Borzoi – A Member of the Sighthound Family

A post originally written in February 2020 at the request of Yogev Ofer, for a dog training group and to introduce people to “my” breed – the Borzoi.

Many people ask me about “my” breed, so I decided to share this article I wrote a year ago (slightly shortened, but yes – still long, because every word matters!)

Borzoi – A Member of the Sighthound Family

Let’s talk about this amazing and noble creature, the royal aristocrat of the dog world, historically associated with the Russian Tsars and nobility. A refined dog, and at the same time strong and impressive – a source of inspiration to artists and poets across the ages. Just look at the wealth of artworks depicting these magnificent dogs – from paintings and sculptures to other beautiful creations. Even today, many Borzoi owners come from the world of art – painters, sculptors, musicians, actors, and more.

And by the way, the meaning of the word “Borzoi” says a lot about their character – in Russian, it translates roughly to “impudent” or “shameless” :) Yes, yes… that’s exactly what they are! You're here for them. Your job is to serve them!

A Bit of History

The Tatar nobility adopted the practice of hunting with swift, narrow-bodied hounds from the Arabs, whose lands they had partially conquered in the 13th century.
Russian nobles living near Central Asia saw the charm and thrill of sighthound hunting and wanted to develop a new type of dog — one that combined the speed and elegance of the sighthound with the power and courage required to hunt in smaller, patchy fields and forested areas.

This dog needed to be fast, strong, and brave, capable of sprinting over short distances, and adapted to Russia’s harsh, snowy winters. And of course, appearance mattered! As true nobles, they wanted a dog that would reflect their own prestige and nobility.

Around the year 1600, the Borzoi was considered officially “born” when Tsar Boris Godunov sent envoys to Persian Shah Abbas I, and among the diplomatic gifts was a pair of Russian sighthounds – Borzois.
In 1888, the first official and well-accepted breed standard was written by Ermolov.

The Borzoi has endured great hardships — from the Russian Revolution to World War II — and the breed came very close to extinction.

A hundred years later… I fell in love with the Borzoi breed :)

It all started in 1988, when I was a 12-year-old girl. My mother and I were walking past a park in my hometown, Saint Petersburg, Russia (yes, of course! :) ), and we saw a Borzoi walking with its owner. We asked what that magnificent and rare creature was that we had never seen before — and the rest is history...
We got our first Borzoi, Antei, and I dove headfirst into this world, learning the names and pedigrees of the dogs of that era, going on weekend trips with Borzoi enthusiasts, participating in field races, shows, and just meeting up to talk about our plans and our dogs.

In 1998, I moved to Israel, and my last and most beloved Borzoi, Roskosh, stayed in Russia with my mother. She was already older, and I couldn’t bring her with me — especially not to Israel’s new and strange climate. She passed away in 2001.

At the time, in Israel, I had a dog we adopted from a shelter — a striking and beautiful white wolf-like dog — but I was always searching for Borzois. I went to dog shows just to catch a glimpse of one, searched the internet, stared at old pictures of my dogs, and even dreamed about them, sometimes crying at night.
Yes, it might sound strange, but when a Borzoi becomes an inseparable part of you — there’s no going back.

I personally love everything about them! First of all, their breathtaking appearance — I’m also an artist and have drawn many sketches and portraits of them. Every time I look at how they lie in their weird and wonderful poses, I want to draw them… or at least take a photo.

Borzois are a very quiet breed indoors. They barely bark, their coats have no typical "dog smell", and their fur is as soft as silk. You could even say they’re hypoallergenic — though of course, it depends on each person.
Their coat doesn’t require special care. Our male Tzar, who has the most fur in our home, I brush him once a week, or once every 10 days… or even once every two weeks.

I only bathe them before a show — maybe 2 to 4 times a year — or if really needed. People often say their coat “cleans itself,” and it’s true! Even mud can dry and fall off, and with a good brushing, they already look quite clean. Of course, you can always wash their long legs or wipe them with a cloth — it’s really convenient, in my opinion.

And do we have a house full of hair because of how many Borzois live with us? Not really. In the morning, I sweep the hallway and collect a handful of fur about the size of my palm — which honestly isn’t bad compared to other breeds we’ve had.
They have one or two heavier shedding periods a year. Females shed more; males less. The males also tend to have fuller and more impressive coats — I call them our “peacocks.”

The typical Borzoi personality is calm, easy-going, and affectionate with people, kids, and attention in general.
They come to greet you — or your guests — with a very special Borzoi “smile” (a toothy grin that might look a little scary if you’re not familiar with it). We explain to people that they do it when they’re happy or asking for something. Not every Borzoi does this, but if the parents are “smilers,” the puppies usually are too.

They get along pretty well with children — they’re gentle and aware of their size, and they do their best to adapt to the situation.
They generally live in perfect harmony with other animals in the house. We’ve always had cats along with Borzois, and our dogs never attack cats outside, either.
We’ve even had parrots, quails, and rats... It all depends on proper puppy socialization, consistent training, and supervision.

Borzois are very lazy and love sleeping pretty much all day. I often joke that they’re in a coma and even check to make sure they’re still alive 😄 But once you take them to a field, the beach, nature, or the dog park — suddenly you discover the perfect creature built entirely for insane sprinting... which, by the way, can reach up to 70 km/h!

Borzois are giant dogs. Their life expectancy is around 10–13 years, and generally, they’re a very healthy breed.
Their height ranges from about 65 to 90 cm (males are usually taller than females), and their weight ranges from 25 to 45 kg.
Despite their size, they’re incredibly compact — they can curl into a perfect circle on a tiny armchair. Yes! They love couches! They’ll always prefer to lounge on soft, elevated furniture rather than the floor... They’re royalty, right?

Their character can sometimes be stubborn or uncooperative (remember what “Borzoi” means? 😉), sometimes they’re escape artists, and sometimes reactive toward unfamiliar dogs outside.
It all depends on the individual dog’s personality, which is shaped largely by early socialization. The more time and effort you invest in shaping your puppy’s character, the more balanced and easygoing they’ll be as adults.

Abroad, many Borzois are involved in therapy work. Here in Israel, there was once a Borzoi who did this too. In my opinion, they’re truly gifted in this field.

Borzois aren’t big eaters, but they’ll happily help themselves to anything tasty left on your table — if you let them 😉
And if you don’t — but you forget to put it away or leave it unsupervised — well, chances are you won’t find it again 😅

For those interested in Borzois, the first thing I mention is their strong prey drive.
They’re incredibly responsive to movement — anything flying, running, or fluttering... Once they’re “in the zone,” they may not listen at all.
They might chase something and get far away from the owner, which can be scary. But they do remember where they started and where their person is (unless the person already left to go looking for them).
Most often, they’ll return to the same spot. At least that’s some comfort!
But again, it depends on the dog. Some stay close and run only near their person, never straying far.

Something flying in the wind, a running cat, or an off-leash dog — that’s all a huge trigger!
So apologies to those who like to walk their dogs off-leash in parks — even if your dog is super sweet and friendly, and you’re totally okay with him roaming around — if he suddenly runs toward mine and I’m not rooted to the ground... well, that might be a problem.

Common Health Issues in the Breed:

Like all sighthounds, Borzois have some specific vulnerabilities.
Sudden death due to collisions while running is a known (though rare) risk.
Heart conditions are relatively common in the breed, so periodic checks with a cardiologist are recommended.

One condition to be aware of is Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) — a slowly progressing spinal disease that typically appears after age 8.
Responsible breeders do genetic testing to avoid producing puppies who may develop this.

Also, gastric torsion (bloat) is a known risk for all large dog breeds and requires awareness and care.

Today I live with four adult Borzois in an apartment with a balcony. (This was written in 2020 — things have changed since then! 😊)

We go out in the mornings (usually by car) to a field near home where they can run free. Afternoons and evenings are for pee breaks and strolls in the neighborhood.

Every time we walk down the street or go into the city for socialization, we attract tons of attention — always!
It starts with:
“Wowwwww what ARE these amazing creatures?”
“They’re stunning!”
“Are they Salukis?”
“Are they Greyhounds?”
“Can I take a photo?”
...and sometimes you hear some hilarious ones:
“Is that a sheep?”
“A camel?”
“A goat?”
“What is that, really, is it a dog?”
...and yes, sometimes even:
“That’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen.” 😂
But one thing is for sure: you’ll never go unnoticed with a Borzoi.

The most frequently asked questions we hear:

• Is that an Afghan Hound?

• Is that a Saluki?

• How do you run them all the time? Don’t they have to run 20–50 km a day?!

• And all of these live with you??

• Do you have kids? (By the way — yes, I do. A son and a daughter 💙💗)

So… who is this breed for?

Honestly? Borzois are for people who fall in love with their regal and noble appearance.
But choosing a breed based on a pretty picture or an Instagram post? That’s simply not enough.

Before bringing a Borzoi into your home, take time to read, learn, and truly understand the breed. That’s why we put effort into writing and sharing detailed posts — to help people see the full picture of this unique and complex dog.

Borzois are instinct-driven dogs with independent minds — sometimes stubborn, sometimes not the most obedient.
But with the right upbringing, early socialization, and a supportive environment, they can grow into calm, sensitive, happy, and very easygoing companions.

And the beautiful surprise? Many who are initially drawn to their breathtaking looks later discover just how quiet, gentle, and low-maintenance Borzois can be at home. They live in harmony and add grace to any space.

They’re also ideal for people who enjoy long nature walks and understand the importance of responsibility — not just for their dog, but also for the environment, because the Borzoi is still, at heart, a sighthound and a hunter.

They’re great for those who don’t want high-maintenance grooming.

And also…

They’re perfect for social people — those who enjoy being stopped in the street and chatting with strangers. Because trust me, that’s going to happen a lot. 😄

This breed is incredibly photogenic and is often invited for professional shoots.
Our most amazing photoshoot so far? No doubt — with the incredible Gal Gadot on the beach in Caesarea in August 2020, photographed by Dudi Hasson for Vanity Fair US.

And to wrap it all up...

Honestly, I put my heart into writing this.
You can’t fit all the years of living with Borzois into one post.
I hope you enjoyed it, that you felt the connection, that you saw the soul of the breed — between the lines and beyond the words.

Because there’s truly something extraordinary about them.

And…
Borzoi is me, and I am Borzoi. 💫

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