The Borzoi, better known as the Russian Wolfhound prior to 1936, is a gaze hound that is noted for its speed, courage, agility and the ability to outrun and then hold its prey. They boast a very calm temperament that has traditionally made them as much at home in the house as in the field. Borzoi have been bred by the Russian aristocracy for hundreds of years and can be traced back to the Mongol rulers including Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Their use in hunting as a sport grew to national importance by the mid-eighteen hundreds. These dogs were bred on a such a grand scale that their owners would sometimes, to give a festive appearance to these grand hunts, use a hundred dogs, often colored to match his horses and with bridle and leashes all coordinated. The dogs were taken to an area where there were known wolves. They would then chase and hold the wolf with the dogs in a circle. When the hunters arrived, they would grab and bind the wolf which was not killed, but rather taken to another area and released far from the area where they could cause damage to farms. Tolstoy described this in War and Peace. They got a foothold in America at the beginning of the 20th century and have continued to have a faithful following.
If you'd like to knit the Borzoi design, you may order the pattern by going to http://www.kanineknits.com/kanine_knits_knitting_patterns.htm
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