Borzoi: Your Complete Guide
The borzoi is a dog breed with many interesting characteristics. They are affectionate and loyal dogs with an elegant look that captures attention. Borzois appear slim, but they are incredibly sturdy dogs that can weigh a considerable amount. They are athletic dogs with a long history of hunting down large animals, including wolves.
The borzoi isn’t very popular in the US – perhaps due to the breed’s history, which we’ll cover below, but these dogs can be great companions for families looking for a single dog.
Our article will guide you through everything about the borzoi, covering their physical features and temperament to care needs and trainability. Read on to discover if the borzoi is the right dog breed for you and your family.
Quick Look at the Borzoi
Below is a quick look at the borzoi. We’ll cover each point comprehensively in the later parts of the article.
| Weight/Height | 105 pounds / 26-33 inches |
| Coat Type | Medium-length silky coat |
| Grooming Needs |  |
| Shedding |  |
| Temperament | Affectionate, sensitive, loyal |
| Good With Kids | |
| Good With Other Animals | |
| Intelligence | |
| Easy to Train | |
| Energy Level |  |
| Barking Habits | |
| Lifespan | 9-14 years |
What Is the History of Borzois?
The borzoi is a dog breed originating from Russia, believed to be the descendant of the saluki crossed with European sighthounds and thick-coated Russian dog breeds. The elegant appearance of the breed, coupled with their majestic silky coat, made the borzoi a popular breed among the Tsars, the Slavic monarchs.
The breed was associated with the monarchy so deeply that not everyone could own a borzoi. If you wanted a borzoi, the dog must have been gifted from one of the Tsars. One of the most notable figures among the Tsar who contributed to the breed’s popularity was Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia.
However, the breed’s association with the nobility made them a target during the Russian Revolution, where they were hunted down en masse by the communist forces. This dark part of the borzoi’s history still has an impact on the numbers of the breed to this day.
Borzois were imported to the United States and England in the late 19th century. These imported dogs ensured the breed’s survival. The AKC recognized the borzoi in 1891, but the breed’s name at the time was the Russian wolfhound. The AKC changed the breed’s name to borzoi in 1936.
What Do Borzois Look Like?
The borzoi is a dog breed with numerous coat color potentials. Some of the typical coat colors are white, brindled sable, sable gold, silver brindle, and black and cream.
Besides the coat, the borzoi is well-known for its long skulls and goofy looks. The skull shape is one of the recognizable features of the borzoi that also gives them a 270º vision compared to the 180º vision of humans.
What Size Is a Borzoi?
The borzoi is a large dog breed and one of the largest sighthounds. In fact, it is only second to the Irish wolfhound. Females stand between 26 and 30 inches, and males can reach up to an impressive 33 inches tall at the withers. The silky coat masks much of their muscular frame, but adult borzois can grow up to 105 pounds.
What Is a Borzoi’s Coat Type and Length?
Borzois have medium-length silky coats ranging from straight to curly in texture. The coat around the head, front legs, and ears is short and smooth. The neck has a solid build of wavy to curly hair, with feathers on the tail and hindquarters.
The coat length and texture give the borzoi a majestic appearance, especially when running. The elegance of the breed, along with the dignified personality, is what made the borzoi a popular companion among the Russian nobility.
What Is a Borzoi’s Temperament?
The borzoi is an affectionate and loving dog breed with a sensitive nature. They bond strongly with their owners and do better in quiet homes where they will become the only pets in the household.
Although loving, borzois are far from lap dogs. They have a very athletic build meant to run endlessly. These dogs thrive in active families that can provide them with daily activities that challenge their bodies and minds.
Below, you’ll learn more about the borzoi’s temperament, touching on the breed’s family life, aggression, barking habits, and more.
Are Borzois Good With Kids?
The borzoi forms a strong bond with everyone in the family, including kids. They are generally calm-tempered dogs that act gently around children.
However, these dogs have a sensitive side. Borzois don’t do well in households with loud children who want to play rough with their dogs. Children in the family must be taught how to greet dogs and respect their space, especially when the dog is busy with something, such as eating or enjoying a chew toy.
The same as any dog breed, an adult’s presence will ensure borzois and kids get along well with each other. Considering the size of this breed, they may hurt children without intending during playtime, so an adult’s supervision is essential when kids and these dogs are having fun.
Are Borzois Good With Other Animals?
Borzois are good-natured pups that don’t look for a fight with other dogs. They are polite and don’t mind the presence of other dogs during walks and at parks. However, borzois may just ignore other dogs after a quick interaction. Borzois mainly want to spend time with their owner and aren’t as much interested in the attention of other dogs.
Being sighthounds, borzois have a strong prey drive. They aren’t the best pets for families keeping prey animals like Guinea pigs and hamsters. Cats can be an exception to this sometimes, especially if raised together.
Are Borzois Aggressive?
Borzois aren’t inherently aggressive dogs. Although they have a high prey drive coming from their hunting lineage, they don’t make attempts to challenge strangers or unfamiliar dogs.
However, borzois keep a dignified attitude in the presence of new people and animals. This neutral attitude that’s almost unsociable shouldn’t be mistaken for aggression. They simply show little to no interest in others and only seek the attention of their people.
Regardless of their sweet temperament, borzois must be socialized early to ensure they grow up to become well-mannered dogs. During puppyhood, they should meet strangers and play with other dogs so they do not perceive unfamiliar faces as a threat.
Do Borzois Bark?
Borzois don’t bark much. They are gentle dogs that enjoy quietly watching over what’s going on around them. However, if something particular gets their attention, like a squirrel in the yard, a borzoi may bark due to their strong instincts to chase after them.
This personality trait of the borzoi makes this breed an ideal companion for individuals and families living in apartments with noise restrictions, making them great large apartment dogs.
Are Borzois Affectionate?
With everything we’ve discussed about this breed so far, it’s no surprise that the borzoi is among the most affectionate dog breeds. They bond strongly with every member of their family and only seek their attention. As far as a borzoi is concerned, their world revolves around their people.
Despite having a generally affectionate and friendly personality, borzois are only devoted to their family. As mentioned above, they aren’t too interested in receiving love and attention from strangers. It takes a long while for borzois to allow new people to go from strangers to friends.
Are Borzois Intelligent?
Borzois aren’t the smartest dogs, though they have an average, sometimes high level of intelligence combined with independent personalities. They aren’t interested in pleasing their owners by doing what they are told, but they are interested in becoming their loyal companion who always stands by their side.
Are Borzois Energetic?
Borzois are athletic, high-energy dogs that benefit from daily physical and mental exercise. The athleticism of the borzoi makes them an ideal companion for long hikes, agility training, and intense playtime.
Assuming that not every dog owner is going to be able to provide this much physical exercise to their dogs, daily walks of 90 minutes should be enough to keep a borzoi healthy and happy.
Borzois might be sighthounds, but they have a very keen nose. Scent work, both indoors and outdoors, is an excellent way to provide them with the enrichment they need. Incorporating such activities can help your borzoi engage their mind just as much as their body.
Are Borzois Easy to Train?
We’ve mentioned that borzois can be independent-minded. This personality trait worked great for what they were bred for in Russia, which was hunting independently from their owners. During training, however, this can be a big challenge, especially if you want your borzoi to learn complex tricks.
Training these dogs isn’t the easiest, but it can be more manageable by incorporating what your borzoi likes. While most dogs would do anything for a tasty treat, a borzoi may find more value in praise, pets, or a quick playtime. Also, training should be short and brief, yet consistent each day, to prevent boredom.
Are Borzois Good Watchdogs?
The borzoi isn’t a guardian dog breed. They don’t have a desire to protect a given territory, though they have a high drive to chase after game animals like foxes and hares. Although they were also utilized as wolf hunters, they didn’t fight wolves but chased after them to the point of exhaustion.
With all these and their quiet nature, borzois don’t make good watchdogs. Any guarding duty shouldn’t be expected from this breed unless a squirrel ends up in your backyard.
Are Borzois Good Service Dogs?
The affectionate and loyal side of the borzoi are excellent qualities to have in service animals, but their trainability makes it challenging to turn borzois into reliable workers. The borzoi’s attitude towards strangers also rules this breed out for therapy work.
However, this doesn’t mean that a borzoi can’t help their owner in other ways. These dogs make great emotional support animals with their loving temperament. However, not every pet can become an emotional support animal. There are ESA requirements the owner must meet, not the dog.
How to Care for a Borzoi?
The borzoi can be both a low or high-maintenance dog breed, depending on how challenging it is for you to handle their needs. This breed requires a lot of physical exercise and benefits from mentally enriching activities. Most importantly, the sensitive nature of the borzoi requires the owner to provide affection above all else.
On top of these, borzois have their own grooming, health, and feeding needs. You’ll learn more about what it takes to care for a borzoi below.
Do You Need to Groom a Borzoi?
Borzois doesn’t need a lot of attention from the owner in terms of grooming. These dogs have medium-length fur that doesn’t frequently require trimming. Since the silky coat isn’t prone to tangles and matting, brushing twice a week is enough to keep the coat in top condition.
Besides the coat, daily dental care, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and paw care should be an essential part of the grooming routine of a borzoi.
Do Borzois Shed?
Borzois shed moderately year-round. The medium-length coat requires brushing every few days to manage shedding. Bathing should be done when a borzoi is dirty or develops an unpleasant smell. However, if shedding becomes difficult to manage, it can be more frequent as it will help remove dead fur from the coat.
With that said, the borzoi isn’t a hypoallergenic dog breed. If you have pet allergies, size and shedding levels of this breed may not be ideal for you.
Borzoodles, the borzoi and poodle mixes, can be an ideal companion for those with pet allergies who want to adopt a borzoi but are intimidated due to their allergies. These hybrid dogs can have a hypoallergenic coat due to a poodle parent.
What Health Problems Do Borzois Have?
The borzoi is generally a healthy dog breed. These dogs suffer from very few ailments, and many are health conditions affecting large breeds. Elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, and eye problems like progressive retinal atrophy are some of the canine health problems these dogs may inherit genetically.
Breeders must screen their breeding stock for these health conditions. During the adoption process, ask the necessary questions and watch for red flags to weed out irresponsible breeders.
Lastly, the borzoi, like other large dog breeds, is susceptible to bloat, a life-threatening condition. Borzoi and other large dog owners must educate themselves about the early signs of bloat and how to ensure the well-being of their dogs.
How Long Do Borzois Live?
The borzoi has an average life expectancy of 9 to 14 years. Considering the size of the breed, the borzoi is one of the longest-living large dog breeds.
What Should a Borzoi Eat?
Your borzoi should eat high-quality dog food appropriate for their size, activity levels, and age. When deciding what to feed a borzoi, consulting a licensed vet will ensure you’ll find the best dog food.
Is a Borzoi the Right Dog for Me?
The borzoi is a sensitive dog breed with an affectionate and loyal side. This breed forms strong bonds with their family members and enjoys the companionship of their people more than other dogs.
The borzoi is a relatively low-maintenance dog breed for individuals and families with an active life. They don’t have demanding grooming needs. Brushing the coat twice weekly is enough to maintain their majestic appearance and keep shedding in check.
While easy to care for, the sensitive nature of the borzoi makes these dogs not-so-ideal for large families with loud children. This breed thrives in households where they can quietly sleep on the sofa after quality playtime and exercise. The borzoi is a more suitable breed for individuals and couples without children or families with older children.
Borzois also can’t be home alone for extended periods. They can develop separation anxiety, which can lead to behavioral issues. With all this said, the borzoi can be the right breed for individuals and families living an active life with enough time on their schedule to be with their dogs.