Borzoi beauty, performance and breeding value assessment in Russia

By: Natalia Romanova              May 20, 2023

Comprehensive assessment (valuation) of borzoi in Russia.

Idea of this article came to me observing priorities set in judging and breeding of borzois in Italy and some European countries. First of all, I am very pleased with the fact that the breed has quite many admirers and people genuinely interested in its history, in understanding various breed types, keeping their dogs in good physical condition and giving them opportunities to perform.

At the same time, I believe it might be interesting and beneficial to give information to the fanciers of the Russian Sighthound (Borzoi) about the methodology used for evaluating the breeding stock and working qualities of the dogs that exists in Russia in parallel with the FCI regulations for the dog shows and competitions in coursing (racing).

In the Russian sighthound (borzoi) FCI standard No. 193 / 04.09.2019 in Russian language (country of origin of the breed and the holder of the standard) it is indicated “With working trial”, and in translation into other official languages ​​of FCI, this paragraph has been changed to its opposite meaning: “without working trial”. In my opinion, this is a fundamental moment for understanding the breed, setting priorities while evaluating the exterior of a borzoi in the show ring in regard to its original purpose and functionality.

FCI show regulations are well known, therefore, I will focus only on dog shows and field trial regulations of the RORS (Russian Union of Hunters and Fishmen, hereinafter referred to as the Hunting Union), since it has fundamental differences, in particular, a comprehensive evaluation of dogs by their exterior (conformation), working qualities, origin and descendants (in Russian - bonitirovka). Understanding these rules is important for the judges and breeders who consider the dog shows to be not only a beauty contest and handlers competition, but also as an assessment of the breeding stock.

In Russia dogs of the hunting breeds can participate both in the shows organized according to the FCI (RKF) regulations and in the shows following the Hunting Union regulations. It is considered prestigious among borzoi breeders to have an evaluation from a Hunting Union show, where the assessment is usually more strict.

Historical information about dog shows and stud books.

In the 19th century dog breeding and cynology in Russia were closely associated with hunting with borzois. There was the Imperial Society for Breeding of Game Animals and Proper Hunting, which was engaged not only in compiling hunting regulations, but also in conducting field trials, competitions and dog shows. It was the Imperial Society that organized the first dog show in Russia in December 1874 where only hunting breeds were presented for evaluation by the Judging Commission: 17 packs of borzois, 40 hounds and 39 gun dogs. Since then hunting dog shows were held regularly until the revolution in 1917 and resumed in 1923.

The All-Russian Stud Book of Hunting Dogs (VPKOS) determines the procedure for registering, systematizing, and accounting for the origin of purebred dogs. It has been conducted since the beginning of the 1990-s by the Department of Hunting Dogs Breeding of the Hunting Union (RORS), continuing the recording and numbering of the All-Russian Pedigree and Breeding Book of Hunting Dogs (VRKOS), which was maintained after 1917 by the Vsekohotsoyuz and served as a continuation of the Genealogy Book of the Moscow Hunting Society (RKMOO). In its turn, the genealogical book of the Moscow Hunting Society (RKMOO) was kept from 1890 and was a continuation of the English Stud-Book traditions in Russia.

After 1962, only the dogs with a full four-generation pedigree, an exterior evaluation of at least "good" and a diploma in field trials could be recorded in the All-Russian Pedigree and Breeding Book of Hunting Dogs. For the record, it was necessary to send the Rosokhotrybolovsoyuz a genuine certificate of origin for a hunting dog and a copy taken from it, certified by the organization in which the dog is registered (for a dog imported from abroad, it was also necessary to send a photocopy of the pedigree with which it arrived in the USSR).

If the dog subsequently received more field diplomas, changed its class, or it had a qualified offspring, then all additional information about it should be sent to the Hunting Union to replenish the information in the VRKOS database.

Since the date of its registration in 1996, the Russian Kinological Federation (RKF) is keeping its own stud book for each breed. Before that the clubs and regional cynological organizations kept their own stud books and issued pedigrees, there was no single database. In 1999, the RKF became an associate member of the FCI, and since 2002, only the RKF, and not its member organizations, has the exclusive right to issue pedigrees. Since 2003, the RKF has become a full member of the FCI and is guided by its main provisions in the organization of dog shows and breeding.

Abstracts from dog show regulations of the Hunting Union (RORS)

Dog shows in accordance with the regulations of the Hunting Union (RORS) are carried out in order to:

a) determine the quality and assess the hunting dogs by compliance to the breed standard, type of constitution and exterior;

b) monitor inherited traits in young dogs and take this information into account when making mating plans and further use of breeding dogs;

c) demonstrate achievements and promote purebred hunting dogs;

d) identify the best dogs in terms of breed type, type of constitution and exterior and determine, by the quality of the progeny, the correctness of their selection according to the exterior;

e) encourage the owners of the best breeding dogs.

Examination of the dogs is done in the movement (walking, trotting) and standing. Judging is carried out during daylight hours outdoors in any weather. Dog evaluation (judging) under artificial lighting is not allowed.

While conducting an examination of dogs in the conformation ring, a judge takes into consideration both features that are closely related to the constitution and physical development, and specific characteristics of each breed. The dog in the ring should be considered as a whole, with all his qualities, failings or faults, , and not regarded by separate, isolated positive or negative features.

Dogs from 10 months to 10 years old and puppies from 4 to 10 months old are allowed to enter the show and are divided into the following age groups:

a) young - from 10 months to 1.5 years;

b) intermediate - from 1.5 to 3 years;

c) adult - from 3 to 10 years.

Depending on the qualities of the conformation and constitution the dogs in the conformation ring are awarded the following marks: “excellent”, “very good”, “good”, “satisfactory”. In the younger age group, the mark "excellent" is not awarded, “very good” is the highest one. Puppies under 10 months of age do not receive conformation ratings. They are reviewed by a judge by the litters and individually. The expert in the report gives an opinion on the compliance to the breed standard of a puppy, its development, as well as the expediency or inexpediency of repeating the mating from which these puppies were born.

At the end of the examination in the exterior evaluation ring, the judge proceeds to a comprehensive evaluation of the dogs (Annex 2) and determination of their breeding class and ordinal places in the class based on the data of evaluation sheets, submitted certificates and other documents, in accordance with the rules of exhibitions (Annex 1).

Borzoi breeding classes

A comprehensive evaluation of the dogs is made up of assessments for the following indicators:

a) origin

b) hunting qualities

c) conformation (breed type, constitution and exterior)

d) offsprings

Dogs of the younger, middle and older age groups that possess field trial diplomas recognized by the Hunting Union and receive at this very show a mark of at least “good” are subject to a comprehensive evaluation (bonitirovka).

Prior to the show, preliminary data is filled in the evaluation sheet (see Appendix) for each dog entered in the following sections: 1 - general information, 2 - origin, 3 - list of qualified descendants of the dog.

In the conformation ring the show judge checks the data of the evaluation sheet and fills in the next sections for dog’s constitution and conformation in accordance with the assessment received at this show.

a) Evaluation by origin is made on the basis of the dog's pedigree, confirming its origin and the presence of ancestors of four generations (parents, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, great-great-grandfathers) as well as the field and conformation assessment of the parents.

A dog can get maximum 20 points for the ancestors based on: a) the presence of parents (father and mother) 1 point for each (1X2) = 2 points; b) if the parents have an assessment for the exterior obtained at the events of RORS with a mark not lower than “good”, two points are added for each parent (2X2) = 4 points; c) if the parents have a field trial diploma obtained at the events of RORS or recognized by it, 2 points are added for each (2X2) = 4 points. Total maximum for the parents (2X5) = 10 points; d) in the presence of grandfathers and grandmothers, 1 point is awarded for each (1X4) = 4 points; e) in the presence of great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers, 0.5 points is awarded for each (0.5X8) = 4 points; f) in the presence of great-great-grandparents and great-great-grandmothers, 0.125 points each (0.125X 16) = 2 points. In the absence of one of the ancestors, the other ancestor of this pair is not considered and not counted.

For a dog of a foreign origin, only the first-generation ancestors are taken into account with available conformation and hunting qualities assessments according to the table “Designations of field tests of hunting dogs conducted in FCI organizations” and equated to the presence of a field trial diploma for the ancestors of the first generation of the pedigree (parents).

b) When evaluating hunting qualities, only two field trials diplomas of the highest grade are considered - the main and additional one.

The points are defined depending on the grade of the field trials diploma. They are set for the main diploma: a) FIRST grade (the highest) - 40 points; b) SECOND grade - 35 points; c) THIRD grade - 30 points. For the sighthounds performed trials in pairs and packs, the points for the main diploma received in the group test are counted in full, as in individual test. An additional diploma is any other diploma of the highest grade received by the dog and the points are counted regardless of whether it was received alone, in a pair or pack, and is set as: for the first grade - 10 points; for the second grade - 8 points; for the third grade - 5 points.

c) The points for conformation are given based on the mark obtained by the dog only at this show. The following points are awarded for the marks obtained: 1. "EXCELLENT" - 40 points; 2. "VERY GOOD" - 30 points; 3. "GOOD" - 20 points.

Example. A dog has one diploma of grade I, two diplomas of grade III and one diploma of grade II. His main diploma will be counted grade I (the highest) and gives him 40 points; the additional diploma we choose the highest among the remaining - grade II, which gives him 8 points more, others are not counted. In this case a dog gets 48 points for the hunting qualities.

In accordance with the table of minimum requirements for determining the class (Appendix No. 1), dogs are divided into four breeding classes: “class“ ELITE ”,“ FIRST breeding class ”,“ SECOND breeding class ”,“ THIRD breeding (reserve) class". Determination of the breeding class is made by the judge in the ring. For the dogs passing to the "ELITE" and "FIRST" classes, an entry in the All-Russian Stud Book of Hunting Dogs (VPKOS) is required. The place of each dog in each class is determined in accordance with the total score for the comprehensive evaluation. The dogs with the breeding documents (pedigrees) issued by the countries with organizations having cooperation agreement, the registration in the national studbook is considered.

The dog evaluated with highest total score as a result of the comprehensive evaluation takes the upper place in the breeding class. If the total scores are equal, the question of the dog's place in the class is decided depending on the scores in four sections of the comprehensive evaluation in the following sequence: 1) by offspring; 2) by hunting qualities; 3) by conformation; 4) by origin. If all these indicators are equal, the dog that takes the best place in the conformation ring at this show has the advantage.

d) When evaluating dogs by offsprings, only their direct descendants (children) who have a field trials diploma and a conformation mark of at least “GOOD” are taken into account and evaluated. Only six best descendants are considered (maximum - 36 points). For each such offspring, both male and female, points are counted according to the following table: 

With a "SATISFACTORY" mark, no points are awarded and points for the hunting qualities of the offspring are not considered.

Rules for field trials (testing of hunting performance of borzois on a free prey) 

- Field trials of sighthounds are carried out on an adult hare or on a fox living in a wild. (Comment: no captured or domestic animals can be used or released in the field trials).

Trials are carried out mainly between October 1 and December 1, depending on local conditions.

Each dog that passes the performance test in the trials receives individual rating (score list). Two or three dogs (pair or pack) belonging to the same owner can also receive a group performance evaluation as well as the individual one, if they are kept on the same leash (rope) during the trials and released simultaneously.

Dogs are not judged and dismissed from the trials in the following cases:

- The dogs are launched on the prey that has risen against the neighbour pack of dogs.

Example. The owners with the dogs are moving in a line with 25-30 m between the groups (a group is the owner with 2 or 3 dogs on a rope). According to the field trials regulations, the owner can release (launch) his dogs from the rope if a hare appears in a corridor straight ahead of him and to the right till the next group, at the distance from 25 to 100 m. If the hare appears on the left side, the hunter must hold his dogs, because the owner of the pack to his left has the right to release the dogs. Only one pair (2 dogs) or pack (3 dogs) is allowed to follow the hare, all other owners are holding their dogs. If by chance someone's dogs got loose and join the pursuit with another pack, their owner is dismissed from the trials.  If a hare appears closer than 25 m, the owner must hold the dogs to give the hare time to run away to the distance at least 25 m. As the hare is wild and field trials take place in a natural way, no one knows when and where a hare might appear. The hunters use the verb "rise" about the hare because usually it is laying in the field and rises once hear a sound of approaching people and dogs.

- Dogs are released on a young (baby) animal (less than 2 kg weight) or at a distance closer than 25 meters.

- The dogs returned from the pursuit of the prey, leaving it in sight, having galloped no more than 200 m.

- The hunter (handler) deliberately did not let the dogs follow the prey that appeared within the limits established for distance test (up to 100 m).

Example.  Again here we mean the suddenly appearing hare. Some owners do not release their dogs if the hare appeared too far - 70 and more meters, because the chances of the dogs to get closer or to catch it are very small. This can be penalized, because the owner must release the dogs up to 100 m distance to the hare.

- Dogs attack domestic animals.

A dog tearing a caught prey is not awarded diplomas.

Hunting qualities demonstrated at the field trials are estimated according to the following table of maximum points

Field trials diplomas are awarded to borzois in case a dog gets the following minimal number of points by each key performance element.

To conclude, I believe that the objective of the breeders is to preserve and pass to the next generation the breed as an asset, maintaining its general appearance linked to the original function, qualities, breed specific temperament and movement. Show judges ideally should not only know the breed standard, but also understand how the dog is working, visit few competitions or trials for the working and hunting breeds.  Individual perception of “beauty” only or even a preferred colour of a dog by a breeder or a judge while evaluating a sighthound might lead to serious changes in the dogs’ conformation and seeing among the winners the dogs not able to perform the breed specific function due to the morphological changes. For example, too heavy, low on the legs borzois with a straight top line or vertical set of a neck won’t perform well in the field, excessive coat concealing the dog’s outline is not typical neither. Some borzoi breed clubs in FCI countries have a requirement to get a working diploma or at least a coursing/racing license for a borzoi to get a Club Champion title (in Russia it is required to get a diploma from the national coursing or racing competitions).  In my opinion, it is a good practice and a recommendation to the breeders to pay attention to the performance qualities of the dogs used in breeding.

Download Annex 1, PDF 

Download Annex 2, PDF