Borzois are one of the most versatile dog breeds out there, with these canines being used for many different things.
With the breed originating from Russia, throughout history they’ve been used for all sorts of different activities and jobs. With Borzois being so versatile, we look at the different personality traits they have and the different uses for the four-legged companions.
Pets
First of all, the obvious way that Borzois are typically used is as pets. The breed is caring, loyal, and friendly – making them a great option to consider as a pet.
Suitable for families with no dogs, they’ll keep you on your toes with their energetic nature, with enough energy for 3 or 4 dogs in one body. However, they fit in great with a pack of your furry little friends.
Extremely playful and always ready for exercise and games, Borzois get on great with other dogs similar to them, such as Border Collies.
Young kids will love having a Borzoi! As friendly and lovely as they are, they also know how to play and socialize with kids and the rest of the family. If you’re looking for a breed that’ll love playtime, then this is it.
Owning a Borzoi is no easy task, they’re instinctive and independent. They require an active schedule full of feeding, playing, and exercise. However, they are very intuitive with other animals and humans alike. Despite their stubborn nature, this particular breed is very affectionate dogs, especially with their family and other dogs of similar sizes. The key to a strong bond with your Borzoi can be patience and control, keeping them comfortable with their surroundings.
Be sure to be careful about your dog getting distracted by other animals. If your Borzoi spots something running around, then it might be tempted to chase it, even if it’s not on your property.
When walking your dog for exercise, do your best to keep it on a leash as much as possible. This way you stay stress-free and your dog doesn’t run away.
Hunting Dogs
Going back hundreds of years, the Borzoi breed is thought to have originated from Russia in the 17th Century. Made by crossing Arabian sighthounds with a thick-coated breed, Borzois were originally bred with the specific intention of being used as hunting dogs. Because of their independent nature and their obedience, they made great hunting dogs and were able to take commands and run ahead of the rest of the group to try and hunt their target.
See also: Borzoi vs Hortaya Borzaya
In the 1800s, Borzois were used to track and hunt down wolves in the wild. They were expected to find and pin down the wild animals, waiting for the hunters to turn up. This was one of Russia’s most popular sports before the emancipation of Russia’s serfs in 1861.
The breed almost died out, if it wasn’t for some devoted Borzoi lovers keeping the breed going!
Due to their instinctive nature with hunting and chasing, it makes Borzois an incredible breed of dog for competitions, especially coursing. Selective learners, Borzois can often get bored with mindless tasks, needing non-repetitive training and a lot of motivation.
With the right training routine and positive encouragement from the right trainer, Borzois can be a formidable entry into any competitive obedience or agility trial competition.
Methods such as baiting and may work well for certain individuals, however, they may not work at all for others. Baiting is when a dog is rewarded with a treat for positive behavior, like completing a trick or following instructions.
Placing food in a certain location is a good way of getting the dog to move to a certain location, moving through or around obstacles.
Do Borzois Make Good Therapy Dogs?
Because of the Borzoi’s independent nature and their prey drive, they may not be the best breed that you’d associate with therapy. However, because of their good training abilities, they may be able to be trained as individuals to become these sorts of animals.
It’s known that Borzois are very intuitive and can pick up on the smallest changes in their handler’s mental state or their emotional wellbeing. Because of this, Borzois could be trained to become a sort of therapy or anxiety service dog.
Facts About the Borzoi
The Borzoi is one of the tallest breeds on the planet, standing at 32 inches from shoulder to feet. It’s the second tallest sighthounds in existence, behind the Irish wolfhound. The standard weight for a fully-grown Borzoi is around 120 pounds!
A sighthound is exactly what the name sounds like. They have a wide field of vision with around 270-degrees in their field of sight. To put it in comparison, a human’s field of vision is around 180-degrees, a third less than the Borzoi’s!
They have what’s known as a ‘streak’ across their retina. A streak is a group of cells that help to increase the dog’s line of vision. Unique to retrievers, sighthounds, and other hunting dogs, this feature helps the Borzoi to spot its prey from long ranges. This made them the perfect hunting dogs throughout the snowy forests of 18th Century Russia. On top of this, the Borzoi’s sense of smell is between 10,000 and 100,0000 times more powerful than ours.
Before 1936, the Borzoi was known as the Russian wolfhound by people in the United States. However, their name was changed to Borzoi to match the other international kennels, The name ‘Borzoi’ quite literally means ‘swift’ in Russian. This sums up their energetic nature!
Did you know that the Borzoi’s head takes around three years to reach its final shape? Initially, their heads start a lot shorter with a bent nose, which is a huge difference from how fully-grown Borzois look. Approximately five weeks into their lives, their nose begins to straighten out and fill out a bit more. Then over the next couple of years, their heads can grow up to another 10 inches. With their pointy thin nose, thin body, and long tail, Borzoi are very long dogs!
Borzois are very clean, as far as dogs go. It’s a quality that’s quite similar to cats and means that they’re quite easy to groom. They have an instinct to clean themselves, which means you don’t have to clean them as often as you would with other dog breeds. Their slick and smooth coat is well-maintained and you can tell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Borzois bark a lot?
Like most sighthounds, Borzois are very sensitive, one-family dogs. They make for great watchdogs and will bark at anything they find inquisitive or uncomfortable. In general, borzoi bark less than other breeds. However, they’re not aggressive dogs, so this is probably about as far as they will go to protect you!
Are Borzois rare?
Yes, the Borzoi breed is fairly rare today. According to the American Kennel Club, Borzois were placed 103rd in the rankings for the most popular dog breed of 2020.
How much do Borzois cost?
The cost to adopt a Borzoi is roughly $300, to pay for the expenses of caring for the canine before adoption. However, purchasing a Borzoi from a breeder can be significantly more expensive, costing anywhere from $900-$5000.
Do Borzois shed a lot?
As expected, the Borzoi has a thick and long coat to suit the cold weather from which they originated. Their coat sheds and needs to be brushed 2-3 times a week to keep their coat clean and to prevent knotting.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now understand just how versatile Borzois are. From hunting game to the humble family pet, now you know everything you need to know about what loveable Borzois are used for.
