Cherie Hunchak of Elance Borzoi has spent decades pursuing one goal: breed dogs that are strong where the breed is weak.
In this episode of Better Breeder Chronicles, Cherie shares the philosophy, breeding decisions, and bloodlines behind Elance Borzoi and the dogs that have influenced pedigrees around the world.
You’ll discover:
- How learning to truly see structure transformed her breeding program
- Why pedigrees are a roadmap, and the dog in front of you never tells the whole story
- How she uses linebreeding and carefully chosen outcrosses to build consistency
- Why collaboration and sharing quality stud dogs will strengthen an entire breed
- Why her proudest achievement isn’t ribbons, but seeing other breeders succeed with Elance bloodlines
Watch the full episode for an insightful conversation about breeding with purpose, building better pedigrees, and leaving a lasting legacy in the Borzoi breed.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:09) Falling in Love With Borzoi
(04:02) Starting as a Borzoi Breeder
(07:48) Early Mentors and Lessons
(09:55) Understanding Structure and Pedigrees
(12:02) Why Front Structure Matters
(13:39) Developing the Elance Type
(14:49) Reading a Pedigree
(15:45) Linebreeding and Outcrossing
(18:40) Overcoming Breeding Setbacks
(20:07) Sharing Stud Dogs
(23:45) The Ideal Borzoi
(24:53) Why Movement Matters
(26:08) The Dogs That Built Elance
(31:14) A Bloodline-Changing Breeding
(35:04) The Future of Elance
(36:25) Conserving Purebred Dogs
(37:29) Collaboration Over Competition
(43:40) Mentoring Young Breeders
(44:34) Challenges Facing Borzoi
(46:50) What Borzoi Breeders Should Improve
(47:54) More Than Ribbons
(49:17) The Elance Legacy
(50:10) Chase Excellence, Don’t Settle
(50:34) Breeders Worth Learning From
(52:16) Where to Find Elance Borzoi
This episode is brought to you by:
EZWhelp — https://www.ezwhelp.com/
Take Our Quiz: Build Your Whelping Setup in 60 Seconds
With additional support from:
Ororo — https://www.ororowear.com/
Cherrybrook Pet Supplies — https://www.cherrybrook.com/
Revival Animal Health — https://www.revivalanimal.com/
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