TIPS ABOUT BORZOI
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The Russians spent 600 years training Borzoi to be like James Bond...very fast reaction time, very sophisticated looking, and licensed to kill. Borzoi vary in sharpness, but this characteristic must not be overlooked. They may be trained to live with house pets, but may attack the same pets if running loose, as their prey instinct is triggered by moving objects. Many of our live happily with cats (record is with 8 of them!) We have had two that did well with exotic birds.Small pets like ferrets or rabbits would be more at risk. However, the same Borzoi living in harmony with a quiet cat may chase the same cat if it is streaking through long grass. We recommend that they only be kept with indoor cats. |
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Borzoi do enjoy being with other dogs, and usually do better when kept in pairs. Much depends on the temperament of the other dog. If the other dog companions have a secure personality, they usually get along. Common sense supervision is needed if you want to pair up a large and a small dog. We have seen occasional problems playing with smooth coated dogs, as the Borzoi are well coated, and what does not harm them may scratch a thin short coated dog. While they do not need coats, they usually respect the coats needed for Salukis. |
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Borzoi should be free fed non-soy based food, or at the least fed in more than one meal. By the time they are 4 they can go on senior food. They should be kept slim and trim. |
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They can get out of very small openings. Check your fencing for this. They will dig out and lie flat to escape. Railway ties along the fence line will prevent this. They will jump on a dog house roof, so do not locate dog houses up against the fence. Only 6 ft. fencing is adequate. If using a tie out and trolley system, use the blocks to be sure it cannot get to a fence and try to jump and get hung. They will pull bedding outside to lie on it. We avoid problems by having them inside on blankets, and when outside, using straw bedding. I do not know anyone who has indoor outdoor systems who has solved the bedding problem completely. One possibility if the climate is not too severe is to put them on rubber horse matting, which is too heavy to pull. |
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Training must be by motivational methods. Borzoi faults are irritable snapping, touch shyness, picky eating, and roaming. Do not step on them when asleep. Handle them gently and frequently. Use grooming spray and a mat splitter to avoid hurting them while grooming. If they won't allow claws to be cut, muzzle them first. Do not pamper their diet. Give them good quality kibble and biscuits for treats. Some will bait, or train better with food. Some do not. Furry squeak rats can be useful for the non-eaters for training. Borzoi good points are that they do not slobber over your guests and other strangers. They are very quiet in the house and usually are excellent travelers. Most of mine will train with a martingale choke collar (supplied with all our dogs.) These collars are safe as in an emergency, if they are hung up, they can pull out of them. Borzoi shed seasonally, and require a pin brush, a molting comb, a greyhound comb, a mat splitter, and some grooming spray. Shampoo them with the colour for their main colour. |
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Borzoi are natural retrievers. They like rubber ring toys, squeaky porcupines, floating kongs with the string on the end, knotted ropes, and empty fabric softener bottles. Do not give them flimsy toys as they can be swallowed. Some like tennis balls. An excellent toy I have seen has a knotted rope with a tennis ball at each end. These were extremely popular with my Borzoi. |
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It is not safe to let Borzoi roam off lead. Even well trained Borzoi will turn sharp with other pets in some circumstances. Little toy dogs can be at risk. If you like hiking and the area is otherwise safe, train them to tolerate a muzzle such as greyhound sprinters use. Another really good reason for not letting them roam is their coat. It will be ruined by exposure to burrs, and they can be killed by attacking things like porcupines. They can be exercised in fenced areas free of plant and animal hazards. Those that will lure course can exercise with this sport. However, not all that many Borzoi will chase plastic bags. |
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In choosing a Borzoi for show, it is best to read a good reference book such as Borzoi by Murray. In it desirable structure is explained. Borzoi can be shown with any colour or markings. They come in four colours, dominant black (only black and white), red and white (from almost invisible cream to dark red), tri (white, black, tan), and agouti or wild colour, with banded fur often coloured like a wolf or wild rabbit. Within these colour divisions, ones almost all white are called extreme white spotted. Those with markings like Lassie the Collie are called irish marked. Those with no white are called self...of whatever the colour may be. Facial markings can include blaze faces, black masked, and a reverse face mask (which is associated with carrying the agouti colour, a recessive). Borzoi with no visible colour except white would have to be bred to a dog with some colour to determine what their colour was. Dominant blacks can only throw their colour or red. Red and white is dominant over tri. To have an agouti, both parents must either be agouti or recessive for it. Borzoi being shown should have as few missing teeth as possible, and a scissors bite is preferable. Tail carriage is important, and the tail in repose hangs between the legs. Ears should be mobile and carried on top of the head in repose. Eyes should be as dark as possible. Males must have two descended testicles. If you insist on getting a baby puppy, consider the fact that even experts cannot predict the best show animal at 8 weeks. If show wins are essential, you may have to buy a yearling. It is unfair to a dog to buy it as a baby and return it to the breeder if it cannot win in the ring. Even if you can find a breeder willing to have the dog returned and replaced, you should consider this fact before going shopping. |
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If your Borzoi does not turn out to be suited for what you had in mind, if it is healthy and of good temperament, there are many enjoyable activities for any Borzoi. Try it on the lures, teach it to bike on a Springer device, take it backpacking or jogging, do obedience training...one just finished its UD title. Almost all of them can get a CGC certificate, and they are often excellent as therapy dogs. We have found ours to be able to do almost anything, including pull sleds. They are very versatile. while at Rokaro we try to finish all our Borzoi in the show ring and are active in obedience, and try all the young ones for lure coursing interest, being an excellent companion in a good home is also an important achievement. Try to choose a dog you can live with, and fill its life with enjoyable activities...it will be a winner, no matter whether it has titles or not. |
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We expect companions to be spayed or neutered, but will always have excellent Borzoi for sale to approved show homes. We are in contact with a number of other sighthound kennels, and if we have nothing available that is suitable, will be happy to recommend other breeders for your consideration. |
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As well as our other services, we can generate pedigrees for you on Compuped to help with purchase or breeding plans. As well as five generation printouts, a complete genetic profile of the Borzoi is available, and its co-efficient of inbreeding. |
Some of our versatile Borzoi...Baby Tuppence went on to No. 1 Brood Bitch in the U.S. tied with Maritza Vega, and Canadian and American Championships. Elendra won extensively in Canada, after finishing her championship, worked diligently at the kennel in classes for training conformation and obedience. Sally was been a universal favorite, and astonished the clients as a demonstration dog. She loved everyone, and would work with anyone. Fanta, sadly lost to DIC in fall of '98, was as close to perfect as a Borzoi can be. Conformation champion, CD with top placements, F.Ch. in Canada and most of ASFA points in the U.S., CGC, JC, excellent mother and devoted companion. (See her story under articles)
Russian Borzoi Hunt Recreated for Film
To-day's gentler, kinder Borzoi (Below)
With kids...Baby Tuppence and Young Elendra
Relaxing on the couch...Midknight Delta Dawn "Sally"....also loved outings and training classes
Fanta in full extension on the field