Borzoi puppies

About the Borzoi

The Borzoi was bred by the Russian aristocracy to course wolves across open country, hunting in pairs and running the quarry down by sight and speed alone. This is a tall, narrow sighthound with a deep chest, an arched loin and a long silky coat that lies in waves and curls. Indoors they are quiet, clean and undemanding, given to lying on the furniture for hours at a stretch. Outdoors the same dog becomes something else entirely the moment a rabbit or a cat moves.

Exercise means daily walks plus room to gallop inside securely fenced ground, because a Borzoi off lead follows their eyes and hears nothing. The coat wants a brush every day or two with a pin brush or comb, and a heavier session once a year when it drops. Training is slow going: this is an independent dog that cooperates rather than obeys, and heavy handed correction simply closes them down. However good the recall seems, keep the lead on in an open park.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Borzoi puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by radiographic evaluation of breeding stock
• Osteochondritis dissecans, a joint cartilage problem of growing dogs, diagnosed by x-ray
• Progressive retinal atrophy, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
• Anaesthetic sensitivity common to sighthounds, which the vet should be told about before any procedure

Your Borzoi puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Borzoi.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 27.2 to 47.6 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 47.6 kg; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other large breeds

More on the Borzoi

Previous: Bordoodle · Next: Boston Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Borzoi breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/borzoi/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.