At a glance the quick version
Breed-wide range; FCI standard gives no weight
Coat and looks how to spot one
long, silky
A light, silky coat that may be flat, wavy or in loose curls, with a frill on the neck and generous feathering on the chest, legs and tail, over a tall, lean, curving outline and a long narrow head.123
Personality what they are like
Quiet, dignified and affectionate at home, friendly or reserved with strangers, and very quick to react to movement. Independent thinkers that learn best with short, varied training.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Up to an hour of exercise a day, ideally including safe, enclosed spaces for free running; enjoys lure coursing and racing.31
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Brush more than once a week to keep the silky coat and feathering tangle-free; it does shed.3
Home where they are happiest
Best suited to country living with a large, securely fenced garden.3
Company who they like around
Affectionate with its family; historically worked in pairs and enjoys canine company.23
The story where it all began
Russian sighthounds were developed from Eastern sighthounds crossed with local thick-coated dogs, and the type was well established by the 16th century. Favoured by the tsars and Russian nobility for hunting wolf, fox and hare, the breed got its first standard in 1888 and was called the Russian Wolfhound in English until 1936.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
'Borzoi' comes from an old Russian word meaning 'fast', and 'psovaya' refers to its wavy, silky coat.2
- 2
Before 1917 Borzois could not be bought, only received as gifts from the Tsar.2
- 3
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich kept a famous kennel of Borzois at his Perchino estate.2
- 4
Actress Sarah Bernhardt owned a Borzoi, painted with her by Georges Clairin.2
- 5
Pairs of Borzois were used to catch and hold wolves until the mounted hunters arrived.3
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard No. 193, Group 10 Sighthounds; accepted 1956; standard published 5 November 20191
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Recognised, Hound Group3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Borzoi. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 6every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 193 Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya fci.beused for history, height, coat, colour, temperament, use
- Wikipedia: Borzoi en.wikipedia.orgused for names, history, weight, lifespan study, famous owners, fun facts
- The Royal Kennel Club: Borzoi royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, living needs, lifespan, history
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.