Borzoi

Russian Wolfhound

Whether you like the greyhound family or not, it is almost impossible not to appreciate the look of the Borzoi. His apparent calm, noble and very aristocratic gait and gentle demeanor make the Borzoi a magnificent dog. Happy in the city as well as in the country, his great adaptability allows him to live with a family in a large house with a garden or with a single city dweller in an apartment.

Height 68 to 85 cm
Weight 25 to 47 kg
Life expectancy 7 to 10 years
Hair Loss High
Excercise Need Low

Quick Overview of the Borzoi

Temperament

  • Usually very gentle
  • Rather reserved
  • Absolute calm
  • Attached to his master

Appearance

  • Aristocratic look
  • Noble physical appearance
  • Soft, silky and slightly wavy coat
  • Almond eyes

Health

  • Excellent health
  • Robust dog
  • No hereditary pathology

Temperament of the Borzoi

Beautiful and endowed with great nobility, the Borzoi is a dog with a very gentle character. He is rather reserved and seems absolutely calm.

However, it is necessary to know how to be wary of this calm looking dog. His quietness and gentleness do not alter in any way his ardour nor his hunting instincts. He has adapted to his status of companion dog and has become a calm and attentive dog, but he remains an active animal with a great need for exercise.

He will be very attached to his master but will never be totally submissive. He remains a hunter and can become as stubborn as a mule if his education is not adequate. The Borzoi is a very obedient dog if orders are imperative but executed very gently. He does not tolerate brutality but will still be receptive to firmness.

He's an excellent keeper who will be brave. The sociability of the Borzoi must be developed from a young age otherwise he can be very dangerous with his fellow creatures.

If the Borzoi receives his daily dose of games and exercise, he will be an excellent companion dog and will be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the house once his exercise is over. However, one must be careful because he is not very patient with children.

barzoï personnalité

Breed Appearance

Borzoi

His straight and muscular limbs give the Borzoi a very aristocratic look and noble-looking physique. This large, imposing dog is slender, beautiful and elegant.

Height

Between 75 and 85 cm (29.53 to 33.46 inches) for the male
Between 68 and 78 cm (26.77 to 30.71 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 34 and 47 kg (74.96 to 103.62 pounds) for the male
Between 25 and 40 kg (55.12 to 88.18 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress is a combination of several colours, of which brown and blue are not included.

Hair

His coat is soft, silky, slightly wavy and very supple.

Morphology

His narrow head has a rather dry look. His almond-shaped eyes are generally dark brown or dark hazelnut.

His small ears are set very high and are located towards the back.

His long muzzle ends with a black truffle. His long panache tail is fairly sabre-shaped.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 10, section 1 and is #193

Characteristics of the Borzoi

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Borzoi is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Borzoi puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Borzoi:
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Tips About this breed

Sporty, dog-loving singles are the ideal masters for this breed. Since the Russian Wolfhound is not very patient with children and is in great need of exercise, a very sporty person willing to devote hours to his dog will enjoy the Borzoi's excellent company. Whether city or country, the master of this great greyhound must be prepared to spend a lot of time with his dog.

The Borzoi can also be part of a family as long as the masters are willing to spend hours exercising and playing with their four-legged companion. His adaptability is great and he will be able to accommodate to any situation as long as his living space is respected and his daily exercise is carried out.

Health of the Borzoi

The Russian Wolfhound is a robust dog with excellent health. No hereditary pathology is really attributed to the breed, but eye disease can sometimes create issues.

GROOMING

This dog, in spite of his long-haired coat, requires minimum maintenance. A good regular brushing, once or twice a week, will do the trick. A bath from time to time will complete the maintenance of his coat and ensure a healthy one.

History of this breed

Despite his controversial origins, the Borzoi apparently originated in Russia, where he probably got his nickname of Russian Wolfhound. Resulting from crossbreeding between Asian long-haired Spitz-type dogs and Laikas, the Borzoi was originally used for draught and hunting.

It is assumed that other cross-breeding would have contributed later on to create the pet dog, today's Borzoi.

The first Russian greyhound appeared in Europe around the 11th century. The daughter of the Great Prince of Kiev and wife of King Henry I, Anne of Kiev, is said to have arrived at a hunting party at the beginning of the century, escorted by three magnificent greyhounds, one fawn, one grey and one black.

Around 1519, Russian greyhounds were brought back from Moscovia by the monarchy and given as gifts to Francis I by Christian II, then King of Denmark. It's the hound hunt, unique of its kind and much prized by the monarchy in Russia, that made the breed known.

Raised in packs, the Borzoi hunts wild boar, deer, wolves, foxes and hares.

Later, he made his way to other European countries, such as England and France, and then crossed the ocean and ended up in America. This aristocratic dog was then found in many artistic representations.

He is a real icon in paintings, sculptures, illustrations, photographic representations and others. We find him notably sculpted in bronze, painted on porcelain or faience as well as illustrated on many postcards.

After the Second World War, the breed almost disappeared completely in Europe. Fortunately, the Borzoi was already well known and appreciated in America. The disappearance of the Russian Wolfhound was thus prevented.

He was forgotten at the time, especially as a hunting dog, but quickly became a much appreciated companion dog all over the world.

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