 |
|
Borzoi
Bonnie Dalzell, MA
Dog Group: Hound (AKC) Coursing Hound (Group 10 FCI)
Registration Organizations: AKC with online copies of the Breed Standard
National Club Name:
Borzoi Club of America
- Recording Secretary: Shen Smith, PO Box 175 Elk Rapids, MI, 49629
- Corresponding Secretary and Breeder contact: Karen Mays 29 Crown Dr Warren, NJ 07059
- Rescue: Barbara Skinner (908) 859 4554 (New Jersey)
Author, Breed Description:Bonnie Dalzell, MA
- Original Purpose: These are large coursing hounds bred to hunt on the open steps of Russia. They are sighthounds, chasing their fleeing quarry as long as it is in sight. The commonest quarry was the large Russian steppe hare and the fox. They were also used, usually in trios, to course down wolves.
- Breed History:
- Earliest record: 1100 AD
- Country of Origin: Russia
- First Year of Registry with AKC 1896
- AKC Registration Statistics: In 1996 this breed was the 80th in popularity among AKC breeds.
1996 Regs 1994 Rank 1994 Regs 1987 Regs 1982 Regs 1968 Regs 1134 78th 1070 1227 1366 760 - A Borzoi Historical Time Lineat another site - use your return button
- Size:
- Height (inches):28 min (dogs);26(min) (bitches)
The standard states that Borzoi below these sizes are to be severly penalized but that oversized animals are "not to be penalized as long as extra size is not acquired at the expense of symmetry, speed and staying quality."- Weight (pounds):75-105 (dogs); 55-90 (bitches)
- Eye color:dark preferred
- Lips: a tight lipped breed
- Ear type: the rose folded ear
- Cosmetic Surgeries (to establish 'breed look')? Hind dew claws if present should be removed, removal of the thumbs (fore dew claws) optional. The thumbs function in gripping at the turn in field trial Borzoi.
- Color:All of the genetic colors found in dogs except for Merle, pinked eyed albino and Coranz albino are found in this breed. There is a great deal of intrabreed controversy over color. The standard states that the eyes should be 'dark' which means that the color dilutions which are associated with light eyes - blue dilute and brown dilute, are not desirable since they tend to produce light eyes.
- Coat Type:Silky, long hair. Body coat is 2 to 4 inches long. Long hair on backs of legs, tail and in neck ruff can be 6 to 10 inches long. These dogs do have an undercoat so they normally have two sheds a year. The first with the first warm weather where the undercoat must be brushed out to prevent matting; the second at the end of the summer when the old guard hairs are shed to allow the Borzoi to grow an entirely new coat for the winter.
- Temperment:Along with other sighthounds these dogs have little sense of territory and require a fenced yard and leashed walking. The temperment varies widley from individual to individual and is dependent on early socialization and heritage. Extremes can range from quite shy to rather aggressive. The average temperment is a fairly calm, gentle hound with a potential for unexpected predatory activity towards small animals if not previously trained about small animals. Well socialized, properly reared Borzoi are a delight to own as they are well mannered in public. It is important that young dogs be exposed to other dogs as well as other animals and children so that they will tolerate them as grown adults.
Generally a first time Borzoi owner should consider a female or neutered male. The great grace and delicate appearance of these dogs seems to attract people who cannot control a full grown, intact male. It is important to remember that they are large hunting dogs and not glass unicorns. Properly reared there is, in my opinion, no finer large hound. Poorly reared: they end up in rescue at 18 months of age.
These are hunting dogs, generally with well developed chasing instincts, if they are not properly trained as young dogs they can become quite an effective threat to cats and other small domestic animals. Allowed to run unsupervised in farm areas they may learn to harrass sheep and deer.
- Special Requirements:Fenced yard. Owner who is willing to own a dog that generally cannot be turned free in an unfenced area to run and play. The coats require at least weekly brushing.
- Special Competitive Activities for this Breed:Lure Coursing, Obedience, NOTRA Amateur Racing, Straight Racing, Glass Unicorn Contests
- Breed Pluses:Adults are calm in the house - they will lie in the room with you while you read or engage in some other task for hours. However they may be destructive in that same room if left alone, especially a young dog that is strongly bonded to the owner. They really are gorgeous and they tend to get along well in large groups. The smooth long coats do not readily hold mud, a quick brushing once mud is dried will clean the dog. Little or no hip dysplasia, quiet in the house as adults. The have relatively little doggy odor, even when wet.
- Breed Minuses: They are not trustworthy off lead without a great deal of work. In most cases they will get hit by a car before you have trained them to trustworthyness off lead.
They like to chase things. Properly motivated most of them can clear a 6 foot fence. The growing puppies do not do well if left alone in a small area all day. They are quite capable of and willing to remove anything edible from a kitchen table or countertop without even standing on their hindlegs.
The commonest serious medical problem is Acute Gastric Dilatation and Torsion (Bloat and Torsion). The incidence is no higher than in other breeds of similar size.
Some kennels practice programs of extreme inbreeding (co-efficients of inbreeding ranging from 25% to 45%). In my opinion a person who purchases an animal this inbred should understand the genetic consequences of such high inbreeding co-efficients. Net.Pet has an article on this matter. In general their approach to formal competitive obedience generally is summed up by the following scenario:
- Owner "Sit"
- Borzoi looks around for a REALLY comfortable place to sit.
Occasional individuals actually like to do obedience and are fun to train, but most obedience titled Borzois are the result of skilled work on the part of the owner/trainer. On the other hand most adult Borzoi are naturally low key and fairly well behaved so that intense obedience is not necessary for a mannered pet. Puppies and adolescents must be taught to respect humans.
- Who should own this breed?
Patient people who like a split personality dog that lies around inside but wants to run like the wind (and maybe not come back) when outside. People who like lovely but predatory things. People who want a dog that is quiet when they are in its presence.
- Who should not own this breed?
People who think they don't need a fence because they have acreage in the country. People without fences who live next to flocks of sheep. People who expect a high degree of instant obedience out of a dog. People who don't like brushing a dog. People who want a really interactive dog often feel the Borzoi is snubbing them or that it dislikes them. Because these are hunting dogs with very quick reflexes they are not suited to a person who wants to wrestle and rough house one-on-one with their dog. Borzoi that think it is ok to grab and snap at people in play can become very dangerous, especially to small children.
- NetPetsŪ articles of related interest:
- About Windhounds
