Sighthounds are wicked fast, and some have a last minute burst of speed, an “extra gear,” if you will. In Borzoi, this surge of speed has a name: Brossok, which means “fling.” It’s displayed when a Borzoi get this close to its prey and uses his or her own body weight to take down the prey. Old Russian breeders felt that “brossok” was unique to the breed, something they described it as a “bullet leaving a gun.” Old world breeders who’ve witnessed it felt privileged to have seen “brossok,” and some felt that if a dog couldn’t display it, it wasn’t a real Borzoi.
“Brossok’ was regarded as a behavioral, functional trait, and certainly not a trait that can be determined in a show ring because it comes when a dog is close to game and tries to keep the prey from making a turn. It’s an adaptation for hare coursing because rabbits and hares are famous for making darting turns to avoid capture.
“Borzois Running” by Oksana Kravchenko is available here
This is brossock!
Wow. Leigh, we’ve been advised that it’s not unique to Borzoi, and is seen in most sighthounds. Your thoughts?
I don’t think it is unique only to Borzoi and not all Borzoi have it.
I saw it once in a greyhound at the 1997 ASFA International Invitational. I wish I had a video. The dog was flying and found another gear. His feet barely touched the ground. It was beyond impressive.
I saw it once in a greyhound at the 1997 ASFA International Invitational in Pescadero. It was breathtaking!
We wish we’d seen it, Elaine. Goosebumps!!
A video is needed to show brossock. It’s the engine blast that surprises you because you think they are going as fast as they can already!
Cindi, you find that video, and we promise to build a post around it!
Do you know who painted the Borzoi image in the article?
Bonnie, “Borzois Running” was painted by Oksana Kravchenko. Credits and links back to the artist always appear in every post….
The great lure operators in coursing talk about it, and many seem to think that it’s much more common in borzoi than the other breeds. A borzoi will be “cruising” behind the lure, then suddenly add a burst of speed to make a take – taking the lure operator completely by surprise (and usually succeeding).
I’ve seen it in the field, and also when my borzoi are playing. Incredible.
Now THIS we’d love to see, Rita. It sounds so very cool to witness!
It’s like having a nitro switch on your car – and it’s an amazing thing to witness in a Borzoi.
We’d give anything to see it, R. Lynn!