«DE KUSKOVO» kennel
Owner Madeleine Gasser, Switzerland

The de Kuskovo story
I fell for the Borzoi’s charm – and especially for those carrying the kennel name “de Norois” in spring 1972. This love at first sight soon became a passion that was to have a lasting impact on my life. I produced 4 litters only, mostly for my personal pleasure. But my interest for the mysteries of genetics, that is the ways of hereditary transmission, also played a significant part of my breeding activities. I soon enough understood that from a zootechnical point of view, the “de Norois” line in an exception. Why? Because it reflects an astonishing consistency in keeping an ancient, valuable heritage going by a careful linebreeding that extends over more than a century. This can easily be verified by tracing back the genealogies of any “de Norois” pedigree.
Although my “de Kuskovo” Borzois have been limited in number, some of them did play an important part in the history of the breed, especially in Russia.

Litter A: Russlan de Norois & Tschaika Uspenskoje
A very interesting linebreeding on Zagar and Zolushka and consequently all the famous Borzois behind them. In short: was the son of Nikita, whose parents were Ch. Udaloi (Valday&Saiga) and Metchta (Varjag & Metelj), both grand children of Zagar and Zolushka, two borzois who represent some of the finest bloodlines that ever existed. On the other hand, Russlan’s dam Biche’s Larisova added similar genes of such famous old-time Borzois like those bred by the German kennels vom Silberhof, Wergey, Rasswet to name only a few. As for Tschaika Uspenskoe, she was the grand-doughter of Vjuga, sister of Valdau and Varjag! There were 3 males and 4 lovely females in this A litter. I kept Angara who became the foundation bitch of the “de Kuskovo” family.

Litter B: Int. & Swiss Ch. Petja de Norois & Galka de Norois
Petja (Int.Ch.Orlow’s Kawkas & Kalinka de Norois) is the brother of Petrov de Norois, father of the Russian Multi-champion Barinya de Norois. The background of Petja and Galka is a combination of German, American and English bloodlines, all of them stemming again from same root: vom Bergland, vom Silberhof, Wergei, Rasswet ekt., linebreed on Ch. Asmodey and Ch.Ptichka Perchino with a zest of ancient Russian blood brought by Galka’s father Almas van der Sabatchnaja Izba. All 8 borzois of this B litter had in common an exceptionally aristocratic bearing. Burhan (Baraban) de Kuskovo went to Russia in 1979 and was used at stud on a wide skale throughout the country because of his remarkable background. A pedigree featuring 8 generations can be found in the Stud Book 2003 published by the European Borzoi magazine.

Litter C: Rasboy de Norois & Angara de Kuskovo
A tight inbreeding between uncle and niece, both of deep red color and excellent representatives of the true to type Borzoi. There were 5 puppies: 3 red ones, 1 sable with a black face, 1 white with red markings. By their looks, temperament, behavior, all of them would have pleased and satisfied any Russian hunter! At home, I remember them as loving pets. Three males were given the opportunity to pass on their fabulous heredity: Chmelnik de Kuskovo (kennel de Norois/Switzerland), Chelkoun de Kuskovo (kennel de Champmol/France) and my beloved Choudak de Kuskovo.

Litter D: Choudak de Kuskovo & Baba-Yaga de Kuskovo
My last 5 darlings, 3 males and 2 females. I let go only 2 of them (to a single owner): the lovely Daniar and Dennitza de Kuskovo. The other I kept because I loved them too much to give them away.

I wish I could have produced more litters but life decided that I would not. In order to somewhat make up for the loss of the last “de Kuskovo”, I acquired Bjelka Udatchnik (Skatchok de Norois & Udatcha de Norois). Due to an accident, she could never be mated but this was perhaps as well: Bjelka was exceptionally attached to me and she might not have been ready to share her love for me with others. Today I am the lucky and happy owner of 3 young bitches acquired for their origins: their pedigrees reflect the unique heritage discussed above that runs like a red yarn through more than a century of careful selective breeding. If fare allows it, they will perhaps one day also leave the imprint of their genetic make-up on Borzoi breeding.

Madeleine Gasser
Borzois “de Kuskovo”
Switzerland, Desember 2003