Borzoi
A Russian aristocrat built like a swept-back arrow — silk outside, sprinter within.
Vital stats
| Size | Very large · 68–85 cm |
| Weight | 25–47 kg |
| Life expectancy | 9–14 years |
| Energy | Moderate — sprint bursts, then sofa |
| Shedding | Moderate–high, seasonal |
| Coat | Long silky coat · any colour, often white with patches |
| Group | Hound · FCI №193 / AKC |
| Origin | Russia |
| FCI group | 10 — Sighthounds · FCI 193 |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
The Borzoi by the numbers
The Borzoi facts owners search for most — price, lifespan, weight, shedding and colours, in one place.
Widely bred, so you can usually find a litter from a registered breeder without a long wait. Ongoing costs run high — more food, bigger doses at the vet, and pricier insurance. Its coat also needs a professional groom every few weeks — a real line in the budget.
We don't quote a single figure: the real price swings with breeder, region, bloodline and health testing — and a rescue costs a fraction of a breeder's litter. Adopting is almost always the cheapest route.
Temperament
For centuries Russian estates kept whole kennels of Borzois for grand wolf hunts — dogs that worked in near-silent pairs at breathtaking speed. The modern Borzoi keeps the pattern: calm to the point of aloofness at home, gentle and undemonstrative, then pure velocity the instant something runs. Sensitive by nature, it wilts under harsh handling.
Habits & quirks
Professional lounger
Between sprints it drapes itself over furniture like a discarded fur stole.
The silent type
Borzois rarely bark; whole days can pass without a sound.
Roach and stretch
The arched loin isn't posing — it's the spring behind the double-suspension gallop.
Selective hearing
It heard you; it's simply weighing whether your request beats the view from the window.
Health
The Borzoi is a lean, deep-chested sighthound, and its shape sets the two health notes worth knowing. Like other deep-chested breeds it can suffer bloat, where the stomach fills with gas and may twist — a real emergency, so feed calm, unhurried meals and learn the warning signs. And heart conditions turn up in the breed, so ask a breeder about cardiac screening in their lines. Day to day the lean frame matters too: with so little body fat over that racy build, a Borzoi wants a padded bed rather than a hard floor, and it is a sensitive soul that does far better with gentleness than with a hard hand.
Nutrition
| Containment | Never trust recall against a fleeing cat or rabbit — allow off-lead running only in securely fenced areas. |
| Exercise | A couple of good daily walks plus regular chances to sprint flat-out; between them it's remarkably lazy. |
| Grooming | Brush the silky coat two or three times a week, daily during heavy seasonal shedding. |
| Health | A deep-chested breed: learn the signs of bloat, feed calm unhurried meals, and ask breeders about heart screening. |
A Borzoi is meant to be lean — the greyhound-like outline that looks almost too thin on another dog is right on this one, with a hint of the last ribs showing. Feed good, measured meals to hold that light, muscled frame, and split them across the day rather than one big bowl: as a deep-chested breed it is better off not gorging in one go, then resting quietly afterwards. Do not be tempted to feed a Borzoi up to look 'normal' — the lean weight is the healthy one, and the extra padding does its long back and joints no good.
Puppy guide
A Borzoi puppy is a gentle, slightly reserved thing that grows very tall, so the early days are about settling a sensitive dog rather than wearing him out. Keep exercise easy and low-impact while the long limbs are still growing, and socialise him softly — force frightens this breed, it does not firm it up. Get him used to weekly brushing before the coat comes in properly, teach recall early while remembering the prey drive is always there, and give him a warm, padded place of his own from the start.
Training
Borzois are intelligent but independent, and sighthound obedience is a negotiation rather than a reflex — with patience and rewards they comply thoughtfully, in their own time, never like a switched-on retriever. Keep it gentle: a Borzoi wilts under harsh handling and simply shuts down if you raise your voice. Recall is the honest limit, because the instant something runs the chase takes over and you have stopped existing, so save off-lead running for securely fenced ground and keep the lead on everywhere near roads.
Life expectancy
Borzois live 9–14 years. For such a large dog the Borzoi lives a fair span, and holding one at the top of it is mostly steady, sensible care: keep him lean, feed calm split meals, know the signs of bloat, and buy from lines that screen for heart disease. Add a soft bed for that bony frame and the gentle handling this sensitive breed needs, and a Borzoi passes most of a long life exactly as it likes — draped over the furniture between sprints.
Similar breeds
Breeds with a similar build and background — worth a look if this one isn't quite the fit.
Breeds that look like this
Common questions
Are Borzois good pets?
Yes, for calm households: they're quiet, clean and gentle indoors. They need secure sprinting space and won't suit homes wanting a bouncy, obedient retriever type.
Can Borzois live with cats?
Sometimes, if raised together indoors — but the chase instinct is hard-wired, and outdoors even a familiar cat may trigger it. Small pets are a genuine risk.
Are Borzois easy to train?
They're intelligent but independent — with patience and rewards they comply thoughtfully rather than instantly. Sighthound obedience is a negotiation, not a reflex.
Does the Borzoi shed a lot?
Moderately. The Borzoi sheds a fair amount, steadily through the year with heavier seasonal patches. A weekly brush keeps most of the loose hair off your floors and clothes.
Is the Borzoi hypoallergenic?
Not really. No dog is truly hypoallergenic, and the Borzoi's shedding coat releases plenty of the dander that sets off allergies. If someone at home is allergic, this isn't the easiest breed to live with — spend time around one first.
Is the Borzoi good with children?
They can be. The Borzoi is reasonably sociable and can be good with children in the right home, especially when socialised early. Supervise around young kids and teach dog and child to respect each other.