BORZOI

APPEARANCE
This type of dog is also known as a Russian Wolfhound. These are amazing dogs for their beauty but also for their temperament. They have a very long but thin and narrow head shape and they have an arched muzzle. The coat of these dogs is silky, and is either wavy or curly. The coat comes in a range of colors including solid white, white with markings, black and tan, red sable, brindle, red, and others. The weight of the Borzoi is around 75-100 pounds and these dogs weigh in at around 26-33 inches.

PERSONALITY
They are very smart dogs and at the same time are very affectionate to their owners. They are as enthusiastic about hunting and working beside their owner as they are spending time with the family. They suffer depression and separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods of time. They are extremely sensitive, intelligent, and free thinking.

TRAINING
As sight-hounds Borzoi require constant attention and restraint. They are often considered to be hard to train for their free spirit and their own mind. They require basic obedience and socialization. If you are to train them, you do need to use positive training methods. When training a Borzoi, it is important to remember that it cannot understand harsh treatment or tolerate punishment, and will be very unhappy if a raised voice is part of its daily life.

EXERCISE
In order to stay healthy, the Borzoi requires enough room to run. They are large animals that often need to be running and playing. They make excellent jogging and walking companions provided they are very securely leashed. They are relatively inactive indoors but will become bored and destructive if left alone for extended periods of time. It is not advisable to allow a Borzoi to run loose, especially near busy roads or streets.

SOCIALIZATION
The Borzoi gets along okay with other large dogs, but is something of a chaser and therefore should not be let loose on small animals. Socializing your Borzoi with cats, dogs and people will help the dog to be better adjusted in social situations and restrain his natural chasing instinct. This breed is usually quite reserved when it comes to strangers. He is generally a sociable animal that get along well with older, considerate children.

LIVING CONDITIONS
They are able to adapt to apartment dwelling provided they are sufficiently exercised. If the Borzoi is to be left alone for long periods of time, provide a crate or a kennel run built outdoors.

GROOMING
The Borzoi needs to be brushed twice a week. Because they do take good care of themselves, for the most part, it is likely that you will be able to bath them very infrequently. The hair between their toes needs to be trimmed and they need this taken care of so that they do not have painful feet.

HEALTH ISSUES
The Borzoi has a life expectancy of around 9-13 years. The most common serious disease found in a Borzoi is Bloat (gastric torsion,) which is common in deep-chested breeds. Many owners recommend feeding the Borzoi on a platform in order to avoid Bloat. Less common diseases in the Borzoi are cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism and cardiac arythmia.

HISTORY
The Borzoi is a sighthound and they originated in Arabia but were later on brought to Russia. They are known as Russian Wolfhounds and were owned by the Russian nobility. Like their name suggests, the Borzoi were used to hunt down wolves. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1891.

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