An aristocrat of a dog, with his bearing, his size and his proudly carried head. The wolf hunter of Russia, his name means ‘swift’ in his native country, and though he may not perform his original function any more, he is still built on lines of speed and grace. The earliest seen in Britain were presented by the Tsar of all the Russias to Queen Alexandra and the breed’s popularity soon caught on.

Temperamentally, this is not a breed for the masses as he is sensitive and aloof in his view of mankind, though faithful to his owners and with undeniable courage.

His long silky coat with its slight wave comes in a host of different colours and requires dedicated attention from its groomer to prevent it deteriorating into tangles.

The slightly domed and narrow skull with the almost straight, but slightly convex, topline to the nose gives the dog a refinement that is unique in appearance. He is a dog of striking quality.