Gustopsowaya's Vjerniy Vjertilo aka "Azart", Feb. 26 - 1996 / Dec. 27 - 2006
Vjertilo was my second attempt to have a show dog but unfortunately he did not develop the way I had hoped and since it was no use to keep showing him, I spent the show money on enlarging my Borzoi collection ;-)
Unfortunately Vjertilo was also one of those Borzoi that always followed the horizon so, after getting him off a 4-lane road on a Sunday morning, no more off leash walks :-( But apart from these minor things he too was a great ambassador for the breed, always willing to meet and greet new people. My fondest memory is of the day I walked the black pair and met a group of children, clearly with a muslim background. As dogs are unclean animals for them, I kept my distance. One little girl extended a hand to Rostania, who took it as an invitation to get nearer. Well, before I knew, my dogs had disappeared between the childern, all had to pet them, hang around their necks. The only one who did not want to pet was....a little red head!
Vjertilo was also a BIG thief, one morning I found him with his head in the refridgerator and my Chinese meal had almost gone! The cat had opened the fridge but Vjertilo was quick enough to claim his share ;-) . I could have known, the day I took him home, he tried to steal the potatoes off the dining table....many, many eatables followed over the years, nothing could be left withing reach, he even managed to open the boxes with dessert cakes...... For my 50th B-day I got a "Sarah", a doll-like spiced cake. Before I could even taste it, Vjertilo found her and took more than his share......
Vjertilo was great company on the walks, even though on leash he could act with lightening speed, grabbing young birds out of the high grass well before I even knew they were there! Once he suddenly had a cat in his mouth, I told him to spit it out, which he did. The cat dashed off, shook himself and shot Vjertilo a very dirty look...
I always felt very safe with him as I knew he would act if necessary (but it never was)
Vjertilo Stats:
Parents: M.Ch.Javidiv az Aftab Faizabad & Gustopsowaya's Ruselka's Rozova
Height: 83cm/32 5/8 inches
Cause of death: put to sleep because of a cerebral vascular accident at 10 yrs, 10 mos and 1 day, the last of Rozova's boys
Unfortunately Vjertilo was also one of those Borzoi that always followed the horizon so, after getting him off a 4-lane road on a Sunday morning, no more off leash walks :-( But apart from these minor things he too was a great ambassador for the breed, always willing to meet and greet new people. My fondest memory is of the day I walked the black pair and met a group of children, clearly with a muslim background. As dogs are unclean animals for them, I kept my distance. One little girl extended a hand to Rostania, who took it as an invitation to get nearer. Well, before I knew, my dogs had disappeared between the childern, all had to pet them, hang around their necks. The only one who did not want to pet was....a little red head!
Vjertilo was also a BIG thief, one morning I found him with his head in the refridgerator and my Chinese meal had almost gone! The cat had opened the fridge but Vjertilo was quick enough to claim his share ;-) . I could have known, the day I took him home, he tried to steal the potatoes off the dining table....many, many eatables followed over the years, nothing could be left withing reach, he even managed to open the boxes with dessert cakes...... For my 50th B-day I got a "Sarah", a doll-like spiced cake. Before I could even taste it, Vjertilo found her and took more than his share......
Vjertilo was great company on the walks, even though on leash he could act with lightening speed, grabbing young birds out of the high grass well before I even knew they were there! Once he suddenly had a cat in his mouth, I told him to spit it out, which he did. The cat dashed off, shook himself and shot Vjertilo a very dirty look...
I always felt very safe with him as I knew he would act if necessary (but it never was)
Vjertilo Stats:
Parents: M.Ch.Javidiv az Aftab Faizabad & Gustopsowaya's Ruselka's Rozova
Height: 83cm/32 5/8 inches
Cause of death: put to sleep because of a cerebral vascular accident at 10 yrs, 10 mos and 1 day, the last of Rozova's boys
Baby Vjertilo, sharing the couch with auntie Rostania.
The Gustopsowaya crew after attending a show, 1998 or so.
From left to right: M.Ch.G.Dark Desire, M.Ch.G.King's Krishan (Rostania's brother), M.Ch.G.Russet Revenge (Desire's brother), G.Ruselka's Rozova (Krishan's sister and Vjertilo's mother), Vjertilo, M.Ch.G.Pyostriy Prizor (Vjertilo's brother)
From left to right: M.Ch.G.Dark Desire, M.Ch.G.King's Krishan (Rostania's brother), M.Ch.G.Russet Revenge (Desire's brother), G.Ruselka's Rozova (Krishan's sister and Vjertilo's mother), Vjertilo, M.Ch.G.Pyostriy Prizor (Vjertilo's brother)
Spring 2001
Vjertilo @ 5 years of age, he's finished now.... Good memories of his coat, it never matted but when moulting, the undercoat "dropped out" in big lumps that were easy to pull out. Each season I brushed out a shopping bag full of hair and the same amount was floating around in the living room, the car, the back yard.... Birds were very happy with the long, soft strands, they made great nesting material! ;-)
Vjertilo @ 5 years of age, he's finished now.... Good memories of his coat, it never matted but when moulting, the undercoat "dropped out" in big lumps that were easy to pull out. Each season I brushed out a shopping bag full of hair and the same amount was floating around in the living room, the car, the back yard.... Birds were very happy with the long, soft strands, they made great nesting material! ;-)
June 2002
Vjertilo liked girls of all ages and was especially gentle with the smaller ones. Male puppies were not interesting at all, he preferred by far the female ones!
It was really nice that I need not worry about him, he never snapped at a human in all his life. As soon as he heard somebody talking in a nice voice to him, he went over to be petted. For years we helped with a touring trip with big trucks for handicapped people and the 'zoi always came along. Of course they drew attention and both knew they had to be extra careful with these people, in spite of their often weird body language....
Vjertilo liked girls of all ages and was especially gentle with the smaller ones. Male puppies were not interesting at all, he preferred by far the female ones!
It was really nice that I need not worry about him, he never snapped at a human in all his life. As soon as he heard somebody talking in a nice voice to him, he went over to be petted. For years we helped with a touring trip with big trucks for handicapped people and the 'zoi always came along. Of course they drew attention and both knew they had to be extra careful with these people, in spite of their often weird body language....
But he could also act the goof! Who said Borzoi can't be flexible? At home he had his mattress and stretcher (or the couch) but one day, while visiting friends, we found him like this. Never knew he could curl up this tightly!
May 2004, costume parade of the Dutch Borzoi Club
I am wearing my wedding dress (hey, after 25 yrs!) and the black pair make a nice contrast with it...
I am wearing my wedding dress (hey, after 25 yrs!) and the black pair make a nice contrast with it...
May 2005, Vjertilo sharing the outdoor mattress with Jasmyn...
Summer 2006
We were out camping and it was really hot. Poor Vjertilo with his heavy coat suffered seriously so we decided to wet him on a regular basis. It resulted in a series of photos out of which we chose this one for a photo contest, "Dog in Summer" |
Vjertilo published!
We did not expect a lot so it was a pleasant surprise to be called by the major Dutch magazine (De Hondenwereld). No, we did not win in the contest but would we allow them to use the photo for the cover of a special issue on dog grooming?
Well, of course we did, it isn't that often that you get such a request! And so, long after his passing away, his photo will surface as long as there are still issues of this magazine around.... |
Christmas 2006
This is the last of the silly X-mas photos we took of Vjertilo. He has been wearing red antlers and a bigger Santa hat in previous years...
He was in a reasonable condition, had enjoyed a beach walk the day before but 2 days after this photo was taken he could not stand up by himself. We took him to the vet who could give him massive doses of prednisone but without any guarantee it would even help so we decided to let him go....at 10 yrs, 10 mos and 1 day...
This is the last of the silly X-mas photos we took of Vjertilo. He has been wearing red antlers and a bigger Santa hat in previous years...
He was in a reasonable condition, had enjoyed a beach walk the day before but 2 days after this photo was taken he could not stand up by himself. We took him to the vet who could give him massive doses of prednisone but without any guarantee it would even help so we decided to let him go....at 10 yrs, 10 mos and 1 day...