Borzoi

Appearance: Elegant, long-haired sighthound

The noble reserve that Borzois sometimes display perfectly matches their aristocratic-looking appearance. The typically elegant physique of a sighthound, the balanced proportions and harmonious movements, as well as the long, narrow head, all contribute significantly to this dog’s noble and proud presence.

The Borzoi’s size is, of course, also impressive. The breed reaches a shoulder height of up to 85 cm, with some males even growing up to 95 cm tall. Despite this imposing height, the weight – which is not fixed in the breed standard – averages just 35 to 45 kg.

Silky, slightly wavy coat

The Borzoi’s abundant and fine coat is silky, soft and supple. It is particularly long on the ribs, forequarters and hindquarters, as well as on the flanks. On the head, ears and limbs, by contrast, it is rather short and lies close to the body.

Within the FCI, the Borzoi with FCI standard number 193 belongs to the long-haired or feathered sighthounds (Group 10, Section 1). The Borzoi’s long coat is slightly wavy and in places forms short, fine curls, for example around the shoulder blade and on the croup.

Wide variety of colours and combinations

In terms of colour, all combinations are permitted, but never blue or brown. The coat can be either solid-coloured or piebald. The “feathering” on the legs (breeches) and tail (flag) is usually much lighter than the base colour.

Many Borzois also have a black mask, which is particularly typical of the black-clouded colour varieties. The nose and lips must always be black. The large, almond-shaped eyes of the Russian sighthound should also be as dark as possible.

Popular motif in art

It is hardly surprising that the fascinating appearance of the Borzoi has also been an extremely popular subject in art. Numerous paintings, ceramic and porcelain figures, as well as bronze sculptures (for example by Marcel Debut (1890) or Georges Gardet (1880)), depict this impressive pedigree dog. The breed was also immortalised in Leo Tolstoy’s famous novel “War and Peace”, featuring the female dog “Milka”.

© Azaliya (Elya Vatel) / stock.adobe.com

Character: Athletic four-legged companion with a pleasant nature

An ambitious hunter and gifted sprinter as a calm family dog? Like hardly any other dog, the Russian Borzoi manages to unite this apparent contradiction within himself.

One moment he is trotting calmly alongside his owner, the next he suddenly sprints off to chase some potential prey animal. Anyone who can rely on their Borzoi’s obedience when it comes to the recall clearly has an advantage here.

Gentle companion for families

Thanks to his friendly, people-oriented nature, the Borzoi is fortunately easy to train. Despite his pronounced hunting instinct and self-confidence, he is considered intelligent, loyal and well balanced.

Just as much as he loves the race track , he also enjoys the sofa at home, where he recovers from sporting exertion and relishes being close to his family. At home, the energetic fighter turns into a pleasant and gentle companion, radiating calm and serenity.

Activity: How much exercise does a Borzoi need?

Even though the Borzoi has all the qualities of a good family dog and generally presents himself as a very adaptable, easy-going and sensitive dog, as a full-blooded sighthound and hunting dog he also has a great need for running and activity. At least an hour and a half of exercise per day is recommended.

Only if he is allowed to live this out will his positive character traits truly come to the fore. Anyone wishing to keep a Russian sighthound as a family dog would therefore do well to offer him regular opportunities to run extensively and freely. Simple walks on the lead will certainly not be enough to satisfy this athletic Borzoi.

Off to the race track

A dog that is allowed to run a lot and really burn off energy while hunting, coursing or on the dog race track will also be far more receptive to obedience training . If a Borzoi feels understood by his owner and that his needs are taken seriously, he will in turn do everything he can to please his owner.

Keeping: Socialise your dog as early as possible

Borzois are incredibly loyal and affectionate dogswho want to be closely involved in the family life of their “pack”. Towards strangers, however, they show noble reserve , without being shy, dominant or even aggressive.

Anyone who shows a bit of skill and is familiar with the basics of dog training should therefore have no problems with the training and socialisation of this peaceable sighthound.

Getting used to environmental stimuli

As with all dogs, the same applies to the Borzoi: the earlier he is socialised and gets to know different people, animals and environments, the less likely he will later be unsettled by or develop fear of new situations.

It is important that he also encounters other dogs (of all ages and sizes) at an early stage, as Borzois have a reputation for not always getting along well with other dogs. However, if he grows up closely with them, there are usually no dominance problems later on.

Nutrition: What does a Borzoi eat?

The more you know about the breed before buying, the better prepared you will be for life with a Borzoi. This also includes thinking about the nutrition of this dog breed. After all, a balanced diet makes a decisive contribution to the dog’s wellbeing and state of health.

Composition of dog food

A Borzoi’s diet should consist largely of protein – but not only that! Vegetables and a small amount of “carbohydrate” such as rice, potatoes or pasta are also important to provide your dog with sufficient nutrients. Cereals, animal and plant “by-products”, or sugar, as found in some commercial foods, are not needed by your dog and should be avoided in a healthy diet.

To tailor the food optimally to your dog’s needs, you should be familiar with your Borzoi’s nutritional requirements. When calculating these, individual factors such as age, weight, size, sex and activity level must always be taken into account.

Beware of gastric torsion!

Like many large to very large dogs, the Borzoi is also prone to the dangerous condition known as gastric torsion. To keep the risk as low as possible, your dog should rest after eating. Avoid any form of exertion after meals.

Ideally, you should always feed your dog after an activity. Vets also recommend dividing the daily ration into several (smaller) meals.

Care: Shiny coat, healthy teeth

Proper care of the Russian sighthound includes not only plenty of exercise and activity as well as a healthy diet, but also appropriate grooming. To ensure that the fine, long coat retains its well-groomed appearance, it should be brushed regularly.

Ideally brush daily

Using a comb once a week is not sufficient for a Borzoi. It is better to brush your dog daily – or at least thoroughly every other day.

Ears, claws and teeth should also be checked and cleaned regularly. This will help maintain your Borzoi’s health and wellbeing throughout his life.

Health: Typical illnesses

In principle, the Borzoi is considered a healthy, robust dog breed. Nevertheless, certain breed-specific conditions can occur, including metabolic bone diseases and hereditary eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Affected animals should be excluded from breeding.

In addition, this breed is more frequently affected by hypothyroidism as well as heart problems such as ventricular arrhythmias and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

How long do Russian sighthounds live?

The life expectancy of a healthy Borzoi kept in a breed-appropriate way is around 10 to 12 years.

History: Lightning-fast hunting dog from Russia

The roots of this impressive breed go back a long way. Genetic analyses from 2017 (led by Heidi Parker) show that the Russian Borzoi is related to the Greyhound and the Irish Wolfhound. These ancient European sighthounds were already bred thousands of years ago by the Celts.

Dog of princes and tsars

In its home country of Russia, the Borzoi has been known and popular at least since the 13th to 15th centuries. Princes and tsars used the large, fast sight hunter for coursing foxes, wolves, hares and even big game. As there were still no long-range, precise firearms at the time, hunters relied on the abilities of their sighthounds. In groups, the dogs chased and held the game until the hunter on his horse could get close enough to dispatch it.

Russian landowners valued Borzois not only for their hunting talent, but also for their gentle and loyal nature, which made them obedient and reliable companions not just in the hunt, but also in private life.

Many different strains

In vast kennel complexes with up to 500 dogs, princes and tsars bred Borzois. Even though organised dog breeding only developed much later, they already proceeded in a very systematic and professional manner. At that time, however, there was still no uniform breed type.

This only developed at the end of the 19th century, when the various dog types were assigned to specific breeds and standardised accordingly. The modern Borzoi was bred from around ten different strains.

Official recognition of the breed

With the Russian Revolution, breeding of the Borzoi – which had been Russia’s “national dog” until around 1914 – became increasingly difficult in its home country. In other European countries, however, the breed continued to establish itself more and more.

Especially in England, the Russian sighthound continued to be bred and developed according to local preferences. In 1956 , the Borzoi was finally officially recognised by the international umbrella organisation FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale).

Preliminary considerations: Is a Borzoi right for me?

A reputable breeder will not simply sell you a puppy, but will want to make sure in a personal conversation that you are a suitable owner for a Borzoi. Before visiting the breeder, you should therefore be absolutely clear about why the Borzoi is the right dog for you and what goals you actually have with your dog.

The right preparation

People who want to keep this fascinating pedigree dog purely for reasons of prestige and have no idea how much activity, exercise and space this large sighthound really needs should not be surprised if the breeder advises them against the purchase of a Borzoi puppy.

The following set of questions will help you prepare optimally for the conversation with the breeder. At the same time, it should also help you find out whether the Borzoi is actually the right breed for you and whether you are sufficiently prepared for life with him.

Ask yourself the following questions

• Are all family members in agreement about buying a Borzoi?
• Do I have enough living space and a sufficiently large plot of land for this large sighthound?
• How much time do I have for my dog? Does my job allow enough flexibility, and do I have the option to take my dog with me to appointments?
• Am I active enough to keep such an athletic dog as the Borzoi?
• How will I keep my dog occupied? Where can I let the dog run freely?
• How can I ensure that the Borzoi gets enough exercise and can satisfy his need to run? Are there, for example, coursing facilities nearby or special areas where the sighthound can run freely?
• What will I do with the dog if I need to travel?
• Do children or other animals live in the household?

© Svetlana / stock.adobe.com

Purchase: Where can I find my Borzoi?

Today, the Borzoi is one of the rarer dog breeds, but it enjoys a stable base of enthusiasts in many countries, who value it as a hunting dog, family dog and racing dog.

In addition to preserving external characteristics and inner temperament traits, Borzoi breeders place great importance on the breed’s health. Independent breeding inspectors check compliance with prescribed health tests and ensure that only healthy, genetically sound animals are approved for breeding. Anyone interested in this Russian sighthound breed should therefore make sure to contact a reputable breeder.

How can I recognise a reputable breeder?

When searching for a suitable breeder, national sighthound breeding and racing associations can be helpful. Cynological umbrella organisations also provide lists of registered breeders. The first prerequisite for buying a puppy is that all the necessary papers (with the FCI logo) are available. However, this alone should not be decisive.

It is also important that you have met the breeder in person beforehand and have been able to see the breeding conditions on site. You should have seen the breeding premises and the mother dog, and gained a comprehensive impression of the environment, rearing and socialisation of the dogs.

In short: The most common questions about the Borzoi

Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the elegant sighthound from Russia:

Is the Borzoi a torture breed?

The Borzoi shows no extreme physical features such as a shortened muzzle, dwarfism or hairlessness, and is therefore not classified as a torture breed.

Is the Borzoi healthy?

In general, the Borzoi is considered a healthy breed. However, various hereditary eye, bone or heart diseases can occur.

How fast is a Borzoi?

Thanks to its slim build and long legs, the Borzoi is a fast sprinter, reaching top speeds of almost 60 km/h.

Do Borzois get along with cats?

The Borzoi is also known as the Russian hunting sighthound. It was bred to chase running game. Accordingly, it may happen that a Borzoi sees cats as prey. If it is to be kept together with feline companions, it must be accustomed to them early on. Then harmonious coexistence is possible.

Is the Borzoi suitable for beginners?

For beginners, the sensitive Russian hunting sighthound is not necessarily recommended due to its hunting instinct and independence. It requires sensitive training, for which a certain amount of dog-handling experience is an advantage.

Conclusion: Independent yet affectionate

The Borzoi is a graceful, fascinating dog that combines two souls within itself: that of a agile, independent hunter and that of a calm house companion. Anyone looking for a exercise-loving, energetic four-legged companion with a pleasant, affectionate character will find the Russian sighthound to be an excellent choice.

Borzoi profile

Special characteristics:	The Borzoi, also known as Barzaia, Russian (hunting) sighthound or Russian wolfhound, is a fast sprinter with a pronounced hunting instinct.
Character:	affectionate, calm, loyal, attentive
Shoulder height:	Male: 75–85 cm Female: 68–78 cm
Weight:	not specified, usually 35–45 kg
Coat:	long, silky coat, wavy or slightly curly, solid-coloured or piebald, all colours except blue and brown
Coat care:	moderate effort
Exercise:	needs plenty of activity and exercise
Suitable for beginners:	rather no
Barking:	rarely barks
Life expectancy:	up to 12 years
Typical illnesses:	hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
FCI group:	10. Sighthounds
Exercise requirement:	high
Origin:	Russia