THE BORZOI. 



187 



dog. As a lady's companion he is hard to 

 beat ; indeed, a glance at any show cata- 

 logue will prove that the majority of 

 Borzois are owned by the gentle sex. 

 No one need be deterred from keeping a 

 Borzoi by a remark the writer has heard 

 hundreds of times at shows : " Those 

 dogs are so delicate." This is not the 

 case. Once over distemper troubles and 

 the breed certainly does suffer badly if 

 it contracts the disease the Borzoi is as 

 hardy as most breeds, if not hardier. Given 

 a good dry kennel and plenty of straw, 

 no weather is too cold for them ; in fact, 

 all my own dogs live in cold kennels with 

 open doors the entire winter. Damp, of 

 course, must be avoided, but this applies 

 equally to other breeds. 



The adult hound, like the puppy, should 

 never be kept on chain ; a kennel with a 

 railed-in run should be provided, or a 

 loose box makes a capital place for those 



kept out of doors, otherwise no different 

 treatment is required from that of other 

 large breeds. A dry biscuit in the morning, 

 a good feed at night most Borzois are, 

 for their~size, comparatively small eaters 

 a good grooming daily with an ordinary 

 dandy brush, and plenty of exercise, should 

 suffice to keep any Borzoi in excellent con- 

 dition. A few minutes expended on the 

 dog's coat daily saves much trouble in the 

 long run ; a Borzoi " pays " for a little 

 attention. His beautiful coat shines ; the 

 feathering keeps free from mats, the skin 

 is clean and healthy, and a bath is un- 

 necessary except before shows. One word 

 more : feed, groom, and exercise your 

 purchase yourself, at all events until he 

 thoroughly knows you are his master. A 

 dog arriving at a new home, petted and 

 ordered about by all the inmates of the 

 house, often ends by rendering obedience 

 to none. 



GROUP OF MRS. BORMAN'S BORZOIS. 



