Dignified, gentle, graceful and regal sums up a Borzoi. They have a sweet and calm disposition and make loyal companions. A daily run and snooze on the couch is a day well spent for this dog.

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This court-jester originally came from Russia and its love of cold weather means you will often find your Borzoi stretched out on cold tiles. They are often described as a greyhound robed in a long, silky coat. The picture of grace and aristocracy, this regal dog is proud, elegant and strong.

They have a gentle, calm disposition and are good-natured, although they don’t enjoy rough-and-tumble play. They are friendly to children who are calm and gentle but will otherwise ignore rough play and won’t be their playmate. They prefer being the only pet, but if socialised early on, will befriend dogs of a similar nature. It is in their instincts to chase after fleeing animals so your nervous cat or rabbit won’t be a great fit. They are a sensitive, dignified, gentle giant that will move quietly and stealthily through the house. Take them outside though and they’ll be faster than a lightning bolt. From 0 to 100, your Borzoi will take off into a powerful, driving gallop.

Fun fact: It is thought a Borzoi was originally referred to as

Russian Wolfhound. Their name was changed to Borzoi in the 1930’s.

It translates to ‘swift’ in Russian.

Borzois are smart, intelligent dogs who can learn commands quickly but can be slightly stubborn. They are sensitive and don’t adapt to change well. They can be slow to housebreak and will clown around during training. They rarely bark, which doesn’t make them ideal watchdogs, however your neighbour will never complain either. While they enjoy being a couch potato and watching the latest series on Netflix with you, make sure they get daily exercise otherwise they could become destructive and bored.

Borzois are moderate shedders and regular grooming is ideal for this breed. Brush twice a week and trim hair between the pads of their paws regularly. Borzois are sight hounds and have a 270-degree field of sight, compared to humans 180-degree field.

Scheduled six-monthly health checks and visits to the vet are important to ensure your dog is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. It’s important that together with your vet, a preventative healthcare program is determined and maintained based on the individual needs of your canine companion. Borzois are prone to bloat and metabolic bone disease. They are also known to be sensitive to flea treatments and anesthetics.

Size

A large-sized breed weighing 34-41kgs with an average minimum height of 68-74cms.

Space

They are large dogs that with proficient exercise can be apartment dogs. They love being close to their family.

Energy Levels

They have high energy levels. A daily run and lots of games will keep this dog happy.

Difficulty Of Training

Intelligent dogs that learn quickly, but do show signs of stubbornness. Consistency and patience is key.

Family suitability

Great family pets and loyal companions.

Suitability to other pets

They prefer being the only pet, but will get along with similar dogs.

Need for company

They have a high need for company and enjoy being by their human’s side at all times.

Hypoallergenic dog breed?

No

Coat and grooming needs

This breed requires moderate-to-high maintenance. Brush three times a week and trim the hair between the feet pads. They have a short medium coat in white, gold, red, grey, black roan and patched.

Shedding

They shed moderately.

Tendency to bark

They have a low tendency to bark so don’t expect much noise.

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