BORZOI

Temperament: Affectionate, Loyal, Regally Dignified
Height: 28 inches & up (male), 26 inches & up (female)
Weight: 75-105 pounds (male), 60-85 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy: 9-14 years
Group: Hound Group 

ABOUT THE BORZOI

The Borzoi dog breed was developed in Russia as a coursing and hunting dog. These hounds hunted in teams of three to go after rabbit, foxes, and wolves. They later became popular as a companion for royalty across continental Europe.

Borzois are laid-back family dogs who can even adapt to apartment living, despite their large size. They do not, however, fair well when left alone for long periods of time during the day. This sensitive breed needs companionship. Their beautiful coat also sheds a lot and requires some maintenance on your part. You’ll get a great couch potato buddy with a Borzoi, but you’ll still have to put in some effort to meet the breed’s needs.

No longer a royal hunting companion, today the Borzoi’s most important job is that of family friend. With his sweet, gentle demeanor, it’s a job at which he excels.

PERSONALITY

In their quiet, catlike way they can be stubborn, and training is best accomplished with patience, consistency, and good humor. Affectionate family dogs, Borzoi are nonetheless a bit too dignified to wholeheartedly enjoy a lot of roughhousing. The sight of a cat or squirrel on the run will quickly stir their pursuit instinct, and fenced-in running room is a must.

FEEDING

Recommended daily amount: 4 to 8 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.

NOTE: How much your adult dog eats depends on his size, age, build, metabolism, and activity level.

Borzoi are prone to gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as bloat. The likelihood of this often-fatal condition can be decreased by feeding the Borzoi two or more small meals daily rather than a single large meal and avoiding exercise for a couple of hours before and after mealtime.

HEALTH

Borzoi are generally healthy dogs, and a responsible breeder will screen breeding stock for health conditions such as elbow and hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, and progressive retinal atrophy. Like other large and deep-chested dogs, they can experience bloat, a sudden and life-threatening stomach condition. Owners should educate themselves as to what symptoms indicate this is occurring and what to do if so. Sighthounds, including Borzoi, are more sensitive to anesthesia than other breeds. As with all breeds, a Borzoi’s ears should be checked regularly, and the teeth should be brushed often.

Recommended Health Tests from the National Breed Club:

• Ophthalmologist Evaluation
• Thyroid Evaluation
• Cardiac Exam
• Degenerative Myelopathy DNA Test

CARE

Borzoi are not generally high-energy dogs, but activity levels vary among individuals. Some will exercise themselves if turned out into a yard while others are lazy and must be taken for a walk. Most Borzoi will be satisfied with a 20-minute walk daily and the occasional opportunity to run full out in a safely fenced area.

Walks on leash or playtime in a safely fenced area are musts for this breed.

They quickly become bored with repetition, so keep training sessions short, fun, and interesting. Constant positive reinforcement is the key to successfully training a Borzoi. Training through intimidation will never work.

Borzoi should not be difficult to housetrain. Crate training is recommended, not only as an aid to housetraining, but also to protect your belongings and prevent your Borzoi puppy from getting into trouble when you’re not around to supervise.

 Be sure to provide padding to protect their bony body. A good crate size for an adult Borzoi is 26 inches wide by 36 inches high by 48 inches long.

Borzoi puppies are slow to mature, so don’t expect puppy destructiveness to disappear any time soon. You can alleviate it by providing your Borzoi with plenty of exercise and companions

GROOMING

The Borzoi’s long, silky coat can be flat, wavy or even a little curly. Although it looks glamorous, it’s not especially difficult to care for. It’s resistant to dirt and mud, which just drops off when the coat dries. Brush the coat weekly with a pin brush. Be sure to check for mats behind the ears and in the area where the legs meet the body. Bathe the Borzoi only as needed.

Borzoi shed heavily. Regular brushing will help keep those hairs off your furniture, floors and clothing.

The rest is basic care. Trim the nails every few weeks. Like most dogs, and sighthounds in particular, Borzoi are sensitive about having their feet touched, so practice this early and often with a puppy. Keep the ears clean and dry to prevent bacterial or yeast infections from developing. Brush the teeth frequently for good overall health and fresh breath.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THE BORZOI

Source: dogtime, akc, vetstreet.