'A graceful breed that floats through the air'

When Winnie Kelly first discovered the regal and impressive borzoi almost 40 years ago, the enthusiastic dog lover immediately knew that she’d never again be without one of these handsome hounds.

Kelly was struck by the breed’s aristocratic appearance, sweet disposition and gentle demeanor. During the past three decades, the former educator has owned and exhibited several of these handsome dogs that have won championships and ribbons at top shows held throughout the United States and Canada.

“I started with a West Highland White Terrier,” Kelly recalls during a recent telephone interview. “I worked for several years in conformation and obedience, but it was in the borzoi ring where I found my real love.”

The dog owner recalls that she spent several months learning about the borzoi before choosing to purchase a young dog.

“I liked the looks and the temperament of the borzoi,” the dog fancier continues. “The breed hasn’t been ruined by becoming too popular.”

According to the American Kennel Club, the borzoi ranked 89 in 2015. The breed’s name was changed to the borzoi in 1936 after being called the Russian wolfhound for many years. The breed is accepted in 18 colors, including black, cream, white and brindle.

The one drawback is that the borzoi requires excessive grooming and brushing. These canines shed lightly throughout the year and heavily during the change of seasons. Teeth should cleaned weekly to prevent harmful bacteria from developing, ears should be cleaned and nails should be trimmed at least per month.

Kelly’s current pride and joy is a litter of delightful borzoi puppies born in late fall. She and fellow sighthound enthusiast Nadia Parker of Rochester are keeping three puppies from a litter of five that the women expect to exhibit at local dog shows and eventually in Canada.

According to the two women, the dog fanciers became good friends while attending dog shows and share a mutual interest in lure coursing.

Parker, who breeds and judges champion Great Danes, is also interested in learning about additional breeds.

Together the two women own American and Canadian Ch. Vondi Darkside of the Brinson Moon, affectionately known as Isis.

The dog was successfully bred last summer by Dr. William Truesdale of Massachusetts using chilled fresh semen and gave birth to five promising puppies early last fall.

According to Kelly, artificial insemination has been practiced for many years, but the ability to freeze semen and chill and ship semen has dramatically increased the ability to perform planned breedings with incredible success. Today it is possible to successfully breed dogs with semen from almost anywhere in the world, thus reducing stress for the dogs and cutting travel costs for the breeder.

Kelly says that one of the joys of being a breeder is watching young puppies mature into sound adults that can bring joy and great pleasure to their owners for many years to come.

Some owners, Kelly says, enjoy competing in lure coursing activities. These agile canines love to run and vent their energy by galloping a few times a week, thus the need for a fenced-in yard.

Experienced borzoi owners agree that that while most borzois don’t usually bark, these dogs aren’t usually good watchdogs. Some males aren’t good with other dogs and need supervision.

Kelly shares that young borzoi puppies need to be socialized to avoid either shyness or aggression. Both Kelly and Parker women attend weekly handling classes at the Wampanoag Kennel Club in Acushnet, and also enjoy attending fun matches and enjoying the sport of purebred dogs.

“Showing a borzoi is not hard to do,” Kelly tells. “This is a graceful breed that floats through the air.”

To learn more about the borzoi, visit the website: www.akc.org. For additional information about exhibiting or training dogs, contact the Wampanoag Kennel Club at (508) 673-3066.