Borzoi
9-13 yrs
60-85 lbs
26-31"
Russia

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Borzoi

60-85 lbs

26-31"

Russia

Russian Wolfhound, Long Haired Greyhounds, Russian Hunting Sighthound

Borzois are also known as Russian Wolfhounds and Long-Haired Greyhounds. The name Borzoi translates from the Russian language to “fast or swift”. The Borzoi is a large dog breed who enjoys daily exercise but also relishes relaxing with their owner. The Borzoi’s long silky coat needs to be regularly brushed but he does not have to be bathed frequently. A medium to large dog, this breed is strong yet graceful. The Borzois are members of the Sighthound family originating from Russia. Sighthounds depend on their sight and high-speed sprinting ability during a hunt. The Borzoi was bred for coursing and for hunting wolves, foxes, and rabbits. They would hunt in teams of three and capture the prey together. They later became popular as a companion dog for royalty across Europe.

                
                Purpose
              
hunting game

                Date of Origin
              
middle ages

                Ancestry
              
sight hound

Borzoi Health

Sketch of Borzoi

Average Size

Height: 28-33 inches Weight: 75-105 lbs

Height: 26-31 inches Weight: 60-85 lbs

Major Concerns

Gastric Torsion
Bone And Joint Problems
Osteosarcoma
Heart Problems
Von Willebrand's Disease

Minor Concerns

Cataracts
Hypothyroidism

Occasional Tests

Blood Test
Heart
Thyroid Tests
X-Rays
Eye Examination

Borzoi Breed History

The Borzoi was named after his ability to be speedy and agile. The Borzoi originated in Russia during the 17th century. The breed was a cross between the Arabian Greyhound and a thick coated Russian Sheepdog breed. The Borzoi was bred by aristocrats as a coursing sighthound and because of this, hunting with Borzoi became the national sport of Russian aristocracy. The first standards for the breed were written in 1650. During the Russian Revolution of 1917 many Borzoi were killed because they were associated with the czars. Queen Victoria of England, the Prince of Wales, and King Edward VII were gifted Borzoi by the Czar of Russia. Queen Alexandra not only had Borzois as her companions, she also bred and exhibited them. In the 1920s through 1940s, the breed was considered a very glamorous dog in America. They were seen with silent movie stars such as Jean Harlow, Hope Hampton, Greta Garbo and Sarah Bernhardt and were popular as Art Deco models. Marilyn Monroe and the artist Picasso also owned Borzois. Additionally, they have been photographed on the front page of Vogue and other fashion magazines. The Borzoi is a member of the AKC Hound group. It is in the Sighthound family of dogs; the name changed from Russian Wolfhound to Borzoi in late 1936.

Borzoi Breed Appearance

Similar to the Greyhound, they have long, slender legs, a narrow body, deep chest, curved backs, tucked abdomen and long tail. Borzois have feathering on the tail and hindquarters. The Borzoi has a strong neck and jaw and his skull is slightly domed with an extremely long and narrow face and muzzle. The teeth are strong and have an even or a scissor bite. Their eyes are dark in color and have a soft expression. The Borzoi has a very graceful and elegant appearance yet is agile, strong and very swift. The males are at least 28 inches tall, and females at least 26 inches. Males average 75 to 105 pounds and females 60 to 85 pounds. Their coat is long and somewhat silky, either curly, wavy or straight. They have a thick ruff of curly hair around the neck. Borzoi Puppies tend to have curly coats. Although all colors and patterns are permissible, white with patches is the most common pattern.

Appearance of Borzoi

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Gray

Brown

Red

Cream

Fawn

White

Sable

Brindle

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Borzoi Breed Maintenance

The Borzoi is a moderate shedder and requires daily brushing with a hard bristle brush. The dog’s teeth should be brushed several times a week to prevent tartar buildup. Nails should be trimmed monthly and the ears should be cleaned weekly. The breed is not a high-maintenance dog; the Borzoi cleans and takes care of his own grooming, much like cats do. It is important to provide a proper high-quality diet that is specifically formulated for large dog breeds. Because the breed is prone to bloat, it is better to feed them a few small meals throughout the day instead of one large meal. Borzois need regular exercise and enjoy long walks. If the Borzoi is well exercise, he can adapt well to apartment living. Due to the breed’s high prey drive, he should not be walked without a leash. The Borzoi enjoy and are well suited for the cold winter months. Due to little body fat, the Borzoi can be sensitive to certain drugs, especially anesthetics. The drug Xylazine should never be used on a Borzoi.

The Borzoi can suffer from a variety of health problems. Secure pet health insurance today to avoid high veterinary care costs. Our pet insurance tool lets you compare plans from leading companies like Figo and Spot. Find the “pawfect” plan for your pet in just a few clicks!

Brushes for Borzoi

Pin Brush

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Borzoi Temperament

The Borzoi can be high-spirited, loyal and devoted. They need early socialization with other animals and people. The adult Borzoi tends to be quiet and rarely barks. The breed is very smart and highly sensitive. They do not do well with harsh handling or punishment. Although the Borzoi is a large breed, he can adapt to a small living space if he is exercised daily. The breed has plenty of stamina and does well in cooler climates. The Borzoi can become bored with repetitive activity, responding well to motivational training, competitive obedience and agility trials. The breed does not need constant attention, they are confident and independent. The Borzoi was bred for coursing, so they have a natural instinct to chase things such as cats, small dogs, and small children. Once on a chase, they can become steadfast and oblivious to their surroundings, even ignoring the dangers of traffic or the calls of the owner.

Activity Level

                  Low
                  Medium
                  High
                
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
10 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Borzoi

Similarly Sized Breeds to Borzoi

Borzoi Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$2.00 - $2.25
Monthly Cost
$60.00 - $67.50

Borzoi Height & Weight

6 Months

                  Height: 26.5 inches
                  Weight: 57.5 lbs
                
                  Height: 24.5 inches
                  Weight: 47.5 lbs
                
12 Months

                  Height: 28.5 inches
                  Weight: 70.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 26.0 inches
                  Weight: 57.5 lbs
                
18 Months

                  Height: 30.5 inches
                  Weight: 90.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 28.5 inches
                  Weight: 72.5 lbs

Top Borzoi Breeders

Check out who made our list for the most reputable Borzoi breeders of 2024.

Glacier Kennels
Whitefish, Montana
Spryfeat Borzoi
Keysville, Virginia
Radost Borzoi
Spring Creek, Nevada
Skyler Borzoi
Marietta, Georgia
HavenView Borzoi
Montesano, Washington
Chrysalis Borzoi
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Gryffyns Aeyrie Borzoi and Silken Windhounds
Mckinney, Texas
Rusalka Whippets
North Liberty, Iowa
Blyss Kennels
Watchung, New Jersey
Aria Borzoi
Fort Worth, Texas

Borzoi Owner Experiences

Archimedes

10 Months

2 People

Apartment

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Run

Obedience classes

Hike

Archimedes is headstrong but an incredibly fast learner. He impresses others in his training classes and is incredibly affectionate, even with strangers. He lives with two cats and does fantastic with them but I would not trust him around other small animals. Does great playing with other dogs but is mildly leash reactive and is protective of me. He is overall a quiet dog, rarely barks, and loves attention, he is almost always by my side and is incredibly loyal.

4 months, 2 weeks ago

Byron

4 years and six months

1 People

House

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

He’s a rescue and tends to show some aggression to some dogs .

6 years, 11 months ago

Oliver

2 Years

2 People

Apartment

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Walking

Hiking

Trick

training

Obedience

lure coursing

Oliver is a working therapy dog. He loves people but can be wary of fast movements from children. He is very dog friendly. Oliver grew up with cats and is cat-safe. He is not small animal safe. He never barks. We hike and train most days exceeding 40miles per week, though he does have trouble keeping up. Borzoi do not require much more than an hour of physical exercise a day with mental stimulation. They can be quite the couch potatoes, expect them to lay next to you not on you. Training is best met with positivity and a sense of humor, anything less and they will not respond. A harsh correction will shut these dogs down completely.

5 years, 4 months ago

Mr. Sabernagle

6 Months

2 People

House & Yard

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Walking, hiking and fetch

He's a handful but so far a fantastic doggo!

3 years, 4 months ago

Book me a walkiee?

Pweeeze!

Sketch of smiling australian shepherd