Being Borzoi
No matter what the breed,
when one picks up a book about purebred dogs, the pattern is
pretty much the same. There is a section on breed history
(accuracy is optional); the delightful characteristics of the
breed (unlike any other breed); how to raise the critter from a
puppy to a vigorous adult; grooming requirements and associated
equipment; training tips and associated equipment; dietary and
health needs; and a description of all the fun events one can
compete in with said purebred dog if one is so inclined. After
having read the book, the reader is, however, left in a quandary
about what life with the subject breed is really like.
When a group of Borzoi owners who collectively call themselves Zoistory produced Being Borzoi, they broke the stereotypical mold of dog breed books. After reading Being Borzoi one has a very good understanding of life with these dramatic sighthounds and why their people who are so devoted to them.
The book is a compilation of very personal stories from Borzoi companions that cover the entire gamut of life with these hounds. Through short vignettes, Borzoi people describe the personal highs and lows, happy times and sad, which accompany living with beloved dogs. Some came to the breed after seeing them in a book or magazine, at a dog show or in a vodka ad. For some, to eventually share their life with these amazing hounds was a dream come true. For one, a starving, abandoned bitch found lying in the weeds would be the key to a whole new world.
Because Being Borzoi is comprised entirely of brief stories told by individual owners, there is no plot to follow; no cast of characters to track. This also accounts for a variety of writing styles. It is a book that one can pick up, read for a while, and not have to worry about remembering where one left off. Rather than randomly compiling the brief narratives, Zoistory has arranged the entries according to themes with each topic area having its own descriptive chapter heading. This gives a rational flow to the book.
The photos, manipulated to look like black and white watercolor reproductions, may be the weakest element of the entire book. But since they are ancillary anyway, they shouldn't be considered a detractor. This is not a coffee table book with dramatic photos, tacky captions, and not guts. Rather, it’s a gutsy book with a lot to say about a breed of hound that is often viewed as aloof by the uninitiated.
Those who already share their lives with Borzoi will relate to many of the contributors and their stories. They will both feel and understand the joys and sorrows expressed in this book.
Those who have not experienced life with such a unique hound will come to see the Borzoi as an intelligent, multi-faceted being capable of stealing one’s heart. These people will know, after reading Being Borzoi, what sharing life with a Borzoi is really like.
Pam White