The favorite sport of seventeenth century Russian nobility was coursing or hunting deer, foxes, hares, and wolves. The wolf was considered the prized catch, and the hounds used in this quarry had to be swift, powerful, and courageous. One of the most ardent and well known of the Russian nobility to maintain vast kennels of Borzoi was The Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaivitch, who in 1817 purchased the famous Perchina Borzoi.

The Grand Duke maintained as many as 150 to 160 Borzoi in his kennels at one time. When hunting, the dogs went together, three on a leash, matched in size and color, two dogs and one bitch. When the quarry was sighted, the hounds were released to give chase. Two of the trio would overtake the wolf and pin him to the ground by securing a firm grip behind the wolf's ears with their powerful jaws. The third Borzoi would hold the wolf by the throat until the hunter on horseback rode up and pinioned the wolf. The best wolves caught in this manner were kept for training the young hounds in the art of the chase. Because of their extreme swiftness, agility, courage, and ability to sight, catch, and hold their prey, these hounds were a highly cherished possession. It was considered disgraceful to sell Borzoi, but they were occasionally presented as gifts to other members of the nobility. Nicholas II of Russia made such a presentation to England's Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra) in 1895.

As early as 1860, British royalty, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Newcastle, bred and exhibited Borzoi that had been presented to them by Russian nobility. After the Russian Revolution, the large estates and kennels were forced to abandon their beautiful hounds, and many of them found their way to England and other European countries. In 1892 the Borzoi Club of England was founded. And in 1890, William Wade of hulton, imported the first Borzoi to the United States. Later, in the early 1890's, several of the breed were imported directly from Russia, whose hounds came from the famous Perchina and Woronzova kennels. In 1893, the American Kennel Club had a total registration of eight Russian Wolfhounds. Several enthusiastic breeders formed a club in 1903 known a s the Russian Wolfhound Club of America. This club developed a standard of quality and perfection used by all the breeders, judges, and show committees of the early 1900's. In 1936, the breed name was officially changed to "Borzoi", making it conform with the name used by European kennel clubs.

Excerpt from "How to Raise and Train a Borzoi" by Gail C.McRae