Once known
as the Russian Wolfhound, the Borzoi originated in 17th-century Russia.
The first Standard ever written about the Borzoi was in 1650, and it is
believed the first Borzoi came to America in 1889. The Borzoi was originally
bred to hunt wild game on fairly open terrain, relying on its sight more
then scent. Because of their sight hound heritage, Borzois should never
be left off a leash or allowed to roam outside of a fenced yard.
Borzois are very quiet
dogs who seldom bark; a large dog, it will happily curl up in a corner
very comfortably. Special emphasis is placed on sound running gear (legs).
The Borzoi should always
possess unmistakable elegance, with flowing lines, graceful in motion
or repose. The skull is slightly domed, long and narrow, with scarcely
any perceptible stop. Borzois should be Roman-nosed, with long, powerful
jaws.
The Borzois
neck should be clean and free from throatiness, slightly arched and very
powerful. His shoulders should be sloping, fine at the withers and free
from coarseness, with a rather narrow chest. The ribs are slightly sprung
- but very deep giving room for heart and lung play.
The coat
should be long and silky - not wooly - either flat, wavy or rather curly.
Any color, or combination of colors, is acceptable. The Borzoi's coat
is known to shed, so regular grooming is a must.
The over-all
appearance of a Borzoi in motion should be that of effortless power, endurance,
speed, agility, smoothness and grace. Moving at a fast trot, all four
feet tend to move inwards towards a center line - even though the hind
legs are set wider apart then the front. The Borzoi has very strong and
powerful hindquarters, so when viewing him in motion, one should notice
a ground-covering stride from well-angulated stifles and hocks.
For more
information on this elegant dog, please contact the Borzoi
Club of America.