Fun Borzoi Facts For Kids

Are you a dog lover who is fascinated by large dogs rather than small dogs? Then a Russian-favorite Borzoi puppy or a Borzoi dog can be just the right fit for you.

These dog breed falls under the category of sighthounds which means that an adult Borzoi will chase prey or other small animals based on their sight and not the smell. These dogs were formerly known as the Russian wolfhounds as they were bred by mating Afghan hounds with another unknown dog breed.

An adult Borzoi is pretty large in size and can be considered as an average size dog.

These Russian wolfhound dogs have a very pretty long, silky coat which makes them look extremely adorable. Though this large dog prefers small meals, they have a high prey drive i.e they have an instinct to chase any small animals that are present in their vicinity.

While these dogs are not aggressive, they do not like sharing. It is important to train these dogs properly and provide them with regular exercise as well as health check-ups.

After the end of the Russian revolution, this wolfhound spread throughout Europe. Prior to this, however, they were considered to be a part of the Russian aristocracy.

The Russian breed is such a favorite that there is a Borzoi Club UK and a Borzoi Club America too. If you want to know more about this Russian dog breed, then read on.

If you like these fun facts about the Borzoi don't forget to check out our Airedale terrier and Great Dane facts.

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Borzoi Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Borzoi?

The Borzoi is a domesticated dog that loves to stay alongside humans.

What class of animal does a Borzoi belong to?

The Borzoi breed of dog belongs to the class of Mammalia.

How many Borzois are there in the world?

The Borzoi aka the Russian Hunting Sighthound or Russian wolfhound is a well-known dog all across the globe. They are said to have originated from the dogs that traveled to Russia from various parts of Central Asia during the early phase of the 17th century.

Since this dog is well known throughout the world, it is extensively bred by breeders and in households.

As a result, it becomes extremely difficult to keep track of their count, and currently, the total count of Borzois in the world is unknown. However, it can be estimated that the population of this dog is high and steadily rising owing to its good traits, behavior, and personality.

Where does a Borzoi live?

Borzoi dogs are sighthounds and, as a result, they are one of the dogs that are extensively preferred for hunting purposes. Thus they are kept on farms where they can provide protection to their owners as well as help them in hunting and games. As for staying in households, these dogs love staying with humans.

What is a Borzoi's habitat?

The Borzoi is a native of Russia and is a pure breed of dog which was primarily used as a sighthound for hunting. Initially, they were known as a Russian wolfhound but were later changed to Borzoi.

Being a dog that is adept to hunt other small animals, their initial habitat was in the wild. These traits, accompanied by the snowy and cold climatic conditions of Russia, make them ideally suited to live in cold conditions.

Who do Borzois live with?

Borzoi dogs are adaptable dogs. They can easily adapt to the living conditions. Though they are good chasers they make excellent companion dogs owing to their intelligent, quiet, and diligent nature. They also feel amazed at any entertainment that is brought to them.

As a result, they love human company. They usually have a laid-back nature and are excellent chasers. Thus they are perfect companions for humans.

How long does a Borzoi live?

With an active lifestyle that involves lots of exercise and running, these dogs have a tendency of staying fit and at the top of their health most of the time. However, with the passing of time, these dogs develop a tendency to catch diseases and suffer from injuries. On average a Borzoi has a lifespan of around 10-12 years.

How do they reproduce?

Breeding a Borzoi should be done with the utmost care and under the guidance and supervision of experienced breeders. The Borzoi shouldn't be made to breed under the age of two years at any cost.

Frequent breeding can impart serious genetic defects in the offspring. While breeding, you should know that large-sized bitches give birth to stable and healthy puppies. There are no such concerns regarding post-birth complications as these dogs have a very low rate of stillborn puppies or chances of miscarriages.

What is their conservation status?

The Borzois are an extremely popular species of dogs that are well known all across the globe. Though they are found mostly in America and Europe, these dogs have been bred extensively for hunting and lure coursing.

Owing to the popularity of these dogs, there is no such statistical data that accounts for the exact number of dogs that are present at this moment.

However, their adorable traits do give us an insight that their extensive breeding marks a steady rise in their population. As this dog is Not Evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN, we can safely conclude that this dog is not grasped in the jaws of endangerment.

Borzoi Fun Facts

What do Borzois look like?

The Borzoi is known to have a very long and narrow head accompanied by powerful and long jaws. Their noses are large and black in color. They also have small ears which are droopy in nature.

The eyes are dark and are immensely powerful in spotting prey. The body is quite well-balanced and powerful which makes them athletic and gives them the power to chase small animals or targets. These dogs are known to have a long silky coat that can either be wavy or curly.

How cute are they?

The Borzoi is an extremely adorable animal and is bound to be loved by one and all. These dogs can really melt the heart of everyone owing to their cuteness.

An added bonus to their cuteness is their intelligence and their supreme physical features. These sprinters are sure to become cuddle buddies and will be loved by all children.

A dog's adorable nature is not only judged by its appearance but also by its traits. These dogs are extremely loyal and have countless good habits which tick all the boxes in making them really cute and adorable dogs.

How do they communicate?

Communication among dogs can easily be understood and identified if it is observed correctly. Dogs usually communicate with each other or with animals in two different ways, one being barking and the other with their body language or body signs.

Borzois are usually loud dogs and they have erratic barking tendencies.

If properly observed, the barking of a dog accurately describes its behavior. If a dog is seen barking in a diminished way, it usually means that the dog is scared and afraid of something, while a loud bark shows that the dog is strong.

When it comes to reading the body language of a dog, special attention should be drawn to its tail.

If the dog is wagging its tail freely, it means that the dog is happy and if the tail is placed in between its legs, it means that the dog is very scared.

If a dog is seen standing up with its ears pointing out, it usually means that the dog is extremely attentive and is keen on hearing what is currently happening.

How big is a Borzoi?

Borzois are traditionally large-sized dogs. These dogs are extensively tall which plays a vital role in categorizing them as large-sized dogs.

The height of a Borzoi is different for both the males and females of the species. While the height of the males is around 28 in (71 cm) and above on a mere average, the females are relatively shorter and their height ranges from 26 in (66 cm) and above.

Though these dogs are smaller in comparison to the gigantic Irish wolfdogs, these dogs can be considered big dogs. In comparison to average-sized large dogs, the Borzoi falls right in the middle.

How fast can a Borzoi run?

Borzoi dogs are excellent runners and are thus used for a number of running-related sports like lure coursing. Long and powerful legs help these dogs in sprinting really fast, and they can reach speeds up to 35 mph (56.3 kph).

A special ability of these dogs is that they usually chase prey just by seeing them and not by tracing or following them via the scent. As a result, these dogs are referred to as sighthounds.

How much does a Borzoi weigh?

The weight of the Borzoi dog depends on the variant and the size of the dog. In this breed of dog, the weight is different for both males and the female variants of the species.

The males are generally larger in size and as a result, they have a greater weight in comparison to the females. The males weigh around 75-105 lb (34-47.6 kg) while the weight of the females lies in the range of 60-85 lb (27.2-38.5 kg).

Overall this dog species' size falls in the middle and thus it can be rightfully justified among the large-sized breeds.

What are their male and female names of the species?

Like all dogs, the males and the females have definite names that have been assigned to them. The males are called dogs while the females of the species are termed as bitch.

What would you call a baby Borzoi?

Similar to any dog, a baby dog is called a pup or a puppy. Here, too, a baby Borzoi will be referred to as Borzoi puppies or a Borzoi pup.

What do they eat?

Proteins should be the major component of the diet of these dogs. These highly active dogs need energy which helps them in running and sprinting and thus eggs, meat, and chicken should be provided to them.

As for the carbohydrates, brown rice and oatmeal should also constitute a major portion of their food. These dogs can also be given high-quality protein-rich dry dog food. However, for good digestion, probiotics or a fiber-containing diet should be provided.

As this is a highly active dog, a check should be maintained on the intake of food. There should never be any chance of this dog becoming overweight.

Are they slobbery?

Generally, it is seen that dogs that have wide or large faces develop the tendency of being extremely slobbery or high droolers. However, in the case of Borzoi, you shouldn't be worried at all.

Since these dogs have narrow and thin mouths there is no chance of drooling. Moreover, this dog too doesn't have the generic tendency of drilling too much.

Would they make a good pet?

These dogs make a very good pet as well as a cool companion. They are highly intelligent and sensible but also sensitive in nature.

They do have a laid-back tendency, but on the bright side, they are extremely adaptable. Training these dogs is not easy and this can be a bit of a hassle for amateur trainers. These dogs don't like being left alone, although they are quite easygoing.

They can be stubborn and can be independent thinkers. These dogs make average watchdogs as they can be friendly towards strangers and thus will seldom bark. Little children should be kept under adult supervision in presence of these dogs.

Proper training, exercise, and health check-ups are a must for these dogs. Overall, these dogs can be good family dogs and house dogs, and last but not least they are excellent at sprinting and at sports.

Did you know...

The American Kennel Club or AKC has ranked the Borzoi as the 103rd dog in its entire list of 205 different dog breeds.

History of the Borzoi

Since wolf hunting was a popular sport in early Russia, the Borzoi was given the status of Russian aristocracy for hundreds of years. After the Bolshevic Revolution, a majority of Borzoi were slaughtered. However, these dogs were bred in other countries, where they garnered popularity.

Getting your own Borzoi

The ideal way to pronounce Borzoi is [bawr-zoi]. The American Kennel Club or AKC states that this dog is the 103rd most popular dog in the country, which makes the Borzoi a fairly rare dog.

The price of a Borzoi puppy lies in the range of around $1000-$2000 USD. Training these dogs is a bit tough, so if you are a first-timer dog trainer, it is advised not to choose these dogs.

Proper training, exercise, and health check-ups are a must for these dogs. They are usually good family dogs, however, they have a slight disadvantage when it comes to protecting the owner.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including greyhound, or American leopard hound.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our dog running coloring pages.