Borzoi
俄國獵狼犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Borzoi — once the Russian Wolfhound — is a large, silky-coated sighthound built on the Greyhound template, bred by the Russian aristocracy to run down wolves in hunts of extravagant scale and nearly wiped out after 1917 as a symbol of the nobility. Borzoi are loyal, affectionate and regally dignified: quiet, gentle and catlike in the house, devoted to their family and aloof with strangers, a bit too dignified for roughhousing, and stubborn in their quiet way — training takes patience, consistency and good humour. They need daily exercise in a securely fenced area or on a lead — a running cat or squirrel stirs the chase instinct instantly — a brush every day or two and, as a deep-chested sighthound, an owner alert to bloat and to anaesthesia sensitivity.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 66–79cm |
| Weight | 27–48kg |
| Life expectancy | 9–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: hound FCI: 10 |
| Role | Hound |
| Coat | Long coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 2/ 5 |
| Barking | 2/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
An inherited eye condition reported in the breed; DNA tests and eye examinations are available. Ask your vet or breeder about eye screening.
Heart conditions
Certain heart conditions are reported in the breed; breeders may have breeding stock examined by a veterinary cardiologist. Ask your vet about heart checks at routine visits.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)
Deep-chested dogs of this breed are at risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency. Ask your vet about the warning signs and prevention options.
Cancer
Certain cancers are reported at higher rates in the breed. Ask your vet about regular check-ups and about any new lumps.
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
Osteochondritis dissecans (a joint cartilage condition of fast-growing large dogs) is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about controlled growth and exercise for puppies.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is among the conditions the parent club's health programme tracks in the breed, alongside cardiac screening with Holter monitors, bloat research and hip evaluation. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Behaviour
Quiet, catlike, quietly stubborn
The AKC says that in their quiet, catlike way Borzoi can be stubborn, so training is best done with patience, consistency and good humour; they are affectionate family dogs but a bit too dignified to wholeheartedly enjoy a lot of roughhousing, intelligent and very affectionate with their owners yet independent, and overall gentle, well-mannered companions; its trait chart scores trainability 2/5 and barking 2/5. The CKC says the Borzoi is aloof with strangers, devoted to its family, and possesses a quiet, gentle nature.
Fenced running room is a must
The AKC says Borzoi, though large, are graceful athletes that make good house dogs but need daily exercise — long walks or running in a securely fenced garden — and, being sighthounds apt to chase anything that moves, should always be in an enclosed area or on a leash: it is never advisable to let one run loose; they enjoy agility and lure coursing, and a quick brush every day or two handles the coat. The CKC says that though normally quiet and reserved, the breed was bred to course game and welcomes the chance to run, with lure coursing an excellent outlet; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "loyal / affectionate / regally dignified".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 2/5, barking level 2/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Borzoi
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Borzoi (Hounds)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Borzoi
Breed characteristics (size large, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Borzoi Russian Hunting Sighthound (standard no. 193, group 10)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 'Owning and Caring' page describes an intelligent but independent and sometimes stubborn breed, affectionate with its own family, that settles well on a daily schedule of feeding and exercise. It says Borzoi can be good with children if raised with them but have little tolerance for rough treatment and could easily injure a very small child by knocking it down, so supervision is always needed; that they are good with other animals if raised with them but any small animal that runs may trigger the chase, and an indoor cat that bolts outdoors is at risk; that exercise means running in a safe fenced garden or daily walks on a lead and it is never advisable to let a Borzoi run loose, especially near roads; that basic obedience and socialisation with patience and consistency are recommended; that all long-coated dogs shed, a groom every day or so keeps the coat clean; that Borzoi are surprisingly small eaters for a giant breed and should not exercise strenuously around meals; that bloat with torsion needs immediate veterinary care; that they are more sensitive to anaesthesia than other dogs; and that a healthy Borzoi lives to nine or ten, many to twelve to fourteen. The club's health page adds Holter cardiac screening, degenerative myelopathy, hip evaluation and its OFA health survey.”
— Borzoi Club of America — Owning and Caring for a Borzoi via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Borzoi — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Borzoi — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Borzoi — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Borzoi Russian Hunting Sighthound — FCI standard no. 193 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Owning and Caring for a Borzoi — Borzoi Club of America — Borzoi Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Health Overview — Borzoi Club of America — Borzoi Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.