Borzoi

Originated in Russia for hunting, the Borzoi dogs have always been associated with the Russian nobility. This breed of dogs is a member of the sight hound family. These hounds were hunted in teams of three to go after fox, rabbit, and wolves. Known for their sweet dispositions, Borzoi dogs are appreciated for their speed, juxtaposed with a laidback personality. They are not a high-energy dog; therefore, if you want to spend the day on the sofa or in bed, your Borzoi will be happy to spend it there with you. Some other important information of this family friend is as follows:

General Information:

History:

The Borzoi dogs were bred for many years by Russian nobility. This breed of dogs was developed by crossing the Arabian Greyhound with other longer haired Russian sheepdogs. The Borzoi dogs were called Russian Wolfhounds in America till 1936 and then the name was changed to “Borzoi,” coming from the Russian word ”borzii,” means swift and quick.

Fierce on the hunt, this sight hound breed of dag was used for many years to hunt fox, wolves and hare in the Russia. With passage of time, this breed became more popular and was used more as a companion dog and its temperament became more docile. This breed was recognized by the AKC in 1891. The Borzoi dogs talents include sighting, hunting and lure coursing.

Description:

The shape of Borzoi dogs is similar to the Greyhound dogs. This breed of dogs has a narrow, slightly domed head with almost no stop, and their long muzzle is slightly arched. The teeth of this breed meet in a level or scissors bite. They have large black nose and their eyes have a slant to them. Further, the small ears of Borzoi dogs lay back on the head. The back line of this breed is arched slightly upward and its chest is narrow, but deep.

The Borzoi dogs have straight front legs and their tail is set low with a curve. Their coat is silky, long, flat or wavy. The tail of this breed is longer than the hair on the rest of the body. Furthermore, this breed comes in any color or combination of colors; common colors include white, black, tan, tan or gray with black markings, and golden in either solid or mixed colors.

Temperament:

The Borzoi dogs are intelligent, sweet and extremely loyal to its family. This breed of dog is quite affectionate with the people it knows well. The Borzoi dogs can be trained in obedience, but it should be remembered that they come from the hound dog breed, and they are more free-thinking and less willing to please their owner than some other breeds. However, they are very intelligent and capable learners. The training of this breed of dogs needs to be gentle, but consistent and firm. This breed of dogs needs an owner who displays a natural authority over him, making the rules and regulation of the home clear to them.

The Borzoi dogs often appear to be cat-like, as they keep themselves quite clean. The best part f this dog breed is that they are quiet dogs which bark when it is necessary. Like other sight hounds, they are very swift and have little to no territorial character, therefore, these dogs can’t be trusted off leash, unless in a securely fenced or very safe area. If these dogs get sight of a small animal they may take off after it, and not even hear their owner calling them back. Furthermore, they are good with other pets but should be supervised with small non-canine pets like rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and hamsters.

This breed of dogs should be socialized very well with other pets, especially cats, at young age but remember these dogs will always be a hunter that may race after a fleeing animal. They are is noble dogs that get along fairly well with the children, but it is not ideally suited for being a child’s companion as they do not take well to roughhousing play. In addition to this, during the growth stage of these dogs, they need a highly nutritional diet.

Health of the Borzoi dogs:

Like its native relative the Hortaya Borzaya dogs, the Borzoi dogs are basically a healthy dog breed. But like all other dog breeds, they are prone to certain health conditions like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD).

As with other deep chest breeds, gastric torsion or bloat, is the most common and serious health problem in the Borzoi. This life-threatening health condition is believed to be anatomical rather than genetic in its origin. The probability of this health condition become high if your dogs are fed one large meal a day, drink large amounts of water rapidly, eat rapidly, or exercise vigorously after eating. It occurs when the stomach of dog is distended with gas or air and then twists. In this condition, the dog is unable to vomit or belch or rid himself of the excess air in his stomach, and blood flow to the heart is impeded.

Some other minor cardiac problems found in this breed include cardiomyopathy and cardiac arhythmia disorders. A condition identified as Borzoi Retinopathy is also seen in some individuals, usually active dogs, which differ from progressive retinal atrophy in several ways. In addition to this, this breed of dogs naturally experience enormous growth surges in its first year or two of their lives, but does not carry large amounts of body fat, and therefore it has a rather different physiology to other dogs of similar size.

Life expectancy of this breed of dogs is 8 to 10 years, and females usually live longer than males. Some exceptional individuals have lived to be more than 15 years of age. In addition to this, Borzoi dogs that are physically fit and vigorous in their youth through middle age are more healthy and vigorous as elder dogs, all other factors being equal.

Care of Borzoi dogs

Borzois are housedogs; therefore, they like a comfortable life. You should provide them with cozy beds throughout the house where they can rest their bones. Some of these dogs do best in a home with a yard, while other dogs are fine simply being walked every day. Generally, they are not high-energy dogs, but activity levels vary among individuals. Some of these dogs will exercise themselves if they are turned out into an open yard while others are lazy and must be taken for a walk. Most of these dogs will be satisfied with a 20 minute daily walk and the occasional opportunity to run full out in a safely fenced yard.

Playtime in a safely fenced area or walks on leash is musts for this breed of dogs. The Borzoi is a sight hound, and they are born to chase, therefore, it may go after anything that is moving even if that means running in front of a vehicle. And you definitely will not be able to catch your dog once he takes off. Furthermore, like all hound dogs with a hunting heritage, Borzoi dogs have minds of their own, which does not make training easy. People who do not understand this breed mind may label them dumb or stubborn. This dog breed quickly becomes bored with the repetition, so keep training sessions short and interesting. Regular positive reinforcement is the best key to successfully training of a Borzoi. For this breed, training through intimidation will not work.

This breed of dogs should not be difficult to housetrain. Crate training is recommended for the Borzoi, as it protects your belongings and prevents your puppy from getting into trouble when you are not around to supervise. If introduced properly, this dog breed becomes very fond of its crate and will often spend time in it on its own. Make sure to provide padding to protect your dog’s bony body. A good crate size for a Borzoi is 26 inches wide by 36 inches high by 48 inches long. In addition to this, the puppies of this breed are slow to mature.

Exercise Requirement

To maintain their fitness these dogs need plenty of exercise, including a long daily walk and regular opportunities to run off the leash, however in some countries it is forbidden to allow all the dogs in this fleet-footed hunting category off the leash. The Borzoi make excellent jogging companions and usually enjoy running alongside a bicycle but beware, a Borzoi is quite likely to shoot off after any prey it catches sight of. If this happens you will need to react very quickly.

Grooming

The long, silky coat of Borzoi can be any color or combination of colors, may be wavy, flat, or curly. Their short, smooth hair covers the ears, head, and front of legs, and a profuse, curly frill embellishes the neck. The thick feathering of this breed covers the rear end and tail. The hair’s beautiful silky texture is resistant to mud and dirt, so it is easy to keep clean.

Brush the coat of Borzoi dog weekly with a pin brush. Make sure to remove any mats from behind the ears or between the hind legs of your dog. You should avoid using a wire slicker brush for grooming, as it may ruin the coat. Borzoi dogs are seasonally heavy shedders, therefore, they need brushing more frequently during that time. Bathe your dog as needed.

You should brush your Borzoi dog’s teeth at least twice or thrice a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside the teeth. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent your dog from various gum diseases and bad breath problem.

Trim nails of your dog once or twice a month. If you can hear them clicking on the floor that means they are too long. Short nails of your dog keep the feet in good condition and protect your shins from getting scratched or damaged when your dog enthusiastically jumps up to greet you.

Begin familiarizing your dog to being examined and brushed when he is a puppy. Handle the paws of your dog regularly and look inside his ears and mouth. Make grooming of your dog a positive experience that is filled with rewards and praise.

Some Facts about Borzoi

• Borzoi dogs are sight hounds and will chase anything that moves around them, therefore, they should not be allowed to run loose unless in a secure area.
• This breed of dogs can be sensitive to drugs, especially anesthetics, due to its less body fat. Further, the drug Ropum (Xylazine) should never be used for a Borzoi and make sure that your vet is aware of this.
• Avoid exercising your dog on lawns that have been recently treated with insecticides, fertilizer, herbicides, or any other chemicals.
• Borzoi dogs can be fussy eaters.
• This breed of dogs can be prone to bloat, therefore, feed them regular with small meals and prevent heavy exercise after eating.
• Borzoi dogs can be nervous around children and they should be introduced to the children at a young age.
• Borzoi dogs bark infrequently and they don’t have strong guarding instincts that make them poor watchdogs.
• They can live peacefully with cats and various other small animals if introduced to these animals at an early age.
• The Borzoi breed of dogs is not common; therefore, it may take some search work to find a breeder who has Borzoi puppies.