Borzoi: A Breed Of Dog Developed In Russia
The borzoi is a graceful and elegant looking dog. It originated to fulfill hunting tasks in open terrain. To perform this function, this race has keen eyesight and can run at great speed.
The Russian greyhound or borzoi had its moment of maximum glory in the court of the tsars. At court, he was raised with great skill to hunt the Siberian wolf.
Also ideal hunter of small animals, it is an affectionate and obedient dog with its owner, but extremely suspicious towards strangers. It is also known as a barzoi or Russian domestic dog.
Borzoi history and background
The Russian aristocracy bred the borzoi for several hundred years. Its name comes from the Russian word borzyi , which is translated as ‘fast’.
In the 13th century, hunting hares was a popular sport among aristocrats. After two or three centuries, it was common to cross hunting dogs to increase the size and improve the coat of the original breed.
The first specimen of the borzoi was documented in a hunting rulebook in the 17th century. There is documentation of the care that was given to these hunting dogs at the Russian court.
The importance of this breed is revealed in one of the documents found about a hunt by Grand Duke Nicolai Nicolaevich. At the time, more than 100 Borzoi hunting dogs, along with other scouts, horses and hunters, traveled long distances by train to participate in the event.
At the end of the 19th century, there were seven different subtypes of the borzoi breed in Russia. Grand Duke Nicolai Nicolaevich preserved the borzoi race that descended from the Perchino race.
Most of the first imports to America were brought directly from the Grand Duke’s kennels. The Russian tsar gave many borzoi to visiting royalty. The Russian Revolution ended the prosperity of the nobility and, later, many dogs of this breed died.
In the United States, this breed of dog became famous as a glamorous dog that accompanied movie stars. The borzoi is popular as a pet and is primarily prized for its elegant appearance and its value as a hunting and display dog.
Physical characteristics and temperament
The borzoi have an elegant and aristocratic demeanor. It has a long, silky coat that can be curly or smooth and wavy. Its beautiful fur is vital for adapting to extremely cold climates.
For hunting, this breed runs at a very fast pace and is, at the same time, more robust than greyhounds. Plus, it has jaws powerful enough to catch a wolf.
He is generally good with children and shy with strangers. The borzoi is an ideal specimen to keep as a companion dog because of its good character.
In the open air, the dog runs free and even chases small animals. This dog is recognized for its independent and sensitive nature.
Borzoi care and health
They work best as house dogs if they have easy access to a yard. A borzoi can reside outdoors in cold weather as long as warm shelter and soft bedding are provided. The male has a fuller coat than the female and, in both cases, requires brushing two or three times a week.
This breed of dog needs to get a good amount of exercise every day. Due to its hunter nature, it has a lot of accumulated energy.
In addition, it has an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, but the Borzoi breed is prone to significant health problems, such as gastric torsion. These animals can also suffer from less serious problems such as cardiomyopathy and hypothyroidism.
Borzoi react adversely to barbiturate anesthesia. To identify some of these problems, your veterinarian may perform periodic thyroid and cardiac exams on this breed of dog.
