Hortaya Borzaya

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Hortaya Borzaya

18-30 lbs

24-28"

Eurasian Steppe

Chortaj

An elegant and quite rare large sighthound, the Hortaya Borzaya looks similar to a Greyhound although they have a wider face more like the Borzoi. This dog is a true athlete - built to run and hunt; they can run all day, resting only for short breaks. Their fine muscular body, long legs and short but dense hair-coat mean that they are adaptable to cold nights, and can run fast and far. The Hortaya Borzaya is popular in their homeland, and because they are more suited to the country, they seldom are seen in cities. Because of their need for wide spaces and high energy activity requirements, they are perfect for farms or large estates. They have a sweet nature, and are gentle and affectionate within a family. At home they are placid, and will happily co exist with other dogs. The Hortaya Borzaya enjoys being part of a dog pack, and will integrate well into a family. Used as a traditional hunting dog, their purpose is to go out and hunt then bring back their prey for the family to eat. Their bite is gentle so that they do not harm the valued fur of the animal they caught. Blessed with good health and less prone to genetic health problems, the Hortaya Borzaya is a true athlete. They only exist is small numbers in the world, with most being located in remote parts of rural Russia.

Purpose
Hunting, Companion


Date of Origin
Ancient Times


Ancestry
Whippet or Italian Greyhound, Borzoi

Hortaya Borzaya Health

Average Size

Height: 26-30 inches Weight: 18-35 lbs

Height: 24-28 inches Weight: 18-30 lbs

Major Concerns

None Known

Minor Concerns

Food Allergies

Occasional Diagnoses

Bloat

Occasional Tests

Full Physical Examination
Blood Work and Serum Chemistry Tests

Hortaya Borzaya Breed History

Like a ghost, the Hortaya Borzaya is a bit of a mystery dog, arriving in history many hundreds of years ago. Not much is known about this elegant creature, except that they developed within the Eurasian Steppe, north of the Black Sea. From there, it spread to Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.The Hortaya Borzaya was bred to be a country working dog, whose master would send the dog out several times each day to get prey for the family to eat. This amazing dog would run for miles over rough, barren terrain and tangle with wolves, just to get food to then take home to the master. Their soft bite would protect the prey's fur from damage, as the fur was as important to the owner. The Hortaya has been bred for their hunting skills, rather than their appearance, although they are a handsome looking dog. Therefore they are less prone to genetic health conditions and have a high quality of life. The breed is known for its hardiness, strength and amazing athletic abilities. The first breed standard was drawn up in the USSR in 1951 by the Russian Kynological Federation. The Hortaya Borzaya is a very rare breed, with only 3,000 estimated to be in existence. Mostly they remain popular in rural parts of remote rural Russia, although a small number are known to be in other European countries such as Germany and Finland. According to speculation, the first Hortaya Borzaya was exported to America in 2005. Elusive, swift, robust, yet gentle and loyal, the Hortaya Borzaya dog is an enigma that endures to this day.

Hortaya Borzaya Breed Appearance

The Hortaya Borzaya has a lean but well muscled body, long slender legs and a narrow wedge shaped head that is supported by a long muscular neck. While the dog appears lean, it is surprisingly robust and possesses immense strength and stamina which enables them to run all day. Bred to be a working dog, they have adapted beautifully to the often harsh climate and are known to make up to 10 pursuits per day to provide food for their master. Not surprisingly this hard working dog has a deep chest, a broad back and well defined withers. They have a tucked up abdomen and a long saber like tail that often has a curl at the end. Their body is elegant, and their face is chiselled perfection with a long pointed muzzle, a black or brown nose, and large almond shaped eyes that often have a black rim around them. The Hortaya Borzaya has short ears that are thin and flop back in line with their eyes. They come in many colors and have short fur that is very dense to enable them to keep warm during the winter months. The Hortaya Borzaya is beautiful to watch when they are running at full speed; they have a grace and fluidness that seems effortless and truly graceful.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Amber

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Brown

Coat Color Possibilities

Pied

White

Black

Red

Brown

Brindle

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Hortaya Borzaya Breed Maintenance

The Hortaya Borzaya is very easy to maintain, as they have a short yet dense coat which only requires a weekly brushing. They rarely need a bath as they keep themselves very clean, but a rub down with a soft damp cloth will take care of any dust or dirt on the coat. Bathing will be needed if the dog has been through any mud, but use a mild dog shampoo to retain the natural oils in their coat which protect them from the elements. A hunting dog may require bathing more often after being out in the weather; companion dogs will not require it as often. While your Hortaya Borzaya is still a puppy, get them used to having their ears cleaned, nails clipped and train them to enjoy having their teeth brushed. It is so much easier to train a puppy than it is to change the habits of an older dog. This breed of dog is a very hardy one; they have been used to caring for themselves, so maintenance is very minimal.

Brushes for Hortaya Borzaya

Pin Brush

Comb

Deshedder

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Hortaya Borzaya Temperament

The Hortaya Borzaya have spent years adapting and adjusting to their working life, with breeding focusing on their purpose rather than their appearance, yet they are an elegant and beautiful dog. They are known for their friendliness and loyalty to their master and family, and aggression is not a common trait. Bred to work alone or in a pack, this dog enjoys the company of other dogs and gets on well with pets and livestock. However, they are a hunting dog with strong instincts to take off after fast moving small animals as is their nature, so caution around smaller pets is needed and they must be kept on a leash when out walking. They can be aloof and have an independent nature derived from their ability to hunt on their own and bring back what they have caught. Smart yet obedient, they should be socialised early in life to be fully integrated into family life. They are affectionate and loyal, but due to their friendliness, they are not good watch dog material. The Hortaya Borzaya excels in competitive and racing events and has excellent agility; they could excel in a variety of disciplines. This dog has existed for eons on scraps and small meals of bread and oats, so their diet should be minimal; check with your veterinarian regarding the best food for this dog. High protein diets are known to cause intolerance within the breed, and bloat can be an issue if you feed them too much. Bloat can be a life threatening condition without veterinary intervention. A young dog will need a specialised diet to enable them to grow to their full potential. The Hortaya Borzaya is a rare dog breed, with most still living in their place of origin, still hunting for prey to feed their master.

Hortaya Borzaya Activity Requirements

The Hortaya Borzaya is an extremely active dog, bred to hunt and run all day so they have specific exercise requirements. This dog makes an ideal companion for a marathon runner, competitive jogger or cyclist. Wide open spaces are best for the Hortaya Borzaya dog, although some have adapted to city living. You need to remember that they have a finely honed hunting instinct which cannot be trained out of them. Therefore a leash is vital for this dog. Gentle with children and family members, they also get along with other dogs well and will enjoy ball games, especially fetch games. Throw the ball as far as you can, and they will retrieve it. They will play for hours, are resilient, energetic and very athletic. This pooch is no couch potato, and like many dogs they need to burn off their energy. The moment you confine a dog like this for any amount of time, that energy has to go somewhere and that is when you get behavioral problems such as chewing everything in sight, digging, and sometimes aggression. The Hortaya Borzaya will need two long challenging walks each day to maintain their health. They respond well to training and activities such as obstacle course training, and other physical sports are an excellent outlet for their abundant energy. Of course, they are a perfect hunting companion, and for larger game they will track and hold at bay until you come to dispatch the game.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
16 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
120 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Hortaya Borzaya

Similarly Sized Breeds to Hortaya Borzaya

Hortaya Borzaya Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
Daily Cost
$1.50 - $1.90
Monthly Cost
$39.00 - $52.00

Hortaya Borzaya Height & Weight

6 Months

Height: 11.0 inches
Weight: 11.5 lbs

Height: 10.5 inches
Weight: 10.0 lbs
12 Months

Height: 19.0 inches
Weight: 18.5 lbs

Height: 17.0 inches
Weight: 16.0 lbs
18 Months

Height: 27.5 inches
Weight: 30.0 lbs

Height: 24.0 inches
Weight: 25.0 lbs

Written by a Golden Labrador Retriever lover Jean Brewer

Published: 04/11/2018, edited: 02/24/2021

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