Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)
Your Complete Guide to the Borzoi (Russian Wolfhound)
Borzoi History: The Swift Hunter of Russian Nobility
The Borzoi, whose name means “swift” in Russian, is an ancient breed with a history deeply intertwined with Russian aristocracy for over 900 years. Originating in Russia, these elegant sighthounds were meticulously developed for coursing (hunting by sight) wolves, hare, and other fast game across the vast, open plains. They were bred for incredible speed, agility, and the courage to confront formidable prey like wolves, often hunting in pairs or trios.
Borzoi were highly prized by Russian Tsars and nobles, and large kennels were maintained for elaborate hunting expeditions. Their lineage is thought to include crosses between Arabian greyhounds and various long-coated Russian sheepdog types, resulting in their unique combination of speed, strength, and a protective coat. The first breed standard was written in Russia in 1650. The breed faced near extinction during the Russian Revolution in 1917, as many were killed due to their association with the aristocracy. However, specimens exported to Europe and America before the revolution ensured the breed’s survival. The American Kennel Club recognized the Borzoi in 1891.
Borzoi Temperament: Dignified, Gentle, and Independently Minded
The Borzoi possesses a temperament that is often described as dignified, calm, and somewhat aloof, especially with strangers. They carry themselves with a regal air and are not typically overly demonstrative or boisterous. However, with their own families, they are known to be gentle, affectionate, and surprisingly playful, often displaying a quiet and sensitive nature. They form strong bonds with their people but are not usually demanding of attention.
As sighthounds bred to hunt independently, Borzoi are intelligent but also possess a strong independent streak. They may not always be eager to please in the same way as some other breeds and can be selective in their obedience if they don’t see a good reason for a command. They are generally quiet in the home, content to lounge gracefully after their exercise needs are met. Their prey drive is extremely strong, and they will instinctively chase moving objects, so they must be kept on a leash or in a very secure, large fenced area when outdoors.
Grooming Your Borzoi: Maintaining the Silky, Flowing Coat
The Borzoi’s most striking feature is its long, silky, and often wavy or curly coat, which includes abundant feathering on the neck (forming a frill), chest, hindquarters, and tail. This beautiful coat requires regular grooming to keep it free from tangles, mats, and looking its best.
Brushing several times a week with a pin brush and a slicker brush, followed by a comb to work through any tangles, is essential. Pay particular attention to the feathered areas, as these are prone to matting. Borzoi are average to heavy shedders, with seasonal “coat blows” where they lose a significant amount of undercoat. During these periods, daily brushing may be necessary. Baths should be given as needed, using a quality dog shampoo and conditioner suited for long coats. Thorough rinsing and drying are important. Regular nail trims, ear cleaning, and dental care are also crucial components of their grooming regimen.
Borzoi Exercise: A Sprinter’s Need for Speed and Space
Borzoi are sighthounds built for incredible speed and require regular opportunities to run freely at full gallop in a large, **very securely fenced area**. A simple leash walk, while beneficial for mental stimulation and bonding, is not sufficient to meet their physical exercise needs. They are sprinters, not endurance marathoners, so several short, intense bursts of running are often preferred over one very long, slow jog.
Daily exercise should also include one or two moderate walks on a leash. It is crucial to remember their powerful prey drive; a Borzoi off-leash in an unsecured area will chase squirrels, cats, or any other small moving object with lightning speed and may ignore recall commands. Activities like lure coursing can be an excellent outlet for their natural instincts. Despite their athletic prowess, Borzoi are often calm and relaxed indoors, content to lounge gracefully once their exercise needs have been met.
Common Borzoi Health Issues
Borzoi are generally a healthy breed, but like all large sighthounds, they can be susceptible to certain health conditions. Responsible breeders screen their breeding stock for these issues. Potential health concerns include:
- Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus – GDV): This is a life-threatening emergency common in deep-chested breeds. Owners should be aware of the signs and preventative measures.
- Heart Conditions: Such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or other cardiac issues. Regular heart exams are recommended for breeding stock.
- Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): An inherited eye condition that can lead to blindness.
- Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer): A concern in many large and giant breeds.
- Sensitivity to Anesthesia: Like many sighthounds, Borzoi can be particularly sensitive to certain anesthetic drugs. It is crucial that veterinarians are aware of this.
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM):** A progressive disease of the spinal cord.
Choosing a reputable breeder who performs comprehensive health screenings (hips, elbows, heart, eyes, thyroid, DM, etc.) on their breeding dogs and providing regular veterinary care, a quality diet, and appropriate exercise are vital for a Borzoi’s health and longevity.
Training Your Borzoi: Understanding an Independent and Sensitive Sighthound
Training a Borzoi requires a patient, understanding owner who appreciates their intelligence but also respects their independent sighthound nature. They are not typically driven by an overwhelming desire to please in the same way as some other breeds and can be quite sensitive to harsh training methods. Positive reinforcement, consistency, and creativity are key.
Key aspects of training a Borzoi include:
- Early Socialization: Expose your Borzoi puppy to a wide variety of people, sights, sounds, and environments from a young age to build a confident and well-adjusted adult. Their natural aloofness with strangers can be managed with good socialization.
- Positive Reinforcement: They respond best to reward-based training using treats, praise, and gentle encouragement. Harsh corrections will likely cause them to shut down or become resentful.
- Keep it Interesting: Their intelligence means they can get bored easily with repetition. Keep training sessions short, fun, and varied.
- Recall (“Come” command): This is extremely challenging to train reliably due to their powerful prey drive and speed. It requires extensive, consistent practice from a very young age in safe, securely enclosed areas, and even then, they should never be trusted off-leash in an unsecured environment.
- Gentle Leash Manners: Teach them to walk politely on a leash without pulling, especially important for such a large and potentially fast dog.
While they may not excel in traditional, high-precision obedience, they can learn basic manners and be delightful companions for those who understand their unique temperament.
Borzoi FAQs
Q: Are Borzoi good family dogs?
A: Borzoi can be wonderful family dogs for the right family. They are generally gentle and affectionate with their own people and can be good with older, respectful children. However, their large size and sometimes boisterous play when young mean supervision is needed. Their aloofness with strangers also needs to be understood.
Q: How much grooming do Borzoi need?
A: Borzoi have a long, silky coat that requires regular grooming, several times a week, to prevent tangles and mats, especially in the feathered areas. They are average to heavy shedders, with seasonal coat blows.
Q: Are Borzoi aggressive?
A: Borzoi are not typically aggressive towards people; they are more often described as aloof or reserved with strangers. However, they possess a very strong prey drive and may not be suitable for homes with small pets like cats or rabbits unless raised with them from a very young age and carefully managed. Dog-dog interactions should also be supervised, though they are not generally known for dog aggression like some other breeds.
Q: Can Borzoi live in apartments?
A: While Borzoi are surprisingly calm and quiet indoors (“couch potatoes”), their need for regular opportunities to run at full speed in a large, secure area makes them generally unsuited for apartment living unless the owner is extremely dedicated to providing this specific type of exercise daily. A home with a large, securely fenced yard is ideal.