Borzoi

All you need to know about the breed

The canine embodiment of grace and beauty, the Borzoi was originally bred by Russian aristocracy as a hunting and coursing dog, prized for their speed and agility. One of the tallest sighthound breeds, the naturally aristocratic Borzoi may look like it belongs in an 18th-century oil painting of a royal hunt; however, the affectionate Borzoi would much rather be with their human families.

As for their appearance, the Borzoi is tall and narrow with long, muscular limbs that ooze elegance with every move. Thanks to the Borzoi’s silky double coat that comes in all colours and varies from straight to wavy to full-on curly, the breed does well in cold weather—not surprising considering they were bred to endure frigid Russian winters. While Borzois do require consistent grooming, they actually clean their own coats much like cats do. Can we get a meow with that bark?

Intelligent and calm, the Borzoi can be stubborn. Firm but gentle training given with natural authority will get the best results. A one-family kind of dog, the Borzoi is neutral if not friendly with strangers. To ensure their best behaviour around small children and other animals, it’s best to socialise your Borzoi as early as possible.

And while the Borzoi adapts well to indoor life, their sofa-surfing should be counterbalanced with plenty of regular exercise. Just remember: The Borzoi is prone to chase at every opportunity. Your Borzoi should remain on the lead in unfenced areas. They can always satisfy their need for speed in a secure, enclosed space!

The Borzoi breed can be traced back to 17th century Russia, where nobles crossed Arabian greyhounds with Russian sheep dogs to produce a fast, impervious-to-weather breed capable of chasing down and tackling rabbits, foxes and wolves. These lavish, large-scale hunts were a cherished tradition of Russian nobility for centuries involving up to one hundred Borzois and just as many servants.

The emancipation of Russian serfs in 1861 meant such large-scale hunting expeditions were no longer possible and the Borzoi population sharply declined. Soon afterward, the breed’s connection to the aristocracy proved lethal as many met the same demise as their owners after the Russian Revolution of 1917.

Luckily, the Borzoi was spared from extinction thanks to a few dogs offered as gifts to royals overseas and others imported by foreigners, namely in Britain and America, where breeding programs were soon established.

First registered by the AKC in 1891, the Borzoi was still known to the English-speaking world as the Russian Wolfhound. However, this changed in 1936, when it was decided to rename them Borzoi, after the Russian word “borzii”, meaning swift.