Borzoi
About the Borzoi
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Large (50-100 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 26-28" |
| Weight | 60-105 lbs |
| Coat Type | Long |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
45 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,000-$2,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,500/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Borzois may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Working Professionals
May Not Be Ideal For
- First-Time Owners
Guides for your Borzoi
The story behind the Borzoi
Russian aristocracy developed the Borzoi for the sport of coursing wolves across open steppe, a pursuit organised on a grand scale from the 1600s onward with vast kennels maintained on noble estates. Hounds worked in matched pairs or trios, released by mounted hunters to run down and hold a wolf until it could be taken. Foundation stock combined native Russian sighthounds with imported coursing dogs from central Asia and Europe, and the long coat suited a brutal climate. The revolution of 1917 destroyed the estate kennels and much of the population, but exports to Britain, western Europe and the United States before that point preserved the breed abroad. Today the Borzoi is an uncommon companion and show dog with a following in lure coursing and racing.
Originally bred for: Hunting, Coursing. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Borzoi
A tall, deep-chested, lightly built hound should be kept genuinely lean, with a quality diet supplying good fat rather than bulk. This is a build where divided servings, unhurried eating and calm rest around meals are consistently advised, and sudden rich additions are best avoided.
Watch for: Deep-chested sighthounds are among the breeds where mealtime routine receives the most attention, favouring smaller divided meals and quiet periods afterwards. Sighthounds also have known sensitivities to certain anaesthetics and drugs, so veterinary guidance is important for any dietary or supplement decision.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Borzoi
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.