Borzoi, a hound dog breed, was developed for coursing and hunting in Russia. Aristocratic Borzoi dogs are among the most beautiful dogs admired widely for their calm and friendly temperaments. Hunters took these hounds out in threes to capture rabbits, foxes, and wolves. After introducing the dog breed Borzoi to continental Europe, royalty began to keep them as pets.
Read on to know more about the Borzoi breed.
History
You can actually trace the history of this breed back to Byzantium and the Saluki sighthounds, which traders of the empire brought to Russia. Tsars were fans of Borzoi before the 1917 revolution. A Borzoi was traditionally a gift from the tsar, not for sale. Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich of Russia had a private estate named Perchino, where he bred countless Borzoi hounds.
Characteristics of the Borzoi breed
There are various characteristics of Borzoi dogs that set them apart from other hound breeds:
- Appearance
Your first impression of a Borzoi is its size: these are giant dogs. A male pup is 28 inches tall and weighs 75–105 pounds, whereas a female pup is 26 inches tall and weighs 60–85 pounds. The beauty of the Borzoi lies in the silky fur, the Roman-nosed faces, and the gracefully curving tail. Streamlined and leggy, the Borzoi was developed to sprint across fields at incredible speeds (they can reach speeds of 35–40 mph).
- Personality
The Borzoi breed is known for its gentle nature. However, their personalities range from goofy and silly to quiet and respectful. The Borzoi puppy may seem rambunctious and playful at first, but as it grows older, the Borzoi’s personality becomes calmer and more graceful. However, it doesn’t lose its sense of humor just because it has grown up. There are still moments when he is adorable and goofy.
Borzoi breed dogs benefit significantly from early socialization with other dogs and strangers. Despite their size, the Borzoi does not make a good guard dog. They will alert you to strangers’ presence but rarely act aggressively. They tend to be trusting of people, not shy. Still, Borzois sometimes work aloof toward strangers.
Although Borzois like children, they don’t like rough play. Thus, it’s imperative that you instruct children on behaving in his presence.
- Health
Borzoi dogs have a relatively long life expectancy (9 to 14 years) for their size. Although they do not have many health issues, there are some conditions that owners should keep in mind.
Because of their deep chests, Borzoi dogs are prone to bloating due to gastric dilation-volvulus. Dogs experience this medical emergency when the stomach fills with air and twists, which cuts off all blood flow. Whenever you see symptoms of bloat, bring your dog to the veterinarian immediately. Ask your veterinarian about prevention methods as well.
The illness hip and shoulder dysplasia are rare in the dog breed Borzoi, a genetic condition that causes the joints to dislocate partially. Although it is currently incurable, various treatment options are available if symptoms appear.
Interesting fact: Why are Borzois called sighthounds?
The name “sighthound” indicates that these dogs have a fantastic field of vision. Their almond-shaped eyes are placed frontally on their heads, giving them a 270-degree view. A human’s 180-degree motion is nothing compared to that.
Since they have such excellent eyesight, Borzois were bred to hunt. They were popular among the royalty for two reasons: aristocratic look and hunting skills. Hunters used them for hunting in large packs consisting of 100 or more dogs. These large groups would hunt for wolves, foxes, and hares. They were expected to find and pin wolves and then wait for the hunter to follow.
