Borzoi
- Related Topics:
- hound
Borzoi, breed of large hound developed in Russia to pursue wolves. It is descended from the Arabian Greyhound and a collie-like Russian sheepdog. The Borzoi—formerly known as the Russian Wolfhound—is a graceful, strong, and swift dog. It is a member of the sighthound family, which consists of dogs that chase and overtake their quarry using sight and speed rather than trailing by scent. The Borzoi has a long, narrow head, small ears, a deep but narrow chest, long, muscular hindquarters, and a long, curved tail. The silky coat is flat or slightly curled and usually white with darker markings. The dog is noted for its elegant appearance.
Care and upkeep
The Borzoi’s coat needs weekly brushing—it can form mats especially behind the ears—and the dog should be bathed every one or two months. It sheds abundantly once a year, unspayed females shedding after each heat cycle. As with all dogs, the nails, ears, eyes, and teeth should be regularly checked and maintained. The hair amid the paw pads needs regular trimming.
- Former name: Russian Wolfhound
- Area of origin: Russia in the Middle Ages
- Breed group: Hound
- Height at withers: 26–34 inches (66–86 cm)
- Weight: 60–105 pounds (27–48 kg)
- Life span: 10–12 years
- Did you know?: In the 1800s the Russian aristocracy kept hundreds of Borzois for grand wolf hunts, which required dozens of train cars to transport the horses, hounds, and hunters. Many of the dogs were killed after the Russian Revolution because of their association with the tsar. In the early decades of Hollywood, the breed was a frequent status-symbol accessory of female movie stars, often appearing with them in publicity shots.
Borzois are a calm breed that needs about 45 minutes of daily exercise. Their favorite activities are chasing and running, and they do well in the organized sport of lure coursing. In keeping with their geographic origins, the breed enjoys cold weather and snow. As a large breed, it needs ample space in houses and cars.
Temperament
Borzois are gentle, sensitive dogs that enjoy taking life easy. Given an active outing or two a day, they are content to lounge around the house, preferably on a cold floor. Although generally considerate with children, they should be supervised: they can be intolerant of rough handling, and their large size could be a hazard for very small children. They are good around older people and around other household dogs; they may chase small animals in the yard but generally do well with small indoor pets. They are biddable and learn easily, but they do not rush to obey and are easily bored in training. Like most sighthounds, they are not considered to be great at training or obedience.
These are well established and widely accepted generalizations about the breed. Individual dogs, of course, may differ in behavior and temperament.