Russian Wolfhounds: Breed Overview

Russian Wolfhounds, also known as Borzoi, originate from Russia, dating as far back as the 17^th century. During this time, Russian Wolfhounds were used for their wolf hunting abilities and their bravery. Currently, the breed is prided for its companionship and intelligence. The Russian Wolfhound is often the key choice among farmers to keep coyotes at bay. Russian Wolfhounds are beautiful dogs, built for speed, power and agility.

Description

The Russian Wolfhound is a tall dog reaching up to 28 inches in height. Males in the breed can weight as much as 100 pounds while females can weigh up to ninety pounds. The coat of the Russian Wolfhound is either solid or mixed with golden, white, tan, and gray coloring. The coat on the breed ranges from flat to curly and is long in length. The hair covering the head, legs, and ears is generally shorter than that of the rest of the body. They are very heavy seasonal shedders.

Temperament

Russian Wolfhounds are considered to be among the most elegant and graceful of breeds. Although they are very loving family dogs, this breed of dog is recommended for homes with older children because they don't always do well in settings with children. These dogs should not be kept with smaller animals of any kind because of their natural hunting instinct. This includes smaller dogs and cats. Russian Wolfhounds are very quiet and independent dogs but remain sensitive to their surroundings. Generally, they are very obedient when trained properly.

Activity

Early socialization is vital for this breed. Obedience training is a must. While these dogs are very intelligent, due to their natural independence they can become stubborn if not trained properly. They need to undergo frequent and constant training. They respond better to positive reinforcement versus negativity.

It's best to have this dog in a fenced yard where they can run freely. If kept in an apartment they need to be exercised frequently by running or jogging. Russian Wolfhounds have a natural instinct to hunt and roam, therefore they need to be kept on a leash or in a fenced yard.

Care

The Russian Wolfhound does not require much extra care. They will need regular brushing with a firm bristled brush to maintain their coat and bathed as needed. The paw pads need to remain trimmed to prevent splaying. Be very careful giving this breed medications because they are known to be very sensitive. Bloat is also common so they should be fed 2-3 small meals through out the day.

References:

"Russian Wolfhound Breed Description"

"Borzoi Dog"

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