Borzoi

This article is about the domestic dog breed. For the rural locality in the Chechen Republic, see Borzoy.

The Borzoi^[a] or Russian Hunting Sighthound^[b] is a Russian breed of hunting dog of sighthound type. It was formerly used for wolf hunting;^[2]: 125 until 1936, the breed was known as the Russian Wolfhound.^{[2]: 130 [3]}

Borzoi
Other names	Russian Wolfhound Russian Hunting Sighthound Russkaya psovaya borzaya
Origin	Russia
Traits Height Males 75–85 cm (30–33 in)[1] Females 68–78 cm (27–31 in)[1] Weight 27–48 kg (60–105 lb)[2]: 130  Coat medium length, silky and wavy, short length Colour any colour Litter size up to 11[citation needed]
Kennel club standards Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

Etymology

The system by which Russians over the ages named their sighthounds was a series of descriptive terms rather than actual names. Borzoi is the masculine singular form of an archaic Russian adjective that means 'fast'. Borzaya sobaka ('fast dog') is the basic term for sighthounds used by Russians, though sobaka is usually dropped. The name psovaya derived from the word psovina, which means 'wavy, silky coat', just as hortaya (as in hortaya borzaya) means shorthaired. In modern Russian, the breed commonly called the Borzoi is officially known as russkaya psovaya borzaya. Other Russian sighthound breeds are stepnaya borzaya (from the steppe), called stepnoi; and krimskaya borzaya (from the Crimea), called krimskoi.^{[4][failed verification]}

History

The Borzoi originated in the sixteenth century Russia by crossing Saluki and European sighthounds with thick-coated Russian breeds.^[5][6]

The Borzoi was popular with the Tsars before the 1917 revolution. For centuries, Borzois could not be purchased but only given as gifts from the Tsar. Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich of Russia bred countless Borzoi at Perchino, his private estate.^{[7]: 10 [8]}

The Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya was definitively accepted by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1956.^[9]

• 
  Borzoi owned by Max Hartenstein, Berlin, Germany, 1879
• 
  Borzo by a Chair (St George Hare, 19th century)
• 
  Wolf hunting with borzois (1904), Efim A. Tikhmenev
• 
  Sarah Bernhardt, portrait by Georges Clairin

Description

Appearance

Borzois are large Russian sighthounds that resemble some central Asian breeds such as the Afghan hound, Saluki, and the Kyrgyz Taigan. Borzois come in a variety of colours.^[10] The Borzoi coat is silky and flat, often wavy or slightly curly. The long top-coat is quite flat, with varying degrees of waviness or curling. The soft undercoat thickens during winter or in cold climates, but is shed in hot weather to prevent overheating. In its texture and distribution over the body, the Borzoi coat is unique. There should be a frill on its neck, as well as feathering on its hindquarters and tail.^[11][12]

Temperament

The Borzoi is an affectionate and athletic breed of dog with a calm temperament.^[13]

In terms of obedience, Borzois are selective learners who quickly become bored with repetitive activity, and they can be difficult to motivate. Nevertheless, Borzois are definitely capable of enjoying and performing well in competitive obedience and agility trials with the right kind of training.^{[7]: 113 [14][15]}

Coat gallery

• Coat colours
• 
  Red
• 
  Black
• 
  White and yellow-and-white
• 
  Red and white
• 
  Black and white
• 
  White and brown
• 
  White and grey
• 
  White and sandy

Health

A 2024 UK study found an average life expectancy of 12 years for Borzois, with a sample size of 43, compared to 12.7 for purebreds and 12 for mongrels.^[16]

An American study looking at echocardiographs of clinically healthy Borzoi found 53.8% to have heart murmurs, 30.2% to have trace or mild mitral regurgitation, 36.1% to have mild tricuspid regurgitation, and 14.4% to have cardiac disease.^[17]

Notes

1. Russian: борзо́й borzói, meaning 'swift' in Russian;^[18]: 149 English plural either 'Borzoi'^[19] or 'Borzois'^[20][21]
2. Russian: русская псовая борзая, romanized: russkaya psovaya borzaya, lit. 'Russian long-haired sighthound'