Dog breed Russian Borzoi: description and characteristics

History of the Russian Borzoi breed

Mentions of dogs, with which our ancestors successfully hunted not only hares, but also wolves, can be found in printed publications of the 17th century. Presumably the first and most famous breeder of greyhounds was the Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, who received several dogs of this breed as a gift from the Zaporozhye Cossacks. The version that the ancestors of today's Russian greyhounds were brought to us from Persia and the Kazakh Khanate during the time of Ivan the Terrible also has a right to life. The autocrat had great respect for hunting greyhounds and was quite sincerely interested in new hunting breeds.

Russian greyhound

Since the 18th century, the clan of greyhounds has been subjected to large-scale “pumping”. To improve the hunting qualities of dogs, they began to cross them with Hort and English, and subsequently with Crimean and mountain greyhounds. Selection activity took place spontaneously, since the main breeder of the breed remained the noble class, which kept its own kennels and had the opportunity to experiment with breeding to its heart’s content. Not limited by any boundaries, landowners bred animals, guided only by their own preferences, which ultimately led to the fragmentation of the greyhound family and slowed down the standardization of the breed. As a result, the first dog conformation standard was written only in 1888.

The breed began appearing at domestic exhibitions in 1872 and almost immediately disappointed all aesthetes who saw the animals as ordinary mestizos who had lost the classic features of the Russian greyhound. But the panel of judges at the Moscow Exhibition of the Imperial Society for Proper Hunting treated four-legged competitors more kindly and in 1874 awarded a gold medal to a Russian greyhound named Reward. But even this decision did not put an end to the desperate debate among experts about exactly what a proper Russian greyhound should look like. As a result, traditionalists continued to advocate for a return to the original type of appearance of the dogs, while the other half of the breeders stubbornly voted for the updated appearance of the greyhounds.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the breeding of Russian greyhounds was carried out at an accelerated pace, and by 1917 the number of purebred individuals in Russia exceeded 2000. Of course, during the years of the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War, the clan of Russian greyhounds suffered significant losses, but nevertheless did not cease to exist , which made it possible for Soviet enthusiasts to once again start breeding these amazing animals. The breed came to America and Canada at the beginning of the 20th century, after Europe had had plenty of fun with the grace and hunting talents of its representatives and even managed to cool down a little towards them. By the way, it was on the other side of the Atlantic that Russian greyhounds gained the greatest popularity, where they were accepted not as hunters, but as sports, image pets.

Reviews

Our favorite Alma is a very fast, energetic dog. It is not easy and very expensive to keep such a large hunting greyhound in an apartment, but the baby has been with us for almost 10 years. Taking care of her disciplines the whole family, because every morning we go for a long run.

It is not recommended to buy a puppy not for hunting, but for apartment living. The pet will run after every cat or bird on a walk. Obedient within the walls of a house, but completely uncontrollable within the city. It is expensive to keep an animal, since a purebred and very large dog needs a balanced diet, especially good meat.

An ideal breed for baiting a hare or fox. The dogs Duke and Musketeer have been hunting with me for more than 7 years. I bought them as puppies from a reliable nursery. The breeder provided all the necessary documents. As a result, I have excellent hunting dogs. He raised and trained himself.

Before deciding to purchase a representative of this breed, you should think carefully, analyze the facts, and discuss your decision with family members. The greyhound dog is not included in the list of aggressive animals, but still is not distinguished by its submissiveness and docile nature. Expensive to care and maintain, she requires training, education, and time for communication.

Appearance of the Russian Borzoi

Russian Greyhound Puppy
Russian Greyhounds are the epitome of sophistication and elegance. Among their peers, these lean, ascetic beauties stand out for their refined appearance and mesmerizing ease of movement. Despite their fairly high height (males - up to 85 cm at the withers, females - up to 78 cm), Russian greyhounds do not give the impression of heavyweight giants. At one time, this feature of the breed was very subtly played up by the genius of the Art Nouveau era, Louis Icarus. As soon as the artist depicted the elongated, proud silhouette of the Russian greyhound in his paintings a couple of times, it became a fashion trend, and illustrations, engravings and even sculptures glorifying the regal bearing of greyhounds fell on French and Russian fans of the breed as if from a cornucopia.

Head

The skull of the model Russian Borzoi has an elongated shape, which is why the dog's head appears very narrow. The occipital protuberance of representatives of this breed is quite pronounced, and the stop line is noticeably smoothed.

Teeth and bite

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The teeth of the Russian Borzoi are strong and white. The bite can be straight or scissor.

Nose

The bridge of the nose is long, with a slightly noticeable hump. The lobe is large, mobile, protruding forward.

Eyes

The Russian Borzoi has beautiful expressive eyes: almond-shaped, slightly convex, rich brown color.

Ears

The ears of the Russian Borzoi are miniature, thin, set slightly above eye level. The ear flap is noticeably drawn towards the back of the head, and its tips are pressed tightly against the neck. In an excited or alert dog, the ears become erect.

Neck

The neck of the Russian Borzoi is dry, quite long and muscular. On the sides, the muscles are slightly flattened, which is why the neck looks flattened.

Muzzle of a Russian greyhound

Frame

Thanks to the muscular back and massive, sloping croup, the topline forms a long arc, which is more pronounced in males. The chest of Russian greyhounds is deep, oval in shape, less than or equal in width to the croup. The abdominal area is well toned: the bottom line is steep, with a so-called tuck.

Legs

Running Russian greyhound

The front legs of the Russian Greyhound are dry and well muscled. The shoulder blades are long, sloping, the elbows are normal, looking back. The hind limbs of the RPB are set wider than the front ones. The thighs are elongated, moderately muscled, the hock joints are wide, well developed, with normal angles. The paws of representatives of this breed are narrow, arched, and hare-like. The Russian greyhound moves in everyday life at a light trot, and when hunting - with sweeping jumps (fast trot).

Tail

Crescent-shaped, long and thin, with a lush dewlap. The calm Russian Greyhound has a tail that hangs down. If the dog is excited, the tail can rise, but not higher than the level of the back.

Wool

Russian greyhounds at an exhibition

The dog's body is covered with long, wavy or slightly curly hair. On the ears, head and front of the legs the hair is very short and silky. On the animal’s neck there is a lush pendant made of dog clothes, and the back of the thighs is decorated with cute “pants.” In the area of ​​the croup and shoulder blades the curl of the coat is steeper.

Color

All types of spotted and piebald colors are assigned to Russian greyhounds, with the exception of blue and chocolate tones. The dewlaps on the dog's neck and tail, as well as the fur on its thighs, are usually lighter than the rest of the body. A distinctive feature of dark-colored individuals is a muzzle with a so-called mazurina (black mask).

Defects and disqualifying defects

Depending on the severity, defects in appearance can be either minor or serious. And if, for example, a Russian greyhound never receives the highest score for its coarse coat or lightweight constitution, then for aggression and an asymmetrical bite it risks not being allowed to participate in competitions at all. Most often, the exhibition commission rejects Russian greyhounds for fundamental differences with the breed standard, for example, for the blue color of the iris, the absence of one of the teeth, a blue or brown shade of the coat, as well as for the presence of dewclaws. Incorrect position of the fangs, which damages the soft tissues of the oral cavity, also leads to complete disqualification.

Interesting facts about the breed

1. 1. Many paintings by Russian artists depict a Russian greyhound (Sokolov P.P. “Gathering for hunting at the porch”, Stepanov A. “Wolf hunting with greyhounds”, etc.)
2. The dog can reach speeds of almost 100 km/h;
3. Has excellent instincts. Can track prey at a distance of 800 m from itself;
4. “Russian Wolfhound” is what foreigners call the dog. After all, a fragile-looking creature can cope with a wolf.
5. The emblem of the Russian Cynological Association is the greyhound;
6. Representatives of the breed almost do not smell like dogs.

Photo of a Russian greyhound

Dog health

Russian greyhounds are predisposed to ophthalmological diseases, gastric and intestinal volvulus, Wobbler syndrome, and tumors (both benign and malignant).

Animals are hypersensitive to anesthetics and some flea and tick medications.

Therefore, you should be responsible and careful when choosing protective equipment, after consulting with your veterinarian.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ferlinka/6094314651/

Greyhounds are very sensitive to infectious diseases, so it is imperative to vaccinate them!

Before each vaccination, it is necessary to carry out deworming, which it is advisable to repeat quarterly thereafter.

Character of the Russian Borzoi

Russian greyhounds are real geniuses of transformation. When hunting, they are unstoppable and passionate, but as soon as the animals find themselves within the walls of their home, the melancholy quiet ones immediately awaken within them. In general, Russian greyhounds are one of the most convenient pets: they are “little talkative” and do not follow their owner’s tail to get their share of attention. The Russian greyhound prefers to spend its time free from hunting and walking in a passive manner, resting on the sofa or nestling at the feet of the owner. The breed is also not capable of all sorts of unpleasant surprises, such as torn wallpaper and holey shoes, provided, of course, that the dog is walked regularly.

Russian greyhound with his owner

The Russian Greyhound doesn’t feel much love for children, but it doesn’t harbor much hostility either. What irritates her most is sudden screams and laughter, so when noisy children's groups come to the owner's home, the dog, as a rule, tries to retreat. Due to their peaceful nature and innate delicacy, Russian greyhounds are moderately polite in communication, including with strangers, but in return they demand exactly the same attitude towards themselves. Possessing a very vulnerable psyche, the Russian greyhound is extremely sensitive to any injustice, so punishment for this breed is a real tragedy.

Increased excitability is another distinctive character trait of Russian greyhounds. Just now your pet was strolling imposingly at your feet, but then a random catfly loomed on the horizon, and your phlegmatic dog seemed to be blown away by the wind. The reason for such a sharp transition from one state to another is the pursuit instinct, which in this breed has evolved to the level of mania.

The intellectual indicators of the Russian greyhound are quite good, although inexperienced owners may initially encounter difficulties in raising and training their pets. It is important to understand here that the Russian Greyhound is not a companion or a service dog, but a professional hunter whose main goal is to work with game. Accordingly, all the intelligence and ingenuity of the breed goes into the process of baiting the animal. At the same time, in ordinary life, a dog’s brain works in energy saving mode, which is sometimes mistakenly regarded as stupidity.

Russian greyhounds with a child

Fight

Combing

Long hair needs combing 1-2 times a week. During the molting period, this is especially necessary to maintain a neat appearance. When combing with a brush or furminator , all fallen hairs and pellets are removed. This also helps get rid of hair that falls on the floor.

By caring for the fur, you save the animal from infection with parasites. After all, fleas and scabies mites can appear faster in tangled hair.

For prevention, it is necessary to use special products sold in every veterinary pharmacy. This could be a collar, drops, powder or spray. When bathing, use a specialized flea shampoo.

Education and training

Despite the fact that the majority of Russian greyhounds are supple and obedient dogs, they do not make the most diligent students. By the way, experienced hunters are of the opinion that enrolling representatives of the breed in the OKD (General Training Course) will only spoil their natural talents. With a Russian greyhound you always need to keep your finger on the pulse: one random cry or a sharp threatening movement towards the dog - and she immediately regards this as an attempt to humiliate its dignity. So you should behave respectfully during lessons with these “aristocrats”. Moreover, the Russian greyhound is one of those breeds whose representatives have a pronounced individuality, so the program and style of training for each individual individual can vary dramatically.

Russian greyhound training

The first and most important skill that an owner must develop in his pet is the ability to clearly distinguish between hunting and ordinary life. Gently wean your puppy from chasing everything that moves during walks - the command “Near!” to help. Never let him off the leash if there are smaller four-legged creatures nearby. Trying to raise a Russian greyhound to become a domestic servant and a circus performer is also not worth it. Despite their gentle nature, greyhounds will not bring slippers and walk on their hind legs.

You will have to forget about monotonous training with this breed, since monotony for the Russian greyhound is the worst of evils. Guide your dog seriously, but not forcefully, rewarding success with treats. By 6 months, the puppy should have learned basic obedience commands (“Come to me!”, “Near!”) and be able to walk on a leash. The time period from 6 to 10 months is considered the period of teenage rebellion. A mature dog tries to assert his own authority, ignoring prohibitions in every possible way. During this period of time, it is better to be patient and restrain yourself as much as possible when the desire arises to give the shaggy lawless man a good beating in the loins.

It is better to combat teenage leadership in Russian greyhounds with additional physical activity. Moreover, the more work and training you put on a presumptuous puppy, the less time he will have for petty dirty tricks. The easiest way in this regard is for owners who, in addition to the puppy, already have an adult Russian greyhound at home. An experienced dog will quickly put a teenager who is stunned from an overabundance of energy in his place, becoming an example and senior mentor for him.

Russian greyhounds with a girl in a red dress

Pros and cons of the breed

Freedom-loving, stubborn greyhounds feel best in the wild; their behavior is determined by direction. Hunting animals are not designed for apartment life. Owners should not let their pet off the leash while walking in parks or squares.

A cat, a bird, a running person can provoke a greyhound to rush after it, and no command will stop it.

The dog will not get along well with other pets; friendship or at least peaceful coexistence can only be achieved through long-term training. For small children, the dog will never become a nanny, just like a watchman.

Hunting with a Russian greyhound

Hunting with a Russian Borzoi

The Russian greyhound is an excellent hunter in the middle zone, with which you can hunt hares and foxes, as well as a wolf, with equal success. And the point here is not only in natural instincts and innate intelligence, but also in a special, linear set of paws, which allows the dog to sharply change the direction of movement, thereby ensuring lightning-fast capture of game. However, despite such obvious advantages of the breed, today's hunters often reject its representatives as pets of low production. The reason for this neglect lies in the fact that Russian greyhounds are often crossed with other hunting dogs, as a result of which the pursuit instinct in the offspring does not manifest itself clearly enough. In addition, not all owners understand that although hunting with a Russian greyhound is a seasonal affair, they will have to develop and hone their pet’s skills and abilities throughout their life. A dog that goes out for baiting twice a year and spends the rest of the time lying on the couch will definitely not overwhelm its owner with hunting trophies.

Russian greyhounds are short-distance runners. The optimal conditions for demonstrating the hunting talents of the breed are a treeless area up to 500 m long, although, as practice shows, for most animals a 200-300-meter acceleration is enough to catch the prey and present it to the owner. The innate impulsiveness of dogs also plays an important role in the success of the hunt: upon seeing an animal, the Russian greyhound switches from standby mode to race mode in a split second. If attempts to overtake the prey are unsuccessful, the dogs are able to repeat the failed forced march after a half-hour pause.

Russian greyhounds run after a hare

Preparing for the first hunt can be considered the training of a Russian greyhound to a pack collar. You can start lessons from the age of 6 months: the puppy must learn to walk in a group, without rushing ahead or trailing behind the pack. You can hunt a Russian greyhound for game as early as 10-12 months, but at first the animals are allowed to make no more than one pursuit attempt. Teenagers are not yet as hardy as individuals who have previously participated in hunting, and are easily overtired. It would be great if the owner took two puppies into the house at once, and it is not at all necessary that both were of the same breed. As they grow up and compete for the role of alpha male, they will try harder to prove themselves during training.

It is best to bait a teenager with a Russian greyhound against a wolf in the company of experienced dogs and their owners. But you can hunt a hare alone, and in general it is more advisable to start training young greyhounds to chase game with the “eared brethren”. Often during the first hunt, greyhounds cannot restrain themselves and tear a small animal into pieces, or even eat it before the owner arrives. This, of course, is not a reason to be upset, but it is still worth slightly reproaching your pet for such behavior. Moreover, if your student demonstrates such “success” in field tests, he will not receive a diploma.

Wolf hunting with a Russian greyhound. Artist Evgeny Aleksandrovich Tikhmenev (1869–1934)

Character, characteristics of the breed

When hunting, dogs are passionate, but at home they are calm and melancholy. They love to lie on pillows. They do not tolerate shouting or punishment. Very vulnerable, touchy.

School-age children are treated friendly. But they don’t like kids.

They can bite, unable to withstand the attack on their person.

The hunter's instinct is very strong. On walks, he mistakes all small animals for game. Chasing cats and rodents is in the Russian dog's blood.

The dog will not guard the house. This is not her “competence”.

Can only lick a stranger. They rarely bark.

Owners may find it difficult to train their dog. The greyhound has an independent character and does not want to obey.

It is necessary to teach the puppy to walk on a leash and follow the command “Near” as early as possible. a general training . Monotonous activities should be avoided.

If you plan to go hunting, then from the age of six months they begin to accustom the puppy to a folding collar.

After 3-5 months, you can bait the young dog with game. It’s better to start with hare hunting. As you grow older and gain experience, you can move on to hunting wolves.

Maintenance and care

Russian greyhounds are not demanding of space, which makes it possible to keep them in a city apartment (with a sufficient amount of physical activity). True, we should not forget that representatives of this breed have extremely disrespect for ordinary beds and are unlikely to be content with a modest corner in the hallway. Most of all, Russian greyhounds love to lie on the sofa or the master's bed, and you should not be angry with them for this. In this way, dogs relax, trying to rest their backs and strained muscles. Some experts even advise giving the animal a separate sofa with an orthopedic mattress, if living space allows. As for yard animals, it is worth building a spacious enclosure for them and installing a booth in it with a height of at least 1 m and an area of ​​about 1.5 m² with insulated walls and floor. If you have two greyhounds living in your house, the internal area of ​​the booth will have to be expanded to 2.5 m².

Hygiene

The thin coat of Russian greyhounds is practically devoid of undercoat, but often becomes matted. However, dogs manage to keep their coat clean on their own. The owner only has to comb the animal a couple of times a week, and after walks, pick out any specks tangled in its fur. During the molting period, the same manipulations will have to be performed daily, which is generally a common occurrence for dogs of any breed.

Sometimes you need to look at life from a different angle

On the issue of bathing frequency, Russian greyhound breeders have not come to a consensus. As a result, some dog lovers recommend washing the Russian Greyhound once every three months, while others advise completely abandoning this activity and spending bath days only in the most urgent cases, for example, when the animal is dirty in liquid mud. The dog's eyes and ears do not require special care. Just keep them clean by removing wax from the ear cup and wiping dirt that has accumulated in the corners of the eyes with a damp piece of cloth.

The claws on the paws of Russian greyhounds should be trimmed so that they do not interfere with the animal while running. The hair between the toes is also trimmed, which gets dirty very quickly and can become a place for bacteria to accumulate, causing skin infections. In addition, greyhounds living in apartments will have to wash their paws after every walk. Moreover, in winter it is also impossible to evade this procedure - the reagents that are sprinkled on roads in our country are extremely poisonous and can cause poisoning in a dog when it suddenly decides to lick its own paw.

Walk

Walking a Russian greyhound on a bicycle

If you just can’t motivate yourself to go for morning and evening runs, then the Russian Greyhound is your dog. No matter how passively representatives of this breed behave at home, it is not in their rules to walk sedately along sidewalks and park paths, which means that while walking your pet you will also have the opportunity to properly warm up. If walking doesn’t inspire you, tie a leash with your greyhound to a bicycle and pedal as hard as you can: Russian greyhounds also greatly respect such errands. By the way, it is necessary to go outside with a Russian greyhound in any weather, so you won’t be able to avoid the promenades in the drizzling rain.

It’s great if you have the opportunity to periodically take your pet out into nature, where he can give free rein to his own hunting instincts. In a city environment, such a trick will not work, so walk your dog strictly on a leash if you do not want a pet that is interested in a stray cat to leave you forever, because Russian greyhounds, carried away by the chase, simply do not hear the owner’s commands and shouts. In addition, dogs that are not used to hunt will have to find an interesting alternative hobby. This could be, for example, coursing (chasing a mechanical “hare”) or simple entertainment like running after a ball and frisbee.

Feeding

In the case of Russian greyhounds, experts advise adhering to the principles of fractional feeding. Representatives of this breed are fed 3-4 times a day, dividing the daily diet into small portions. Dry food for greyhounds is also not contraindicated, unless it is a budget option from the nearest supermarket. The basis of the diet of a Russian greyhound that eats natural food should be lean raw meat. Breeders consider horse meat to be the ideal variety, since it is extremely rarely infected with brucellosis. The dog menu also includes low-fat sea fish of the cod family, which, if desired and if you have free finances, can easily be replaced with squid meat.

Walking with greyhounds in a snowy forest

Buckwheat, oatmeal and rice are suitable cereals for the breed. By the way, it is better to prepare porridge from them using the brewing method, pouring boiling broth or milk over the cereals and leaving them to swell for half an hour. Vegetables are given to Russian greyhounds boiled or simply added to soup. It is also impossible to overdo it with fermented milk products, so pamper your four-legged friend with kefir or fermented baked milk more often.

For the normal growth and development of the Russian Greyhound, the correct balance of proteins and calcium is very important. For this reason, from 4 months, when puppies begin to change their teeth, mineral supplements are introduced into their menu. In addition, up to six months, dogs are given calcined cottage cheese and a chicken egg several times a week. But you should be careful with pharmaceutical calcium-containing preparations, since an excess of this macroelement is no less harmful for a puppy’s body than its deficiency.

Prohibited products:

• any food from the master's table;
• legumes;
• potatoes and other vegetables with a high starch content;
• sweets;
• fatty meat and lard;
• tubular bones;
• River fish.

Russian greyhounds are usually fed after a walk, putting a sufficient amount of food in a bowl. The dog should not chase the bowl around the apartment, licking it clean.

Feeding

Proper balanced nutrition will allow the Russian greyhound to develop correctly and maintain the achieved physical development throughout its life. The diet can consist of both ready-made specialized food and natural products. Some owners prefer to combine them, but this must be done especially carefully and very skillfully; inexperienced breeders should better try to avoid this method of feeding.

Feeding a balanced dog food is the healthiest way for your Russian Greyhound. It will fully provide your pet with the necessary proteins, fats and carbohydrates in the quantities required by greyhounds. In this case, the owner will not have to worry about cooking, storage, and the possibility of poisoning will be completely eliminated. It is important to follow the dosage and feeding regimen calculated by experts. Another drawback is monotony. You can solve it by periodically purchasing treats.

Feeding with natural products will completely solve the problem with variety, but at the same time it will require the owner time to prepare. In addition, you will have to take care of creating the right balance of different substances and convenient storage. If you still decide to feed your Russian greyhound with natural products, give preference to good meat (beef, lamb), and chicken eggs. Rice and buckwheat. Don't forget about stewed vegetables, such as zucchini, pumpkin, and carrots. Fermented milk products will also be useful. The percentage of protein food to grains and vegetables for dogs should be approximately 75 to 25.

As for the mixed type of food, most of it should still be given in the form of premium food and only one third - in the form of natural products. This will allow the dog to receive the required amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in full.

Health and disease of the Russian greyhound

The Russian Greyhound is a relatively healthy breed, but is very sensitive to all types of anesthetics. In addition, many individuals are allergic to flea and tick medications, so it is important to select such medications especially carefully. As for genetic predisposition to specific diseases, Russian greyhounds most often suffer from volvulus, bloating, retinopathy (damage to the retina), cataracts and Wobbler syndrome (compression of the spinal cord in the cervical spine).

basic information

How to choose a puppy

• Choose February or March litters, the babies of which will be ready to move to a new home in May-June. In this case, you can diversify your pet’s diet with seasonal fruits and vegetables that contain most of the vitamins necessary for a growing body.
• Don't get hung up on a specific type of appearance of your future pet (for example, the owner breeds white dogs, but you want a gray one). The Russian Greyhound is one of the most diverse breeds, and each of its representatives is beautiful in its own way.
• If you hope to raise your puppy into a professional hunter in the foreseeable future, ask whether his parents have field diplomas. You shouldn’t delude yourself too much about hereditary talents either, since hunting skills are not always passed on from parents to children and largely depend on proper training.
• The appearance of a growing Russian Greyhound puppy is constantly changing, so choosing the most spectacular baby from the litter is unlikely to be possible. However, it is still worth visually assessing the correctness of the bite, the cleanliness of the dog’s meat and the general condition of the future pet.

Vaccinations

Regular examination by an experienced veterinarian and timely vaccinations will protect your dog from serious diseases. Puppies are vaccinated against parvovirus three times - at 6, 9 and 13 weeks. At the 8th week, vaccinations against glanders, hepatitis, and leptospirosis are given, then the injection is repeated at 3 months.

The rabies vaccination is given no earlier than 6 months. Vaccinations are then recommended to be repeated annually.

Prevention against worms is mandatory. The drug is taken on the 20th day of life, repeated after about 2 weeks.

You can learn more about how to properly give a dog a pill from the article

Photos of Russian greyhound puppies

Diseases

Greyhounds may suffer from the following diseases:

• Intestinal volvulus.
• Wobbler syndrome.
• Retinal atrophy.
• Cataract.
• Allergic reactions.

During fast running and group hunting, the dog can get seriously injured. You should not release more than three dogs after game. They will interfere with each other. Greyhounds do not tolerate some pain medications well. This must be taken into account when performing surgery.

How much does a Russian greyhound cost?

If you want to become the owner of a show-class Russian greyhound puppy, get ready to spend from 40,000 to 60,000 rubles on it. Future hunters of hares and foxes from parents with hunting diplomas will cost 20,000 - 30,000 rubles. Since most dog breeders continue to believe that the first litter of Russian greyhounds is not always successful, there is a chance to save a lot on this cliché. Thus, many breeders sell the offspring of a female who has given birth for the first time at a reduced price (from 15,000 rubles), which they notify potential buyers about in advance.

Photo and video review

The greyhound is often confused with the Russian hound. These are different but similar breeds. The latter, according to its name, only drives the prey, while the greyhound catches and kills the caught game. Photos and videos of Russian greyhound owners will help you understand the intricacies of the breed.

Appearance - colors and sizes

Description of the breed:

1. The body is strong, dry, slightly elongated (especially in males). The bones are strong, not massive.
2. The muscles are dry, well developed (especially the thighs).
3. The head is narrow, elongated. The transition from forehead to muzzle is smooth.
4. Lips, eyelids and nose are black.
5. The ears are medium-sized, thin, in a state of rest they fit tightly to the head, and in an excited state they rise.
6. The eyes are dark brown, large, almond-shaped, slightly protruding. Visibility radius 270 degrees (for humans 180).
7. The tail is saber-shaped, low-set, thin and long.
8. The coat of this breed of dog is called mutt and comes in different colors. Elongated, silky, slightly wavy.
9. On the head, ears and sides the hair is shorter and denser, on the neck it is longer, on the sides and hips it is short and sometimes curled.
10. On the limbs there is fur in the form of pants. The undercoat is weakly expressed.

According to the breed classification, the FCI belongs to group 10. In addition, it is included in the group of hunting dogs.

The color of the Russian Borzoi is varied:

• white;
• sexual (autumn) with greyish, red or silvered;
• sex with a darkish coating (burmat);
• red with black guard hair (murugii);
• gray;
• forelock (sex red or gray with a dark stripe);
• red, black.

Dark-colored dogs have a mask (blackness on the face).

Looking at the description of the breed, this dog will not appeal to everyone, mainly only to hunters. As with most breeds, males are larger than females. So, the height of males is 71-80 cm, females - 66-73 cm. Weight of males is 34-48 kg, females - 27-41 kg. The Russian greyhound ranks second in height, second only to the Irish wolfhound. Life expectancy is 10-12 years.

There is a breed of South Russian greyhound (steppe). It appeared by crossing Central Asian, mountain and Crimean greyhounds. Nowadays, they hunt hare and fox with the South Russian steppes. The dog is agile, hardy, and can pursue prey for a long time and persistently. She is affectionate and not aggressive. But they don’t keep it in city apartments.