Motto of the Majove Bohemia breed (by Marie Veselá):
„Borzoi is not just ever-lasting love, it is more like a PASSION!“
/click on dog name to see pics
Story of the Majove Bohemia breed
All pics from this site can be published only with link to http://borzoimajovebohemia.wz.cz
The beginning of my admiration and life-long love for borzois dates 40 years back. Perhaps it was meant that as a schoolgirl of the basic school fourth grade in České Budějovice I went for a school trip to the Prague Castle. When the tour was almost over and our class was leaving the ward, I spotted a young couple coming from the Golden Lane with a beautiful black-white borzoi on a leash. I held my breath then, as there was SOMETHING MESMERIZING, GIGANTIC and ELEGANT approaching me. Like in trans I broke up from my classmates and spoke to the dog’s owner. I questioned them for a while and I remember they were astonished that, as young as I was, I could tell the dog’s race.
That was the decisive moment and I started to systematically prepare my parents that I was going to get a dog. They radically refused to keep any dog in an apartment house, not to mention a dog like the borzoi. My argument was that we spend weekends in a country house in Purkarec, 20 km far from České Budějovice anyway, and I insisted. I was a subscriber to the “Kynologie”, the only cynologic magazine in that time (later “Pes přítel člověka”). I read anything I could find, I even studied any available material in the Scientific Library.
Another important moment was the Regional Dog Exhibition in České Budějovice, where I went with the whole family. Only one borzoi was present then, called Grand z Moskevského chovu, a beautiful white-golden animal (we can see him in the movie „Drahé tety a já“ as a young dog). It was partly thanks to the Grand’s owners that my parents finally gave in and I could answer advertisement published in magazines in the past years. I contacted the kennels „Jivita“ of Mrs Vitanovská from Pyšely near Prague, „Z Neuštejna“ of Mrs MUDr. Pacltová from Nymburk, „Z Larišova“ of Mrs Píchovcová from Most and „Z Moskevského chovu“ of Mr Pařík from Slaný. It might have been that some breeders thought I was too young or perhaps the demand was higher then the offer, but I didn’t get any puppy that time. There were only a few breeding animals at that time and the selection process was very strict. Only full-toothed animals were used for covering and a small build and slightness were fought. Such animals were excluded from breeding without mercy.
While I was waiting for the puppy I got ill. The diagnosis was hard – a tumour on my shank, and the doctor’s verdict was: I need an operation. My parents were completely broken and to prove how much they love me they were willing to do anything for me. I had the operation done, stayed in hospital and was in for a year of walking with crutches. In April 1969 I got the so expected letter from Mr Pařík from Slaný! I still know the letter by heart. The connection between Fellow Jivita and Felicie z Moskevského chovu led to birth of 6 puppies and I could come and pick one. And I could pick not just the puppy, but also its name! The male puppies’ names were Jou, Jim and Johny and female puppies Janeta, Jessie and Jackelina. When the dogs were three weeks old I took my crutches and went to Slaný to pick the future member of our family.
At Pařík’s I met old Legina z Moskvy and Grif Kaloringer von Wienerwald at first. Today this is a legendary couple whose name can be found among ancestors of many borzois in Europe. After Grifo stopped to be bread here, he fundamentally influenced also the borzoi breed in Russia, then eight-year old dog, where he was taken for the rest of his life. Grifo led the lines of Springinsfeld, Bergland, Waldeck, Krasnoje Selo and Bismarcktum. This connection gave also birth to the mother of my future puppy Felicie z Moskevského chovu. The father was Fellow Jivita, who led the lines of Kaiserpfalz (Endo and Amur), Wergei (Xakor, Xilla, Utka, Eljana and Rosenburg )(Achil).
The first time I saw the puppies I could not understand how this tiny creature, looking like an utmost mixture, can grow up to be THE BORZOI. What about the long legs and head? Mr Pařík took the mother, Felicie, away and I could finally have a look at the puppies. They were tipping over and lying around, but one boy was just sitting there and watching me. I cuddled this one in my arms saying: „This one is mine!“ And three weeks later he really was mine! On 5th May 1969 I became the owner of this beautiful and proud dog called Johny z Moskevského chovu. I was really lucky as he grew up to become a top representative of his race. He was 86 cm high, with breathtaking coat and glorious head. He successfully represented our breed within the country and abroad as well. The judgements at exhibitions were short and apt: „Typical standard dog in all aspects, without defects and imperfections“.
As for the borzoi type in my breed, another decisive factor was the Dog Exhibition in Brno. Johny was just a few months old when I went to this exhibition. What I saw there and then left a life-long impression in me. In a healthy way, I was envious of the Dutch kennel Vorenoff Natascha and Nicolai. I promised myself I have to reach something similar. The image was clear – old Pershino type, but in distinctive deep colours, and best of all – in black colour. I started to apply my own classification of borzois, which recognised two types, working and noble...
I am not going to write about my life with Johny here, as the story would be a topic for a whole book. Johny was my first, unforgettable borzoi. The champion at exhibitions, racing competitor by body and soul, borzoi with the exam for working dogs ZVV1, borzoi who used to pick newspapers at the local agency and carry full shopping bags in his mouth. At exhibitions he would open his maw when ordered and show his teeth to the judges. I learnt to walk again, and later he would be my companion when I was cycling to keep healthy and I owe it to him that after the successful operation my leg healed again (many times I had to cure his torn paws).
During John’s ten-year life I not only got healthy again, but I managed to get training, study high school, pass the leaving exams, get married, move from České Budějovice to Planá nad Lužnicí and have a family. When in April 1977 I was in maternity hospital with my first daughter Ilonka, the magazine “Pes přítel člověka” was just issued, and on its title page, there was – MY JOHNY! Again, my destiny not to ever live without borzoi, was decided.
From the connection between Agina Skara and Johny z Moskevského chovu I kept his daughter Agina Frajan CS. It was a beautiful bitch, but unfortunately she died when only 8 months old (chicken bone in bowls, taken out too late). I used to have great plans with Agina Frajan, but all of them broke down as a house of cards upon her death. At that time another litter of puppies was born in the kennel Frajan, (Johny was not no longer alive). On my recommendation, Agina Skara was covered by Delon z Larišova of Mr Hrabal. Delon’s lines were very similar - father Fill z Moskevského chovu (Felicia’s brother). The “B” litter was not only the last litter from this kennel, but also the last litter from Delon (one of the John’s biggest competitors).
One day after Agina Frajan died, me and my husband went to Soběslav to Mr Janeš and from the “B” litter of Frajan I took a two-month old dog Ben Frajan CS.. Ben was my second, and again, a very special dog. When he was just a puppy, I thought his head is a bit heavier, just like his father’s head. Again, my wishes came true and the history repeated itself. The puppy’s a bit massive head grew into an amazing long shape and Ben was not only a champion, but also a racing champion. At the breed judging meeting his height was 84,5 cm. His deep black eyes ideally set in the gorgeous head were the base of my starting breed.
I have always used only full-toothed animals for my breeding. The dogs had to be above 82 cm high and bitches above 74 cm. It was clear to me that I cannot breed a quality borzoi with a small, tiny bitch!!! I also emphasised the character and controllability. I managed to buy a three-year old bitch from the first litter of Adéla Frajan. From a friend I got a scarlet bitch called Anetta ze Sklepního Vrchu, and from the connection between Abba Carclei CS x Ben Frajan CS I finally got a black bitch called Borjana z Plzeňského chovu CS.
In 19.. a disaster happened – mass poisoning in my promising breeding. Until today I don’t know what a human beast was able to perpetrate something like that. The first to pass away was my first „black wonder“ – young, not even two-year old Borjana z Plzeňského chovu (Boruška), leaving us 14 days before the world exhibition for which she had been registered, and another two very promising seven-month old bitches from my breeding Irga and Inga. Despite all the treatment and care, within half a year after the poisoning, Aneta ze Sklepního vrchu CS and shortly after her Ben Frajan CS died as a consequence of that poisoning too.
The club allowed and enabled me to breed on a nine-year old bitch called ABBA Carclei, borrowed by Mr Bergl from Plzeň. Abba was covered by Ben, in his declining years, and I kept two bitches for my breeding from this connection: Kira and Kama Majove CS. Bitches from my breeding or granddaughters of my dogs were again of very good qualities. Tall, hulking yet elegant, exemplary mothers. In my breeding I used an imported bitch called Olika Majakovna de Princes de Kazan - litter J with Ejon Majove CS and litter N with Finist Majove CS.
Only later from the connection Kira Majove CS x Salavat I kept a dog from my breeding Rym Majove CS and his sister Riga Majove. Rym best complied with my requirements for the exterior, character, shape of the head, coat and colour. He was 85 cm high (again the height was measured during the breeding judging meeting) and as for the black colour he had at least black plates! Shortly after he was two years old he became the champion, and being the third male borzoi in my possession I kept saying to myself: „Such an animal can be found once in a lifetime and I was so lucky as to have a third one in line!”
In the next breeding I followed with an imported bitch from Slovakia, called Asenica Kyjevská. (Nata Majove CS X Brik Margitin dvor). Asenica raised four litters of a very good quality with Rym ( U, V, W, X). I kept Uslada Majove CS and Wasa Majove CS from this connection.
When even Rym left for the dog’s heaven and I stayed only with bitches, I decided that my fourth dog must be full-black and nothing else. By happenchance in that time Ingrid Seitter from Germany came to see my borzois and she brought with her a seven-month old fully black Andrej Tssorny Andrejaschka. I fell in love with him instantly and Ingrid fell in love with my Riga, Rym’s sister. The result was Ingrid left with a puppy – bitch from Riga called Yubiley, and I kept her sister Yaschima (Riga x Vronskij) and in return I became a co-owner of Andrej. I passed several exhibitions with him here and in Slovakia and I made him a breeding animal. Originally I wanted Riga to be covered by Andrej, but after her cesarean done for her first puppies (litter Y), she wasn’t gravid again and Yaschima (Riga’s daughter), whom I kept for exhibitions and breeding ceased to be on heat three times in line when Andrej came. When Andrej stayed with us long time (all year long), she wasn’t on heat at all during the whole time. And so I left Andrej to cover Wasa Majove CS (daughter of Rym x Asenica).
The first litter surprised me though.. All the time I was looking forward to having a fully black dog for myself. But there wasn’t a single black puppy in the litter, genetics and calculations came out completely different. However, I didn’t give up and repeated this connection the very next year – litter A Majove Bohemia. This litter was successful as for the quality and colours, nevertheless there was no fully black dog in it again. I kept two bitches from that litter for further breeding, they were black Andrejka Majove Bohemia and grey Andromedu Majove Bohemia. Both bitches are top unique dogs and I use both of them in my breeding until today. I went for the connection Andrej x Wasa four times in total, with the aim to finally get a fully black dog. It didn’t come off - Wasa had only bitches in her next litters (B and C).
And then there was the first, very expected breeding with Andrejka. I chose her a fully grey dog from France, whose mother was fully black.. The covering took place at the frontier crossing, and it caused such an outrage that we were nearly deported from Germany :) Andrejka give birth on 20th January, 2003, and the litter included my black wonder, awaited for such a long time! I named him Daimon and secretly hoped he will be another Chack Belaja – the legendary fully black dog from the beginning of the 20th century.
Daimon aroused a great deal of interest as soon as he was born, but would you sell something you have been waiting all your life for?! In two cases even, the taking of a bitch from this litter was conditioned by taking Daimon at the same time. As he was growing I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Inside me I kept questioning me how I deserve something like that. Daimon is my fourth dog in line, and so far the best one. In the shortest period possible he became the Interchampion (in the course of 13 months), being just three years old!!! What more, he was the first black Interchampion in the history. Just as Chack Belaja at his times, DAIMON too won his admirers just as his protesters. But he cannot be denied one thing: anywhere he appears he causes a deserved and unforgettable sensation and admiration, and accompanied by his mother Andrejka or his offspring, this impression is even enhanced. I know this is the same as many years ago when I was taken aback and amazed in the same way, looking at a couple of black borzois from the kennel Vorenoff. The proof can be a statement by one breeder from the States, who flew over to see the world’s dog exhibition in Poznan, and who said, besides others, that he had no idea there is SOMETHING SO unique in Europe. In Poznan Daimon only got an excellent without ranking, but besides the round there was an unofficial, new close judgement of Daimon by recognised breeders, including his presentation. What I heard out in there kept bringing tears of HAPPINESS in my eyes and I appreciate it more than any awards.
I wish to thank to everybody who appreciates my long-time work.
Marie Veselá, January 2007
