Borzoi dogs: description, types and rules of maintenance

Greyhounds dog breeds are a large group of hunting quadrupeds, which are indispensable for tracking small animals. They have ultra-sharp vision and are able to develop increased speed. Such dogs have rather long muscular paws, because these breeds are usually used for pen foxes and hares.

Some researchers have suggested that greyhounds are among the first dogs that helped ancient people hunt down and drive prey. However, this judgment has no basis. Just think, even in the ice age, which ended only 10 thousand years ago, the main prey of man was the mammoth. It was extremely beneficial to hunt for this giant animal, since it was possible to immediately get a large amount of meat from it, and a loyal dog to the hunters would be very useful.

However, given the size of the mammoth, it can be assumed that his corral required strength, and not run speed at all, and therefore it does not make sense to look for the ancestors of modern greyhounds in the stone era.

That is why it is not possible to determine the exact time and place of appearance of greyhounds. The only evidence indirectly indicating the domestication of such dogs is considered to be the ancient Egyptian images - it can be argued that It was in ancient Egypt that the first ancestors of these amazing animals appeared. However, some scientists claim that the images of that period more resemble beagles or Spitz. Most often, these were greyhound dogs or half dogs.

In 1891, a book by the Russian researcher G. Rosen, entitled Outline of the History of the Greyhound Dog, was published, where he talked about ancient hunting dogs. The scientist argued that the images relating to the times of ancient civilizations resemble a rather unusual and strange greyhound - with large erect ears and a ring curved tail, which in no way indicates their close relationship with modern representatives of the breed.

In any case, most experts agree that, most likely, real greyhounds could not appear before the man tamed the horses - foot hunting as a trade could hardly be effective, and it did not make sense as entertainment. According to reports, the horses were tamed about 5 thousand years ago in the territory of Central Asia. Over 2000 years BC. er they spread to Arabia, Egypt and Mesopotamia - that is, to those places where greyhounds appeared according to existing data.

It is known that Nothing in the world happens by itself - the emergence of any breed of dogs was primarily determined by the needs of people, the need for a certain specialization and was subject to changing external conditions. That is what happened with hunting dogs.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that in ancient times the lands of the Middle East and North Africa were not desert. They were distinguished by a favorable climate, rich flora and fauna - here lions, as well as rhinos and antelopes met. Therefore, there was simply no special need to use fast-moving dogs for hunting, it was much easier to arrange a mass raid or to capture prey by ambush.

Centuries passed and, under the influence of man, the terrain changed its appearance. Numerous herds devastated pastures, swept away the surface of the soil, and the erosion that occurred led to the formation of deserts. So, gradually, over thousands of years, the plant and animal world became increasingly scarce. At that moment, the man was forced to start hunting small, but very mobile animals in open territories - it was for this purpose that a breed of dogs was created, which can very quickly and quickly catch the prey. So greyhounds appeared, differing high speed, exceptional dexterity and agility.

Greyhounds belong to one of the types of hounds, they have unique features that distinguish them from other groups of dogs.

• Playfulness - they can in a few seconds develop a fairly high running speed and overcome short distances. The main task of such animals is to overtake prey before it crosses the forest belt - the fact is that animals of this breed do not have a sense of smell, but vision, and they are not suitable for searching in arrays with trees.
• The behavior of such dogs varies greatly depending on whether he works alone or together with the pack. In the first case, the dog will patiently sit next to his breeder and will not sharply throw in pursuit of the beast, and in the second - he will organize a raid.
• Animals have a balanced temperament and attractive appearance. Such dogs are optimal for people leading an active lifestyle, making morning jogs, long walks and cycling trips.
• Four-legged with great desire to make a company to its owner, but they are never overly intrusive.

In general, the nature of these dogs is rather controversial - they are very attached to their master, they have true love for his family members, but with respect to outsiders they are fully capable of showing determination, boldness and even aggression. During training and training often demonstrate considerable stubbornness, which can be broken only by incentives - the whip method with such animals does not work.

These dogs easily tolerate the short-term absence of the owners, therefore they will not become foul of lack of attention or idleness.

Another feature of greyhounds is natural curiosityThese dogs need to constantly explore new spaces and territories. Developed hunting instincts make them unfriendly to other pets. If the greyhounds are forced to share the territory with other dogs or cats, then they need a long time to get used to these living conditions. But acquaintance with rodents and birds is best avoided - the genes of the ancestors do their work, and the dogs open up a real hunt.

Greyhounds are very good at babies and will be great babysitters for them who take care of their children responsibly and protect them from all sorts of dangers. Depending on the climatic conditions, the appearance of greyhounds can vary considerably.

Today, there are a huge number of breeds of greyhound dogs. Consider some of them in more detail.

This animal is better known under the name "kangaroo". The breed was created in Australia and has long served to hunt kangaroos, the rapidly increasing population of which caused significant damage to agriculture. Dogs were characterized ingenuity, instinct and dexterity.

Nowadays, most often they are turned up as companions or as effective hunters of small animals.They work exclusively on flat lands, withstand high temperatures withstanding, thanks to their exceptional endurance they can pursue their prey for several hours. Now the breed is not popular and quite rarely found in urban apartments. The animal is too aggressive and requires long training in the process of education and training.

As the name suggests, this dog originated in the valley of the same name on the territory of the Old World. These creatures were started by nomads from the Middle East as hunters and guards. Animals easily drive any small animals, they are especially effective in the plains and in the fields.

A characteristic feature of the dogs of this breed - very tall and muscular paws, due to which they easily catch up with even lions and can run for several hours even under the scorching sun. Dogs are completely non-contact, they are characterized by detached and wild behavior, so they can not be bred in residential buildings.

The second name of this breed is slyugi. The animal is distributed on the African continent, specializes in the pen of a hare, fenek and wild boar, and can act as a guard.

This dog is distinguished by the agility of movements - while running, the animal puts its front paws quite far forward and can make very sharp turns. These are friendly, educated and restrained pets, but they are adapted only for work in warm countries - cold these dogs suffer very badly.

The dog appeared in Afghanistan for the pen of foxes, wild boars and small game. The animal is able to tolerate a wide variety of climatic conditions.

The greyhound develops increased speeds and overcomes any obstacles, therefore it can work both on flat terrain and in thickets. By the nature of it independent dogs, but at the same time, in any situation, always loyal to their owner.

This dog belongs to the category of eastern greyhounds. Initially, the breed was bred for hunting ungulates, today it is more often used for the pen of wolves, as well as foxes and hares.

The animal is adapted to work on a mountainous, flat or wooded area, the dog exhibits exceptional speed and agility, It has a good sense of smell and excellent eyesight.. The character of the Afghan hounds is calm, seasoned and obedient, but in the process of hunting the animals become very hot and even aggressive.

It belongs to hunting breeds, but significantly lags behind its counterparts in terms of endurance and the physical possibility of prolonged pursuit. But in the race for short distances they have no equal, because Mostly Greyhounds are bred for fox and hare hunting.

This breed was originally introduced in Scotland, where dogs were widely bred for deer hunting - the dog is quite capable of catching up and even killing this animal on its own.

Deerhound - active dogs, which are characterized by inexhaustible energy and exceptional strength. To keep fit, they need regular workouts and high exercise every day. The character of these greyhounds is non-aggressive, submissive and exceptionally gullible.

This is one of the largest hunting dogs in the world. Animals originated in Ireland, where they were used for paddocking and in forests. In the work of the animal helps acute vision and perfect instinct. The nature of the wolfhound is very peaceful, the pets are distinguished by loyalty, kindness and affection to all members of their family.

Known as one of the oldest breeds, which has long served as a running dog. This animal has exceptional scent, because almost never gets off the track. Galgo is a good calm dog, however it should not be kept in terms of the apartment, because the animal requires the ability to walk independently in open street space.

It is impossible not to dwell on the cases of abuse in these dogs that exist in Spain. In this country, animals are turned on exclusively for the hunting season, and then the owners themselves throw up or even kill - for Spaniards, dogs represent only a mechanism that facilitates hunting. Actions aimed at protecting pets are held by activists in all countries, but so far they have not yielded any results.

The breed became widespread in Kyrgyzstan, where it is used to work in forest and mountain lands to trap wolves, badgers, foxes, and even a mountain goat. Especially effective is the work of taigans in pairs.

This is one of the shortest greyhounds. It was first introduced in Italy. The Italian Greyhound has a highly developed hunting sense, the animal has excellent sight and all the instincts necessary for hunting.

If we talk about the character, it is gentle and educated animals that do not show aggressiveness towards people. Dogs desirable contain in rural areas as they need frequent and very long walking.

Variety of the Hungarian greyhounds, which to this day continues to form. The animal is able to develop increased speed and during the hunt to walk away from its owner for several kilometers.

Greyhounds easily overcome obstacles, possess ingenuity, excitement and contact. Animals are easy to train.

The breed was represented in Russia, therefore it transfers the most diverse climatic conditions. The dog hunts small animals and large prey. In his work he uses his keen eyesight and excellent instinct, in a matter of aggressively and too recklessly. Pets loyal and faithful, for keeping in urban environments are not suitable.

The Greyhound, originally from the United Kingdom, is intended for a pen in wooded and flat terrain in temperate climates. Dogs have strong paws, so they can develop quite high speeds, have good eyesight and flair.

This breed was bred in the south of Russia and is intended for saiga and wolf hunting; the animal works in the steppe, in the plain and in the fields. Withstands both cold and heat with ease, but can get sick in severe frosts. It is most effective when running for short distances, easy to train. In the apartments of such greyhounds do not contain.

Summing up, we can say that All breeds of greyhounds, whether Estonian, Moscow or any other, may have a different appearance. Dogs are short-haired, long-haired, smooth-haired, bald, dwarf, they have their own characteristics of character and temperament, various methods of hunting, but in any case all They are united by exceptional flair and sharp sight.

Puppies and adult greyhounds are undemanding in care, although they need the special attention of the owners. The fact is that these are very beautiful dogs, so all owners want them to look well-groomed and showy. However, the greyhound easily takes some of the cares on itself, which is good for its owner. Nevertheless, it is not worthwhile to completely shift the responsibility to the animal.

• The dog must be combed at least once a week with a special brush. Keep in mind, pets of this breed shed quite strongly, so you should not neglect this procedure.
• Bathe dogs infrequently - 3-4 times a year or if necessary. For washing, you need to use special shampoos and conditioners balms.
• A very important component of general pet care is taking care of its paws - the hair between the fingers must be cut from time to time.
• Dogs with developed hound instincts require space and the ability to play regularly, they need a lot of physical activity, so the pet must be provided with a large number of the most varied exercises. Otherwise, the physical form of the dog will deteriorate, and this often leads to diseases.
• At least once every 7–10 days, the dog’s ears should be treated with boric acid to clean out sulfur, and you should regularly wipe your eyes with chamomile extract or a weak solution of furatsilin.
• Greyhound claws usually grind off by themselves, but if this does not happen, you need to process them with a clipper.

If caring for a dog does not require special efforts from its breeder, then this animal is very demanding in terms of feeding. The greyhound has a strong bone structure and developed muscles, and therefore requires the highest quality and proper nutrition. At least 80% of the diet of the animal should be meat, the share of the remaining 30% is cereals, vegetables, greens. If the owner prefers to give dry food, then it is worth making a choice in favor of premium or super-premium formulations.

Unlike other breed dogs, greyhounds are better not to feed 1-2 times a day, but in fractional portions in several doses throughout the day - It significantly improves the digestion of the pet.

In the next video you will find a fascinating report about the Russian hound borzoi.