Several hundred dogs and horses kept specially for the purpose: a Russian sighthound hunt in the 18th and 19th centuries could be that large, according to the FCI standard. The Borzoi (Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya) comes from this tradition, with males expected by the standard to reach 75 to 85 cm at the withers.
| FCI | Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 1 Long-haired or fringed Sighthounds, Standard No. 193 Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya (Borzoi, Russian Hunting Sighthound), without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Russia |
| Size (height at the withers) | desired: males 75 to 85 cm, females 68 to 78 cm |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | median 12,0 years among only 142 recorded Borzois in a British analysis of 584.734 dogs (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | long, soft and silky, wavy or curly; short on the head, ears and insides of the legs; abundant feathering with a neck muff |
| Colours in the standard | all colours from white to black in any combination, including brindle and tan markings; brown, blue, isabella and diluted colours without a black nose are not permitted |
Tatars, tsars and the 1888 standard
According to the standard, its history begins with the Mongol invasion. The Tatars hunted with sighthounds of Arabian origin, while Russian hunters used powerful dogs that even brought elk to bay. Their crossing produced the Borzoi, later joined by the Polish Greyhound and the Klock from Courland. The Moscow Hunting Society published the first standard in 1888. The dog was used mainly on hare and fox, less often wolf. The same FCI section includes the Saluki and Afghan Hound.
Composed and attentive
The standard describes an even temperament and a distinctly attentive gaze, neutral to friendly towards people. This dog does not impose itself and makes a poor watchdog. At the sight of game, however, it switches into pursuit without warning.
A large dog needs room
In daily life, its trot is relaxed and ground-covering; in hunting, that becomes an exceptionally fast gallop. Provide regular opportunities for that gallop in an enclosed area or through coursing. In the car, hallway and bed, it needs plenty of room.
Silk with curls
Brush the long, silky coat once or twice a week, more often during shedding. Pay particular attention to the neck muff, hind-leg feathering and tail plume, where knots form first.
A look at the heart
Borzois in McMillan and colleagues’ British analysis lived a median 12,0 years, the same as crossbreeds. With only 142 Borzois recorded, the figure is uncertain. Of 146 clinically healthy adult Borzois, 14,4 per cent had structural heart disease, including 6,2 per cent with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), in which the heart muscle weakens. Innocent heart murmurs occurred in 53,8 per cent of dogs without heart disease (Wesselowski et al. 2024, AJVR). In a second study, ECGs showed ventricular arrhythmias in 8 of 82 Borzois with healthy hearts (Wesselowski et al. 2024, JAVMA). The authors recommend cardiac ultrasound for early detection. Ask the breeder for the parents’ ultrasound and ECG findings.
A good home with you if
you lead a quiet life, have enough space, enjoy a gentle, independent dog and regularly reach secure running areas. Children should be old enough to respect its rest.
Probably not for you if
your life includes a small flat without a lift, cats without careful introductions or a wish for unrestricted off-lead walks. Above all, this dog needs room to stretch, indoors and out.
Check whether a sighthound this size fits your home and day in the breed quiz, then explore further with our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the start with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Find your Borzoi as a picture in our dog portraits or on a magazine cover on canvas.
Further reading
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
- Calculating your dog’s food allowance: how much your dog really needs
- An older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 193 Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya (Barsoi, Russischer Jagdwindhund) (fci.be, German version dated 21.04.2020, valid publication 04.09.2019); Wesselowski S et al., Echocardiographic values and prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in clinically healthy adult Borzoi dogs, American Journal of Veterinary Research 2024; Wesselowski S et al., Electrocardiographic abnormalities are frequently detected in healthy adult Borzoi with a normal echocardiogram, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2024; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024.
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