Borzoi

The Borzoi, also called the Russian wolfhound, is a huge breed of a dog bred to hunt wild animals like wolves and foxes.  Seventeenth century Russian aristocrats crossed Arabian Greyhounds with thick-coated Russian sheep dogs to produce this gracious dog. Borzoi literally means swift in Russian and that is absolutely true. Designed for speed and endurance, the Borzoi is capable of fast starts, swift turns, and quick stops.  If I could give them a nickname, I would call them the Sports car dog.

Borzois have several built in characteristics that make them fierce hunters that rely on sight rather than scent.  Their long, narrow head gives them a wide range of vision of 270 degrees.  Humans have only 180 degree range of vision.  The signature sighthound head takes a full three years to mature.  Puppies are born with a short slightly bent nose.  But at five weeks, the nose begins to straighten and the head continues to grow over ten more inches, almost like a Pinocchio!

Newborn babies! So cute!

Longer nose and head..

The Borzoi is a giant breed and can weigh up to 120 pounds.  But, they are elegant, graceful, and athletic.  To protect them from Russia’s harsh winter, Borzois have a long, dense, silky double coat that shed heavily.  So, daily brushing is recommended.

So tall and graceful!

Borzois have a lovely temperament.  They are quiet and gentle and can fit in any family.  They bark very rarely and they do not have strong territorial drives.  However, they can be independent and stubborn, requiring patience and persistence when training.  Also, they should be kept in a fenced in area and never off leash, as they could run into the wild in seconds.

Borzois are prone to bloat, where their stomach fills with gas and twist.  So make sure to feed them several small meals instead of one large meal!