Rare Breed Monday: Borzoi

Borzoi image from akc.org

The Borzoi is a Russian breed originally created to hunt on the open plains of Russia, and were used in hunting parties with more than 100 dogs. This is an old breed with the first written breed standard dating back to 1650.

The Russian aristocracy have bred the Borzoi for hundreds of years, and there are records trailing back to the 13th century where long hounds are mentioned. The first Borzoi in America arrived from England in 1889, and in 1903, Joseph B. Thomas made three trips to Russia to import dogs to establish the breed here.

Back in the day, the Borzoi was often used for hunting wolves. Today they're popular for lure coursing and as pets. They are very fast - can run up 40 mph - and make fantastic pet as they are intelligent, gentle, and independent.

A Borzoi requires daily exercise, and it is important to remember the breed's strong hunting instinct. If something moves, the dog will give chase. They are quite big - males measure at least 28 inches at the shoulder and often weigh over 100 lbs - but they are also graceful and can move in narrow spaces without knocking things over.

~ Maria Sadowski ~