaughtered During the Revolution, 1917|journal=Undocumented|pages=156–157|doi=10.14321/J.CTVJSF4HW.90|isbn=978-1-60917-587-0|s2cid=198844826}}</ref> The breed was almost rendered extinct after the revolution, as the communists associated the breed with the upper classes and killed Borzoi in large numbers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keyishian |first=Marjorie |date=1991-07-14 |title=A Soviet Visitor and a Quest: Preserving the Borzoi |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/14/nyregion/a-soviet-visitor-and-a-quest-preserving-the-borzoi.html |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Day® |first=National Purebred Dog |date=2018-03-29 |title=A Snippet of Borzoi History |url=https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/a-snippet-of-borzoi-history/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=National Purebred Dog Day® |language=en-US}}</ref>

Borzo by a Chair-George Hare.jpg|''Borzo by a Chair'' ([[St George Hare]], 19th century)

Borzois are large Russian [[sighthound]]s that resemble some central Asian breeds such as the [[Afghan hound]], [[Saluki]], and the [[Taigan|Kyrgyz Taigan]]. Borzois come in a variety of colours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.akc.org/breeds/borzoi/color_markings.cfm|title=Borzoi Colors and Markings|publisher=American Kennel Club|access-date=19 March 2012}}</ref> The Borzoi coat is silky and flat, often wavy or slightly curly. The long top-coat is quite flat, with varying degrees of waviness or curling. The soft undercoat thickens during winter or in cold climates, but is shed in hot weather to prevent overheating. In its texture and distribution over the body, the Borzoi coat is unique. There should be a frill on its neck, as well as feathering on its hindquarters and tail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.borzoiclubofamerica.org/stand.htm|title=The Borzoi Standard|publisher=Borzoi Club of America|access-date=19 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307005642/http://www.borzoiclubofamerica.org/stand.htm|archive-date=7 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mischiha O.|title=Russian Borzoi|journal=My Friend: The Dog|volume=2013: №1|pages=10–17}}</ref>

<gallery caption= "Coat colours" mode=packed heights=125px style= "text-align:left; font-size:93%">

File:Borzoi black female.png|Black

File:Three Borzoi.jpg|White and yellow-and-white