The Gustopsowaya Borzoi
From July 15 - 1992 till July 15 -2002 I was part of the extended Gustopsowaya family as I lived less than 1/2 km from "the house with the Borzoi" in those years. I had fallen for the breed in 1966 when I saw the sign of a well known shoe brand, It was a Borzoi in full, extended, gallop and it literally took my breath away. That moment I decided I would have such a magnificent dog, later, when I would be grown up ;-) In 1990 I was ready for a Borzoi but finding one was less easy. I visited several breeders but only when I met Gré Roos of Gustopsowaya Borzoi I knew I had found the right person. Gré was a very critical breeder, she wanted to know me much better before entrusting me with a puppy so I spend many hours with her, walking the dogs, helping to care for them, coming along to (nearby) shows. The end of september she told me her white US import (Pagerr Snow Dancer) had been mated to the bitch of a friend and puppies were on their way. The litter was born Oct.1, together we went for a visit and Gré allowed me to choose the studfee puppy, a red spotted on white cutie, Carina (it was the C-litter).
And so I shared in the joys as well as the sorrows of breeding, joys when dogs did well on shows, puppies were born healthy but sorrows when a dog had to be put to sleep.....and ultimately when Gré herself, confronted with a rapidly decling health due to ovary cancer, decided she wanted the same as for her dogs: a dignified end to her life.....
And so I shared in the joys as well as the sorrows of breeding, joys when dogs did well on shows, puppies were born healthy but sorrows when a dog had to be put to sleep.....and ultimately when Gré herself, confronted with a rapidly decling health due to ovary cancer, decided she wanted the same as for her dogs: a dignified end to her life.....
Metal sign of the shoe brand
This Borzoi captured my imagination and ever since I saw it, the Borzoi was my preferred breed.
This shoe brand started in 1932 and got it's name quite by accident! When the chief advertiser walked in a busy shopping street in Amsterdam, he saw a lady with a Borzoi on leash and when the dog did not want to follow she said:"Come on Swift, we've got to go home!" Mr. Biessels imediately saw the potential and voilá, the shoe brand Swift was born. It lasted till 1981... |
Advertisement in magazines
The Swift shoes were very popular, especially in the '30s and '50s. My mother used to buy them whereas my mother in law has sold them. Strangely enough neither of them paid any attention to the logo... The daughter of mr.Biessels told me she remembered the kennel with Borzoi @ the entrance of the factory, those Borzoi also joined in the yearly Parade.... |