Description

The Borzoi is an excellent dog. This type of dog is also known as a Russian Wolfhound. Their bodies are much the same as that of a Greyhound in size and structure. These are amazing dogs for their beauty but also for their temperament. They fit within the realm of a dog that can be appreciated by anyone that is looking for one. For those with a lot of room, the Borzoi will fit right into your family unit.

As a very tall dog, the Borzoi commands attention. They have a very long but thin and narrow head shape and they have an arched muzzle. A tell tale characteristic of this dog is its tail. They are long and curved but they hang low against their backside. In addition, the coat around the neck of this dog is very thick and ruffled, giving it a unique look. When you look at the dog face on you will see that he has dark eyes that have their own unique shape of being oblong.

The unique shape of the Borzoi is only one condition that makes it unique. These dogs are very beautiful animals that fit within a family well.

You will need to walk him at least one time a day, but it is even more beneficial to provide your pet with a fenced in yard where they can run freely as that is what these dogs are well known for doing. If you live in an area with limited space, do be sure to find a location for him to run and play in.

Coat Description

You will then be able to notice this dog for its beautiful coat. Unlike many other dogs, their coats are silkily and even wavy. You will find that some will have curls in their coat hairs. The coat is generally longer and heavy. Around the neck area is a very thick ring of fur, making them look like they have very large shoulders.

History

When you consider the Borzoi in terms of history, you are likely to find this bred along side the wealthy. They were first thought to be brought from Arabia into Russia in the 17th century. Nobility then took them and bred them with dogs that had much longer hair, hence the current coat of this animal. They were used and became very good wolf hunting dogs. This is where they get their other common name of a Russian Wolfhound!

Because they were such successful hunters, their popularity spread widely and within a matter of years they were found in various countries throughout Europe. They were very well known in the British aristocracy for many years. They were often given as gifts to the royalty in fact.

The Borzoi still has wonderful hunting abilities, but over time they became better known for their abilities in terms of companionship, making them just as important nonetheless.

Temperament

When it comes to temperament, you will find the Borzoi to be an amazing animal. They are very smart dogs and at the same time are very affectionate to their owners. You will enjoy a dog that is very aware of his family and very much willing to protect them. They are loyal animals to their owners. Being that these dogs are hounds there can be a bit of the characteristics of those dogs which includes having their own free will. In some situations, they will not be good for training because of this feature.

A feature that many enjoy about the Borzoi is just how "good" they can be. They are quiet, self taking care of animals. They prefer to be clean and will help to make that happen on their own. In addition, they are not loud animals and often are happy to be quietly sitting in the background.

Take them outdoors, though and you have another story. Because they are sign dogs they are very much well built animals as well. That means that they are fast and they will explore whatever and wherever they feel like. They are hard to train in terms of property boundaries because of this.

To bring the Borzoi into your home, you should take the time to socialize them with others as well as with children and smaller animals, especially cats. They are territorial and will protect what they feel is their own property. More so, outdoors they are likely to chase after animals and are likely to get their prey for their fast build. If you have younger children or small animals in the home, do expose them to the Borzoi carefully and when the Borzoi is a young dog to help them to grow up knowing that these housemates are okay. In addition, these dogs often like to be resting not playing hard with children.

Thyroid Disease - High Risk

The Borzoi ranks #28 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. There is a high risk of obtaining a dog that will develop thyroid disease. For this reason you should make sure you, or your breeder, are testing all dogs before breeding.  It may even be a good idea to test dogs that you don't plan on breeding so that any instance of disease can be traced back to breeding pairs and eliminated.

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

The Borzoi is a very strong animal and often does not have a lot of health problems to worry about. You may find that they are very demanding of a healthy diet though. They require good nutrition because of their size and the importance of keeping up with their very strong muscles, intense speed and their bone structure. If you are looking to care for this dog, pay special attention to his diet.

Along with this fact is the fact that the Borzoi can also be a very picky eater. They are not often likely to turn away food but they want and often demand quality. You will find that they can also become bloated which can leave them uninterested in playing or daily activities.

You will need to feed your Borzoi often. Instead of one or two larger meals, the Borzoi needs to be given several smaller meals throughout the day. This will help with digestion and with keeping from becoming uneasy throughout the day. The dog will want to rest and often nap after he eats so do not plan on a lot of playing at this time. Give him time to nap.

In terms of other health conditions, Borzoi are often temperamental with medications. You will find that overall they are healthy animals. They are susceptible to common illnesses that dogs get but are not especially prone to anything. What's more, they do require vaccines like other dogs do to remain healthy.