Question 1

Is a Borzoi the same as a Russian Wolfhound?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they are two names for one breed. Russian Wolfhound was the English name used while the dogs were still being exported from the tsarist kennels, and Borzoi comes from the Russian word for swift. The older name still appears in breed literature.

Question 2

Does the Borzoi have wolf ancestry?

Accepted Answer

No. It was bred to hunt wolves, not to descend from them, and the resemblance people see is a shared body plan for running rather than shared blood. The breeds behind it are sighthounds and Russian hunting dogs, which is a different lineage entirely.

Question 3

Do Borzois bark or guard the house?

Accepted Answer

Rarely. They are quiet dogs that will watch a stranger walk in without comment, which surprises owners who expected a guard dog. A Borzoi notices everything and reports almost nothing.

Question 4

Why is the Borzoi's head so long?

Accepted Answer

The standard asks for a long, lean head with a nearly imperceptible stop and jaws that are long, deep, and powerful. The shape holds a large nose and long nasal passages, and the jaw length is what let the breed grip a wolf without putting its own face in the way.

Borzoi: The Elegant Russian Wolfhound

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