Origin

The original name of the Borzoi was Russian Wolfhound. In the year 1600 this breed was brought from Arabia to Russia. These dogs were mixed with the sheepdogs and they were used for hunting wolves. This dog is very popular in Europe. This dog was mainly owned by aristocrat people. Queen Victoria also had one. This breed belonged to the royal community. The name borzoi is taken from the Russian word Borzii which means swift.

General Description

The Borzoi is a hound and it is also very tall about 28 inches. It has an aristocrat and proud appearance. Their head is narrow, thin and pointed. Their muzzle is thin, long and slightly curved. They have dark oblong eyes and their nose is black. The Borzois ears fall back but they stand erect when they get excited. They have a thin, narrow and deep chest. Their tail is too long in size and it almost touches the ground. It has a long and silky coat. They are found in tan, golden, grey and black colours.

Character

The Borzoi is very elegant and graceful in nature. They are very adaptable and devoted to their families. They prove to be great companions. They are very talented in hunting, sighting etc. The borzoi is very gentle and smart and they are extremely loyal to their masters. They are very obedient in nature and highly alert. They are hounds and they are not so keen to please human beings as other breeds. In case of this breed patient training classes are required. They have a habit of licking. By that they keep themselves clean. The Borzoi bark less and they are very swift in their activities. This breed is generally good to other dogs but as this is a large sized breed they should not be left with small pets. Early obedience classes are required.

Temperament

This breed is a very sweet and proud in appearance. They are very devoted to their families and gentle towards those who are known to it. They do not mix with strangers but they are not aggressive. This breed is totally well behaved and do not bark much. That’s the reason they are bad watch dogs but they are good hunters of course. Not recommended for house with small children and small non canine pets. Comparatively they are good to older children. The Borzoi gets matured slowly. They should not be left alone for a long time as they can get bored and frustrated in such situations. They are independent and sensitive in nature.

Training

The Borzoi is a large breed and is not suitable for small families. They require real good training classes. Harsh training procedures should not be applied.

Health

This breed is very sensitive to drugs. They should be fed with care as they may be affected by bloat. Their average life span is 10-12 years and their average litter rate is 1-11.