Borzoi Mastiff mix dogs are rare. If you find one, they’re likely to be giant in size, family-loving, laid-back dogs. However, they can also be high-maintenance when it comes to grooming, training, and financial expenses.
These giant pups cost a lot to feed and might be difficult to handle because they can surpass 200 pounds! Early training and socialization is vital, or you may end up with a dog who’s wary of strangers and who over-guards, sometimes to the point of aggression.
Reliable recall may be next to impossible to train due to the Borzoi’s hunting instincts, and they may be high-maintenance in the grooming department if they inherit the Borzoi’s long, curly coat.
Learn more about this mix below, from their temperament to how the puppies might look!
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Borzoi Mastiff Mix
The Borzoi Mastiff mix is quite unpredictable in appearance and temperament because it comes from two vastly different parent breeds.
They’re sure to be giant, family-loving, and present training challenges. We don’t recommend this mix for first-time dog owners.
Between the Borzoi’s prey drive and the Mastiff’s guarding instincts, you might end up with a dog that’s incredibly difficult to handle.
It’s not all bad, however—just be prepared for a high-maintenance dog going in!
| Lifespan | 6-14 years |
| Energy | High |
| Grooming | Low-High |
| Trainability | Difficult |
| Size | Giant |
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Appearance
This mix is giant in size—that’s almost your only guarantee when it comes to what the puppies will look like! They’ll range from 60-230 pounds and stand over 26 inches tall.
They can take after either of their parent breeds. Some mixed-breed dogs look just like one of their parents, while others are a fairer mixture.
A Borzoi Mastiff mix pup might have long, skinny features, a long nose, and a deep chest like a Borzoi, or be stocky and barrel-chested like a Mastiff.
Their fur could be long and curly or short and high-shedding. They may or may not have the defining black mask of a Mastiff, and their coat might be apricot, brindle, fawn, black, cream, gold, red, sable, white, or a combination of these colors.
Borzoi faces are long and triangular, while Mastiffs have wider heads and shorter muzzles. Both breeds have fairly small, triangular ears.
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Cost
Borzoi Mastiff mix dogs come with quite a few complications, and for this reason, we don’t recommend breeding them or purchasing one from a breeder. Rescue is the way to go if you’d like to adopt one of these pups.
That said, most rescue dogs cost under $500.
Adopting from a Rescue or Shelter
Your best bet at finding a Borzoi Mastiff mix is at a Mastiff, Borzoi, or sighthound rescue group. Remember that this mix is rare, so you’re unlikely to come across one.
You might consider looking into similar breeds depending on what you like about this mix. You may even come across the perfect dog when you begin looking into the rescues listed above!
Of course, you can also browse your local shelters and rescues that take in all breeds. The more specialized groups will only help to narrow your search.
Finding a Breeder
We don’t recommend shopping with a breeder because there is no way to ethically breed Mastiffs. They are purposefully bred to have shortened, or brachycephalic, muzzles, which makes it difficult for them to breathe.
No one should ever breed a dog who will face challenges doing such basic, life-sustaining things as breathing.
Brachycephalic dogs also struggle to exercise in hot weather and are susceptible to heatstroke. Other problems associated with a shortened muzzle include eye problems, skin disease, digestive disorders, urinary tract infection, dental disease, pneumonia, and intervertebral disk disease.
While Borzoi Mastiff mix pups may not be born brachycephalic, the risk is too great for a responsible breeder to attempt.
Lifetime Expenses
Initial costs to purchase a dog add up. Consider that your new pup will need food and water bowls, toys and enrichment items, leashes, collars or harnesses, brushes, and veterinary care.
You might choose to hire a trainer or bring your dog to the groomer on occasion to keep up with their coat.
Throughout your dog’s life, they’ll also have ongoing costs like routine veterinary care, food, and replacement items due to wear and tear.
The initial cost will seem like nothing if you add up what you spend on a dog throughout their lifetime, and it’s important to be prepared for this.
It also helps to keep a savings account or purchase pet insurance so that you don’t have to worry about money if your dog has a health crisis.
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Temperament
As with appearance, a puppy can inherit their personality from either parent. This makes Borzoi Mastiff mixes very unpredictable.
You might find a dog who’s been balanced out by his two parent breeds, with a lessened prey drive due to their Mastiff heritage and a non-existent guarding instinct thanks to their Borzoi ancestry.
On the other hand, a puppy might end up with all of the more difficult traits, such as a high prey drive, tendency to wander, guarding instincts, animal aggression, and a high maintenance coat. That’s quite the list!
It doesn’t make for a bad dog—just a challenging one, certainly not suited to those without experience training dogs.
Both parents are family-loving, sometimes to the point of clinginess. It’s important to teach them how to be alone for short periods, but not to leave them for long stretches of time. They’re best suited to families where someone is home most of the day, rather than a single person with a full-time job outside the home.
Socialization is key, as Borzois are naturally wary of strangers and Mastiffs have strong guarding instincts that can cause aggression if not properly handled.
This mix should learn manners and how to interact with people and pets early on in life. You can’t have this giant dog thinking it’s okay to jump on people, for instance!
You’ll also find that this mix loves life’s luxuries. Both parent breeds like to lounge on furniture and enjoy comfort. While they’re high energy, they’ll also love a snooze on the couch between exercise and aren’t likely to nag you on a slow day.
One big plus with these dogs is that they’re not hyperactive, but can still be ready to go when you are!
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Exercise
These dogs need a lot of exercise, but you’ll have to take precautions if they inherit their Mastiff parent’s snout.
Short-muzzled breeds like Mastiffs have low exercise tolerance, particularly in the heat, and are very susceptible to heatstroke. Their giant size makes overheating even more likely.
Still, fully-grown Mastiffs benefit from walking a mile or two each day. They also need time to play and run in an enclosed space, like a fenced-in backyard.
Don’t be surprised if they lay down and refuse to keep moving. This means they’ve reached their exercise threshold. Never force them to keep going; instead, end the exercise when they’re ready.
It might be a good idea to stay close to home until you learn what your Mastiff can handle.
Borzois can take more exercise, though they were bred to sprint—not necessarily for endurance. They also love being able to race around a large backyard with a tall fence, which will stop them from jumping out.
If your dog has the high prey drive of a Borzoi, it’ll be vital to keep them on-leash or enclosed at all times so that they don’t run away. Since they run at top speeds of 40 miles per hour, you’d be unlikely to catch up!
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Grooming
No matter which parent your dog takes after, a Borzoi Mastiff mix should be brushed once every few days—and more often during their shedding season.
Borzois have thick, curly coats that must be maintained to prevent matting. They also benefit from a regular bath to keep their fur healthy and smooth.
Mastiffs have short coats that shed a ton! Therefore, we advise brushing them regularly to remove shed and distribute oils, keeping the coat beautiful and healthy. They can be bathed as needed.
If your pup takes after their Mastiff parent, they’ll also need any folds in their skin cleaned regularly. This mix might also drool profusely, which will need to be wiped up.
Their nails should be trimmed once monthly, and their ears and teeth should be cleaned regularly as well.
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Environmental Needs
These dogs would be a struggle to keep in an apartment. They much prefer a home with a large, fenced backyard.
They aren’t big barkers and likely won’t annoy the neighbors, though they might stand guard and give a bark or two if they notice something they find suspicious, like a stranger nearby or even the mail carrier.
Well-socialized dogs shouldn’t have trouble with people, but both breeds can be wary of strangers. Watch for those who take after the Mastiff parent with intense guarding instincts as they might become aggressive without proper training.
Both breeds can do well with children and other pets, particularly if they’ve lived with them since puppyhood. However, they’re large enough to knock a child down on accident or step on a smaller pet and cause injury.
In addition, the Borzoi prey drive might make cats and small dogs seem like prey. Know the dog’s history going into adoption, and make introductions slowly and carefully. We don’t recommend adopting a Borzoi Mastiff mix who hasn’t lived with smaller pets in the past, particularly if their prey drive is high.
Never leave children and dogs unattended, and watch your Borzoi Mastiff mix when children are running. They shouldn’t be allowed to chase, as this can end in injury even accidentally.
Lastly, ensure the dog is kept leashed or enclosed at all times. Borzois have a high prey drive and if your pup takes after their Borzoi parent, they’ll take off running after any kind of perceived prey.
Borzoi Mastiff Mix Health
Borzoi Mastiff mixes are prone to a variety of conditions, including:
- Bloat (GDV)
- Sensitivity to anesthesia
- Elbow and hip dysplasia
- Eye conditions
- Heart disease
- Heatstroke
- Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Epilepsy
- Allergies
- Skin conditions
The Borzoi parent might pass down a deep chest, which makes the dog prone to bloat. This deadly condition kills 30% of affected dogs, so it’s vital to know the signs.
Symptoms of bloat include:
- Enlarged abdomen
- Retching
- Drooling
- Restlessness
- Pain in the stomach area, especially when touched
Sighthounds are also known for anesthesia sensitivity, and it’s important to work with an experienced veterinarian for any required surgeries.
Like most large breeds, this mix has an increased risk of elbow and hip dysplasia.
Mastiffs are prone to skin conditions due to the folds in their skin. They may suffer more easily from heatstroke and a variety of other complications due to their brachycephalic muzzle.
Breeding these two dogs can eliminate some of the problems listed, particularly if the parents aren’t predisposed to any genetic health conditions. However, you might also end up with an unhealthy dog with more health issues than a purebred due to their parent’s genetics.
Borzoi Mastiff Mix History
There isn’t much known history about the Borzoi Mastiff mix. However, both parent breeds are longstanding breeds that faced near-extinction at some point in their history.
Borzoi History
The Borzoi was first bred in Russia in the 1600s. They were used to hunt wolves in large events hosted by Russian nobility.
Of course, they were bred for the complications that such hunts could bring. Borzois had to be strong, fast, and tolerant to cold Russian winters.
In the mid-1800s, the large kennels kept by the nobility diminished. Russia’s serfs were emancipated, and without this exploited labor, the nobility could no longer manage their grand estates.
The breed was brought back to life by Nicholas Nikolaevich in the late 1800s. He kept a large kennel that, at one time, housed hundreds of dogs and horses, including 190 Borzoi.
Mastiff History
Mastiffs come from an ancient breed over 5,000 years old, the Molosser. The breed’s exact heritage is unknown, but it was likely first bred in Asia as a livestock guardian.
Over the years, Mastiffs were used to guard livestock, homes, and families. Unfortunately, they were also used in war and for sport as fighting dogs. Ancient depictions showcase them fighting large, wild animals like lions and bears.
When this type of animal fighting was outlawed, the Mastiff faced near-extinction, only to be brought back as dog shows gained popularity.
Another near-extinction took place during the World Wars, when food shortages made these giant dogs difficult to feed. Luckily, they were again brought back and are now a very popular breed.
Even better, most Mastiffs today are beloved family pets—not forced to fight in human wars or pitted against wild animals for entertainment.
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