Captain E. J. Smith, who piloted the ill-fated Titanic on her maiden voyage, decided not to bring his dog, Ben, to accompany him on that trip, so the white male Borzoi was not lost at sea with his master.

The elegant breed, long known as the Russian Wolfhound, has been associated with luxury and opulence, from the Tsars of White Russia to stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The Borzoi has graced palaces, royal hunting lodges and fur decked sleighs as well as fantastical mansions and leather decked Duesenbergs.

The name “Borzoi” is a misconstruction from the Russian “Borzaya,” meaning “quick dog.” The dog we call Borzoi today is, really, the Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya -- Russian Longhaired Quick Dog, “psovaya” meaning “long haired.” The short haired version, relatively unknown on the North American continent, is the Hortaya (short haired) Borzaya. The sighthound from the Steppes is the Stepnaya Borzaya, or Stepnoi, and the breed found in the Crimea the Krimskaya Borzaya, Krimskoi.

For many generations, the Borzaya was relatively free of congenital diseases and conditions, including the OCD and hip and elbow displasia so common in other large breeds, perhaps because of the breeding practices of the old Russian dog kennel masters. Before dogs were allowed to be bred, they had to be proven. Lure coursing was the method of choice, sometimes sending the dogs after rabbits or other small game, but preferably proving them by sending them in twos or threes after a wolf. The dogs would run the wolf down, grabbing it by the neck and holding it down until the master could get there and finish the hunt. Unsound dogs couldn't pass that kind of test and their genes did not get passed on.

Bloat, or gastric torsion, is the most common fatal ailment in the breed, as it is in so many of the deep chested dogs. Modern breeding practices since the 1970s have made a difference, however, and some cancers and cardiac conditions are now among the more common causes of death and there is argument about retinopathy and whether or not a form of it is becoming associated with the breed.

For a time, the Psovaya Borzaya was viewed as the dog of the privileged class in Russia; for hundreds of years the only way to obtain one was as a gift from the Tsar! When revolution came in 1917, the Psovaya suffered along with their noble masters as many revolutionaries hated the breed as a representation of their oppressors and killed them as they swept through the manors. What saved the Psovaya were the numbers of them kept safe out in the countryside, away from the violence of the cities.

Some canine “IQ” standards rank the Borzaya among the least intelligent of the breeds, notably the Coren method, which measures intelligence on the scales of working/ obedience and ranks them 75th out of 78 breeds. This is a breed that is easily bored with repetitive tasks and training and while some do well in competitive obedience and agility, that's not the Borzaya's forte. To keep their interest you have to keep things interesting and offer them a challenge. Harsh treatment and corrections, such as shock collars, only shut these dogs down and cost you their trust. Positive reinforcement and varying training situations help keep their attention, and best showcase their true talents. When approached with positive, interesting training, these dogs can surprise even the most experienced owner with their quickness at learning new tasks and retaining the lessons, as well as applying what they've learned to new situations. Borzaya are even being trained successfully as service dogs, and their quiet, gentle natures make them admirable companion animals.

What attracts most people, initially, is their graceful beauty, whether in motion or draped in regal deshabille across a sofa. This breed inspired artists and craftsmen of the Art Deco period and their likenesses abound in sculpture and paintings. They were a favorite of Louis Icart; he made them the recognized icons of an era -- a golden age of elegance.