Borzoi - Breeders, Puppies and Breed Information

By Sophie Kininmonth · 13 Dec 2025 (updated 21 Jul 2026) ·7 min read

Borzoi - Breeders, Puppies and Breed Information

The Borzoi is a Russian sighthound, a tall, silky-coated dog bred to course game by sight across open country. At home it is one of the quietest big dogs you can own: calm, watchful, gently affectionate, and content to drape itself across the furniture like a long shadow. Outdoors it is a different animal, capable of reaching full sprint in a few strides the instant something small and fast breaks cover. That contrast is the whole breed in one picture. A Borzoi can be a devoted companion for a decade or more, but only in a home that offers secure fencing, calm handling and a bit of respect for what a sighthound is wired to do.

History and Origin

The Borzoi was developed in Russia for coursing, chasing down game by sight rather than scent across long, open ground. The shape tells the story. Long legs give stride, a deep chest gives lung capacity, and a narrow head is built for speed rather than force. Most Borzoi today are companions and show dogs, but the instinct to chase moving things is still part of the package, even in the gentlest individual.

Appearance and Physical Characteristics

Borzoi are tall, narrow and lightly built for their size, with a flexible outline that looks almost poured rather than assembled. Dogs typically stand 75 to 85 cm and bitches 68 to 78 cm, a range often cited as desirable.² The ANKC/Dogs Australia standard sets a minimum height of 74 cm for dogs and 68 cm for bitches.¹ The coat is silky and can be flat, wavy or rather curly, never woolly, with heavier feathering on the body and tail.^{1, 7} Any colour is acceptable in the breed standard, with one exception: merle is not accepted.¹

Temperament and Personality

Most Borzoi move through the house like a calm, long shadow: observant, not typically noisy, and affectionate in a restrained way. They are commonly described as independent and sensitive, which in practice means they respond far better to quiet consistency than to repetition, pressure or rough corrections. They can be good family dogs in the right household, but they are not built for constant physical jostling.

The prey drive deserves a plain word. Even a well-socialised Borzoi may chase wildlife, cats, or running small dogs. That is not bad behaviour, it is a sighthound brain doing exactly what it was shaped to do. A secure fence and sensible lead rules do more for household harmony than any attempt to train the instinct out.

Is a Borzoi Right for You?

For a household that wants a busy, biddable, off-lead dog park regular, honestly, probably not. A Borzoi suits people who can offer secure boundaries, gentle handling and a routine that fits an independent dog. With small children, management matters: supervise closely, teach gentle handling, and give the dog a resting space it can retreat to. If you have cats or small pets, be realistic about prey drive and separation.

If you decide the breed fits, choosing where the dog comes from is the next decision that matters. A reputable breeder is easy to recognise once you know what to look for: transparent, patient, and more interested in where the puppy is going than in a quick sale. Practical checks:

See the puppy in a normal home setting or a well-run kennel, and where possible meet the dam. Walk away if you are pushed into car-park handovers or rushed payments.⁴
Ask for health records, including vaccination, microchip details and parasite control, and make sure you understand what you are being shown.⁴
Expect to be questioned. Responsible breeders screen buyers and will discuss lifestyle fit, fencing, other pets, and your plan for training and exercise.⁵
Check local legal requirements. In NSW, for example, you can verify breeder identification details (BIN/RON) through the NSW Pet Registry, which helps reduce scams and irresponsible sales.⁴

Adopting an adult Borzoi is worth considering too. It suits people who prefer a dog with a known temperament and settled size, and it can be kinder on your schedule, with fewer puppy demands and often some basic manners already installed. Before you commit, be honest about prey drive, fencing and your capacity for gentle training, and ask the rescue what sort of home the dog has been thriving in.

Training and Exercise

Training goes best when it is brief, calm and consistent. Many Borzoi are not obedience-for-fun dogs; they co-operate when the request makes sense and the reinforcement is clear. Prioritise loose-lead skills with calm starts and no lunging, a reliable recall as a safety habit while still using a lead in unfenced areas, and settle-on-mat plus quiet handling for grooming and vet care.

On containment, think safe space rather than acreage. A Borzoi does not need a farm, but it does need secure fencing, closed gates and routines that prevent door-dashing. If there are wildlife corridors nearby, assume your dog will notice them first and move fast. Socialisation should aim for calm, predictable experiences rather than meeting everyone: different surfaces, gentle visitors, quiet dogs, short car trips and positive vet visits, all kept controlled. A startled sighthound can be very quick to flee.

Health and Lifespan

Borzoi commonly live around 10 to 12 years, varying with genetics, injury risk and overall health. The health concern to take seriously from day one is bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a life-threatening emergency where the stomach distends and may twist. Large, deep-chested dogs are at higher risk. Contributing factors include deep-chested conformation, family history, eating quickly, feeding one large meal a day, and exercising soon after eating; raised food bowls may also increase risk in some dogs.³ Research into the genetic basis of bloat has included Borzoi among the studied breeds.⁸

Classic warning signs include non-productive retching, restlessness, drooling, abdominal distension, weakness or collapse. If you suspect GDV, treat it as urgent and go straight to an emergency vet.³ It is worth discussing prevention with your vet. In some at-risk dogs, a prophylactic gastropexy, often done at the time of desexing, can reduce the risk of a dangerous twist later.³

Grooming and Care

The Borzoi coat is long and silky and benefits from regular brushing to prevent matting, particularly behind the ears, in the feathering, and around the hindquarters. Occasional bathing is usually enough, provided you keep on top of tangles and check skin condition as you go.

Diet and Nutrition

Keep your Borzoi lean and athletic rather than well covered. A consistent body condition check is more useful than the number on the scales, especially in a narrow, coated dog. The WSAVA nutrition resources are a good reference point for discussing diet quality and body condition scoring with your vet team.⁶

A Few Things Worth Knowing

The Borzoi is a Hound group dog, specifically a sighthound.
Merle is the one colour the breed standard does not accept.¹
Breed clubs and kennel council networks are useful for finding mentors, learning grooming and handling, and understanding what normal looks like in the breed. They also help you interpret breed standards and terminology, which is handy when you are assessing a breeder's claims and paperwork.^{1, 2}

The Bottom Line

A Borzoi is not a dog that fills every room with noise and need. It watches, listens, and moves with sudden precision when something small and fast crosses its path. If you can offer secure boundaries, calm handling and a daily routine that suits an independent sighthound, a Borzoi can be a quietly devoted companion for many years. If you cannot commit to the fencing and the prey-drive management, it is a breed better admired than owned.

References

Sophie Kininmonth

Dog lover and writer at My Pets Australia, sharing practical breed guides and care advice for Australian pet owners.