Borzoi The Borzoi is also known as: Russian Wolfhound
Fast Facts
Group classification: Hound Country of origin: Russia Date of origin: Middle Ages
Weight (M): 75 - 105 lb Height (M): 28"+ Life expectancy: 11 - 12 years
Weight (F): 60 - 85 lb Height (F): 26"+
General Description of the Borzoi
The Borzoi is a sleek, beautiful breed, whose appearance resembles that of a Greyhound. The head is curved into a slight dome shape, with a long jaw line. The ears are small, and fall back onto the neck when at rest. The eyes are soft and intelligent, set midway between the nose and back of the head, and are dark. The forelegs are straight and flattened in the shape of a blade, with the wider end behind. The hindquarters are long and very powerful. Somewhat wider than the forequarters, the muscular hindquarters have strong thighs, and well bent stifles. The back rises slightly at the loins, and the chest is rather narrow. The loins are extremely muscular, and tucked up. The coat is long and wavy, curly or silky, but never woolly. The coat colors are golden, white, tan, or grey with black markings and can be either solid or mixed.
Borzoi Temperament
The Borzoi is a quiet, sweet, intelligent, independent, moderately active dog. They are quite affectionate with people they know well. When training a Borzoi, it is important to remember that it cannot understand harsh treatment or tolerate punishment, and will be very unhappy if a raised voice is part of its daily life. The Borzoi is in some ways catlike, and keeps himself quite clean. Socializing your Borzoi with cats, dogs and people will help the dog to be better adjusted in social situations and restrain his natural chasing instinct. The Borzoi is an amiable and gentle dog but is not great with children since it is not very playful and dislikes rough housing.
Caring for a Borzoi
To stay fit, Borzoi need plenty of exercise. Take your Borzoi out for a bike ride or jog, but remember to have a firm grip on the leash, in case it chases a small fleeing creature. It is best to feed your Borzoi two or three small meals daily, and allow it to rest after it has eaten. The Borzoi needs to be brushed twice a week, and it should have a soft bed to sleep in. The most common serious disease found in a Borzoi is Bloat (gastric torsion,) which is common in deep-chested breeds. Many owners recommend feeding the Borzoi on a platform in order to avoid Bloat. Less common diseases in the Borzoi are cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism and cardiac arythmia. Proper diet is key in raising a Borzoi pup, and remember that the Borzoi can be sensitive to drugs.