The graceful and charming majestic borzoi, with his incredibly light moves, has captivated many an aesthete and more than one beauty lover. Many owners agree that their adventure with this breed was a true love at first sight.
However, before you decide to buy a Russian sighthound, the greatest aristocrat of all dogs, you should learn a few facts from the history of the breed to understand fully its complex nature. The borzoi is said to be a dog of tzars, a pride of Russian manors, but at the same time he is the fiercest one of hunting dogs, a hero of great spectacular Russian hunting trips from the second half of the 18th century, attracting the powerful and mighty of the world. Hunting with Russian sighthounds was like a perfectly orchestrated show, right to the last detail.
There were times when having a borzoi marked the owner as a member of upper classes. The prices were exorbitant, and still it was impossible to buy a borzoi. Whoever got a borzoi as a gift felt honoured and special. The dogs had a host of people to take care of them: clean their kennels, care for their hair and finally clean their snouts after meals. This has left a permanent mark on their nature. A borzoi is a large peace-loving dog, who will spend hours lounging gracefully on a sofa, without interrupting your daily life at all. It should be added that Russian sighthounds hardly ever bark. However, during walks, especially in places where they smell the game, their hunter nature will take over.
As these dogs are impulsive, the right training is very important so that our walks with them, when passers-by are often left breathless by the sight of borzoi, do not turn into long chases or a battle to keep balance while holding the leash. This is where positive training methods play a key role. A prong collar and punishment will only instill deep fear in our dog, and the effects will be felt for many months.
We can satisfy their passion for chasing by taking part in lure coursing events, which are more and more frequent, as well as during coursing ability tests, or on racing courses. Simply playing with your dog provides a great outlet for his energy, as Russian sighthounds are very cooperative if they see a pay-off.
Who was once an owner of a borzoi will never choose a different breed, as they are not only aristocrats but also great friends. A borzoi is a one person dog, who will steal your heart forever. However, you need to remember that before this greatest diamond in the dog’s world can shine, it must be polished by professionals.
