This article was written a few years ago but my point of view is still the same.
Russian sighthounds have been with us since 2002, but it wasn’t until dog exhibitions that the number and quality of our dogs changed. This was also motivated by our growing fascination with these breeds. The number of dogs certainly was a key factor in our move from the city to the country. We wanted our sighthounds and huskies to have space and plenty of exercise. It was in Biskupice that we found a place where our kennel could develop and our dogs could realize their potential. Our plans and dreams are focused on spending more and more time right here with our four-legged friends. The idea behind the Dog Sports Centre is to break out of day-to-day routine and to fulfil dogs’ potential.
As the borzoi breed comes from Russia my attention was naturally drawn to this country when I wanted to find and add to my kennel the things that I love about borzoi the most: the amazing and graceful way they move, their beautiful colour, impressive height and absolutely aristocratic shape of the head. There are no ideal dogs that combine all the features and at the same time match the model dog described in the standard. What I try to do in my kennel is to retain these dog features that I like and which fit in with my idea of a perfect borzoi. This is what I am trying to find in each litter of my Russian sighthounds, which I keep for quite a long time so that I can see the puppies grow. This is what is important for future generations of my dogs. There are features that we can change with one mating, but others may take years and generations to eliminate. This is the reason why I decided not to use some of the dogs we bought for our kennel. It is easier and much healthier for future generations simply to find a better dam or sire, as in effect we will get beautiful and healthy dogs.
Even though our kennel does not have several decades of tradition, the effects of our work are visible, not only here in Poland. Many titles of Club Winners, Champions and International Champions, Winners of Exhibition Ranking Lists or titles of Coursing or Racing Champions of Poland are also a result of the work put in by owners of dogs from our kennel. The success is born out of the passion we put into our actions. Continuous observation of our dogs as they grow up helps us to guide them in such a way that their potential can be awakened and realized to the satisfaction of future owners.
We like dog exhibitions and we enjoy dog competitions, because they are actually the second measure of the standard of the dog and the kennel (besides the breed standard). I’m not talking about one or two exhibitions, as they may not be reliable. But several seasons is enough to draw conclusions. We show our dogs in many countries and we try to take part in the most important cynology events, such as European or World Dog Shows, congresses and courses.
Our kennel with Russian sighthounds is not focused on breeding dogs for exhibitions or races, because we have only one standard, and the dog’s use and racing possibilities should build on the dog’s appearance and mind. No one intended to split one breed into two, but unfortunately it did happen. More and more often at exhibitions we can see dogs with diametrically different proportions than they should have, lacking balance and smooth movement. Our objective was not to breed and sell champions. What we want for our dogs is health and happiness. What we want for owners is to know the breed that they have just acquired.
All puppies are beautiful. Yet I don’t want this to become a priority when choosing a dog. We are here to answer every single question of future owners, to advise them on the choice of a dog, because we have watched the puppies since the day they were born, we have watched them grow and we are able to judge their temperament, which is crucial if the future dog-master relationship is to be satisfying for both sides. We are with our dogs every day until the moment they leave the kennel. We know them and we can help choose the perfect one, with a personality matching that of the future owner.
We also see how a dog is developing, we can compare and forecast their height and colour, and we can choose which dog will be perfect for your couch, for coursing or for shows. Quite often the puppies from our kennel have already shown their qualities during exhibitions. They are all vaccinated, dewormed and have a tattoo or a chip. We ask every new owner to send us pictures and stay in touch until the dog’s growth is completed. We want to make sure, for example, that teeth replacement goes as it should. We are excited about every message we receive from new houses of our puppies and every single year we look forward to the fantastic celebration that is the meeting of the owners of Russian sighthounds from Jurajskie Biskupice.
