The purpose of the AKC is for the love of the pure bred dog... etc. The fact is, like my breed on number of registrations, the Borzoi is at 94 with 696 dogs registered2005 ( 2006 is not posted yet obviously), falling from the previous year 2004 of ranking number 89 with 795 dogs registered.
I am obviously in love with the breed. Its perfect for us, even the reason to wait on a list with the rescue when we got Femka. ( flying her in from Boston. Prior to that she was in the Netherlands ..)
The fact is, we have the right to have the breed that fits us- our life style, our household situation. There is no such thing as " just a dog". The breeds are different in how they approach life, how they interact with family etc. Its what works and waiting lists or not, we each love our breeds to wait for what we want, and what works in our household. To be honest- most of the breeds would make me crazy if I had to live with them. I want quiet, calm, elegance and coat. Even within the sighthounds the breeds are slightly different. I watch my 4- and they are obviously all like minded. Slightly different in approach to things- but bascially every one of them is " on the same page" here.
With the few exceptions of having one breed outside of what I have, I have noticed that having all one breed, when you add a different one, it changes the dynamics of the house. Its just easier to have all the same. At least for us. I am devoted to my dogs, and to the breed. And with the exception of the Silken Windhound later in life, when I get too old for these larger Borzois, even then- they are similar enough. I still can not imagine my life without a Borzoi in it.. I just do not see it.
Am I missing anything? Yes- I miss competing in obedience. I am adding a collie but with enough time to see that he would fit in with 4 Borzois. He has enough spunk to be a good candiate, but calm enough to not tip the applecart here. Believe it or not- it look longer to make the decission to take a different breed into the house, than it did for adding Zubin or Galina. Having the same breed to me is like Pringles pototoe chips- they all fit together. Verses a bag of different sizes. Stupid analogy yes at first glance- but that is how I have chosen to live my life.