Russian borzoi: characteristics, temperament, care basics

Rare breed of dogs, combining unsurpassed grace of the exterior and such a high hunting excitement, agility in the pursuit of a wild beast. The Russian borzoi is an object of inspiration for artists, sculptors and writers. Hunting with her participation described A. N. Tolstoy. A. S. Pushkin devoted his delightful poetic lines to her.

Russian greyhounds were kept at the court by crowned heads from England and Russia, and dog hunting in Russia rarely did without the participation of dogs of this unique breed. The profile of the dog knowingly decorates the emblem of the Russian Cynological Federation, symbolizing the quality of the Russian style of selection.

The history of this ancient breed dates back to Kievan Rus. According to one of several versions, this ancient breed was brought to us by Tatar-Mongolian conquerors - supporters of canine hunting fun. However, this version is contrary to the famous fresco in the Sofia Cathedral in Kiev, built in the XI century, with a dog character very similar in appearance to the modern greyhound.

Basil III and many Russian grandees used these swift and dexterous in their pursuit of animals. In the 16th century, Tatar princes, resettled by Ivan the Terrible to Kostroma and Kazan, crossed the greyhounds from Asia with local hunting breeds.

Even then, in ancient times, the breed was appreciated. A historical fact is known when Boris Godunov sent several greyhounds to the Shah of Iran Abbas as a gift. By this time The breed received the best qualities not only in hunting skills, but also in the exterior, combining the nature of Asians and the appearance of Europeans.

In Russia, hound hunting with the participation of greyhounds quickly gained popularity among the nobility, and in 1888 a standard was set. In the XIX century, the vast majority of the owners of estates considered it a rule to keep dozens of hounds in their yards.

In the future, Russian hunters continued to try to improve the breed by mixing the blood of purebred domestic canids - as a result, the so-called Kurland appeared. Its distinguishing features were thinner, longer and thicker hair, with a lesser degree of brushiness.

Since the beginning of the XIX century, greyhounds were rare and cost extremely expensive. There were several types of dogs of Kurland type, but in the end, the breeders managed to come to a single standard. Today it is an elegant, sophisticated and dexterous breed with a peculiar character.

Dogs of this particular breed traditionally live at the court of English crowned heads. Several greyhounds gave the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Newcastle Alexander II. Struck by the beauty of greyhounds, the duchess has established breeding dogs in her private club Nots. Greyhounds as characters constantly appeared in elite commercials.

Since the time of I. Grozny, hounds of greyhounds, as a rule, receive traditional sonorous names, for example, Rada, Mistress, Zlata and the like. Borzoi dogs were named for their unusually high quality of playfulness, and the name "canine" comes from the term "dog", which reflects the waviness and silkiness of the wool.

Hunting for greyhounds is only a temporary episode, at other times they are ordinary pets, with their own special, aristocratic character. The ancient instinct of the pursuer arises exclusively for the beast.

Of greyhound dogs the most popular are:

• Afghan hounds;
• Russian greyhounds;
• Russian Borzoi;
• Moscow greyhounds.

Perhaps the more graceful appearance among them is the Russian greyhound (hound) and the Afghan hound. Special attraction gives them a long and thick coat that protects dogs in difficult mountain conditions and from strong Russian frosts. The old name of a dog coat - dog hair - has been preserved to our time and is widely used among professionals and amateurs when it comes to the Russian line.

The main feature of the Russian line is that Unlike many other breeds that have become just a decoration of the house, it has not lost its main purpose and is quite able to drive a wolf or a hare.. This is an exclusively hunting breed, which has retained all the necessary qualities for the pen of a wild beast.

The appearance of the greyhound is a continuous sophistication, grace and sophistication.. Having a significant growth and a decent weight (males at the withers reach 85 cm, females - up to 78 cm), the greyhounds move with enviable lightness and enviable speed: jerk - up to 100 km / h, operating mode - 60 km / h. As excellent runners, dogs are often used in competitive racing.

The greyhound looks so harmonious and elegant that it was the object of inspiration for many artists, poets and writers. Particularly graceful and beautiful as the main characteristics of greyhounds, the most talented was reflected in his paintings by the artist Louis Icarus. After his work, the unusually proud image of greyhounds soon turned into a fashion trend. There were sculptures, engravings and other works of art dedicated to the extraordinary breed.

In accordance with the FCI (standard) description of the breed is different:

• dry, strong and somewhat elongated physique;
• large, light, elastic and sweeping jumps when moving trot;
• a quick career with wide jumps in pursuit of the beast;
• long, thick, silky and wavy hair, and on the head, ears and legs a shorter and more dense coat;
• thin and supple skin;
• strong body;
• lean form and well-developed muscular system;
• dry, elongated head;
• a large, dark nose with prominent nostrils;
• thin, tight lips;
• small, beautiful and high-ranking ears, in the excited state slightly rising forward;
• large brown, obliquely placed eyes (with a visualization radius of 270 degrees), dark, closely adjacent eyelids;
• large fangs with a scissor bite;
• muscular, slightly elongated neck with a thick cover;
• extended chest, elongated to the elbows chest (in hounds, the heart has the largest heart in volume);
• muscular, elastic, arched back and elongated, strong and wide loin;
• long, muscular croup;
• straight, lean and muscular front legs;
• narrow, oval-shaped paws with elastic pads;
• long, thin, saber, low tail.

Depending on the size and length of the spots, the color of the dogs is divided into 2 types.

• Piebald, with a dominant background of dark, red, gray and other colors. Against this background, there are pezhiny - bright blotches, mainly on the front of the body and at the tip of the tail.Pezhiny can be located from the bow to the frontal, in the form of a collar on the neck, located in the region of the sternum, abdomen and legs.
• Spotted (light), with various patches of dark, reddish and gray shades, located in the region of the eyes, ears, body or upper part of the tail.

The color of the greyhounds is diverse:

• white;
• greyish fawn with a silvery sheen;
• pale yellow with dark shades (burmese);
• red with a black muzzle, tips of the ears and a black stripe on the back and body (Murugy);
• gray various shades;
• pale yellow, reddish, black, greyish in the form of stripes or ovals (Chubary);
• black with burns on the face, eyebrows, cheeks, sternum and paws;
• burmay various shades from light to reddish shades, with powdered dog;
• dark burmy (fawn cover with brownish awn);
• gray-fawn (for example, gray back with fawn sides).

External defects of the rock can be both pronounced and mild. So, for excessively hard wool, the greyhound will not be able to get the highest score, but for aggressiveness or an overbite, the dog risks not to get to the competition.

Greyhounds have a lifespan of about 13 years. They grow up to about a year and a half, reaching a weight of 48 kg. At 2 months the weight of the dog is about 12 kg, a two-month puppy is an exact copy of what will grow in the future.

No matter how beautiful the breed is, there will always be pros and cons. The advantages of the Russian greyhound, taking into account its hunting specialization, include:

• high speed;
• endurance and excellent vision;
• some phlegm in a domestic environment, but not during the hunt;
• excellent physical condition;
• aesthetics, beauty and grace.

By cons:

• in room conditions the dog requires a lot of space;
• the need for frequent and long walks;
• innate willingness to stalk, often occurring outside the hunt.

In living conditions, greyhound demonstrates the stability and calmness of the psyche. However, during hunting it is a completely different animal - hunting instincts let themselves know, dogs instantly get excited and ready to chase game tirelessly tens of kilometers.

The dog has some aristocratic and delicate behavior, she is balanced and proud so that not even suspicion arises about her subordination to man. Even a certain mysticism is felt in such behavior.

Outsiders greyhound perceives indifferent and even somewhat arrogant. He loves the master children, there is no aggressiveness towards people. However, on the street to strangers can allow external aggression.

Surprisingly, this large and extraordinary animal adapts well to life in an apartment. She has almost no smell of "dogs", and in the period between the molt (end of spring) the wool in the apartment is not visible. Restrained and aristocratic animal, barking in vain does not like.

This breed with a sophisticated spiritual organization should not be trained, but rather patiently educate. It is important to establish a special contact with the animal, in which the pet understands the owner at a glance. Such relationships imply full trust, respect and understanding. Borzoi what is important is the presence of the owner and the feeling of being cared for, taken care of, communicating and playing with her.

A dog, subtly capturing the psychological state of the host at the subconscious level, may well play the role of a real antidepressant, trustingly putting your head on your knees and radiating calm and comfort. Her even temperament, lack of excitement in behavior will do the trick. However, during the walk the greyhound should be kept on a leash, and it is better to walk in a closed area.

Outside of hunting and walking, the greyhound behaves passively, settles on a sofa or lies quietly, sitting at the feet of the owner. To spoil the wallpaper, to nibble on shoes or furniture is not in its aristocratic spirit. The dog's mind is vulnerable, so it suffers painfully enough injustice, and the punishment for it is a real tragedy.

The instant excitability of an animal requires special attention. A cat accidentally caught up for a walk immediately turns into an object of hunting, because the main vocation of the breed is hunting for game. Their instinct of persecution is maximized.

Intellectual parameters are developed in the greyhound well, but inexperienced owners often face difficulties in the educational process. This happens because many people forget that this animal is far from a companion or service dog, and the style of education should be completely different, because all dog intelligence is sharpened precisely on the hunt.

The absence of special demands on the space in Russian canine greyhounds allows you to safely keep them in the conditions of an apartment (with frequent walking). We must remember that dogs do not like ordinary stove benches, and they are unlikely to be satisfied with a modest corner in the hallway. They love to lie on a sofa, bed or sit comfortably in a chair. It is in such conditions that dogs relax and give rest to their backs.

Borzoi yard recommended to keep in the aviary, equipped with insulated booth not less than 1 m high and approximately 1.5 m² in area. For two individuals, the booth area must be at least 2.5 m².

Feeding greyhounds requires a careful approach, often pets are very picky about food. Greyhounds require both a particularly balanced feed, as well as food of animal and plant nature.

Greyhounds occasionally have intestinal obstruction, which is a serious threat to their bodies. For healthy digestion of the animal, and therefore good health, the dog is fed repeatedly, in small portions. After eating dogs are strictly forbidden to exercise, a small rest will be enough for a normal digestive process.

Relevant observance of several simple rules for feeding dogs:

• food should be freshly cooked, slightly warm;
• it is important to monitor the presence of fresh water in the pot;
• the bowl should be kept clean at all times;
• It is not recommended to feed the dog before the walk.

A number of products prohibited for use in feeding dogs:

• fatty meats;
• smoked meat;
• hot spices;
• sweets;
• legumes;
• bakery products;
• roast;
• river fish;
• tubular bones.

Useful for greyhounds:

• rabbit, chicken, cow, turkey meat;
• cereals in cereals;
• dairy products (kefir, low-fat cottage cheese);
• greenery;
• vegetables (squash, carrot, pumpkin);
• fruit (apples);
• per day 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil.

The process of care for the greyhound does not require much effort. Her dog self-cleaning, and after walking in dry weather, the dog is quite enough shaking off.Comb the greyhound should be 2-3 times a week using a brush. To simplify the process, the cover is usually sprinkled with air conditioning. During the molt the dog is recommended comb every day: this quickly removes dying hair, and at the same time performs skin massage.

Other rules for small dog care.

• Bathe them should be necessary or once a month.
• Ears are cleaned once a week with a cotton swab pre-moistened in warm water.
• Eyes are washed weekly once. Use non-rigid fabric dipped in a weak tea brew or chamomile broth.
• Teeth brush weekly, with a special paste, using a brush or a fingertip. To prevent the occurrence of stones on the teeth, the diet should contain fresh tomatoes.
• Claws and paws after wiping wipe with a damp cloth. In winter, it is necessary to control the condition of the pads on the feet, where cracks may appear. It is useful to include in the diet of vegetable oil, which also wipe pads.
• Claw clipping is done monthly using a claw cutter. If the dog moves a lot, then this procedure is performed less frequently. It is important to remember the fifth, the so-called profit finger on the front paws. The finger is not long, it does not reach the ground, and therefore the claw is not erased, it is necessary to monitor its length constantly.
• The cover of the dog with a composition against fleas and ticks, which represent a real threat to the animal's body, should be treated monthly. Fleas cause an allergic reaction in hounds, and ticks tolerate piroplasmosis. The composition is applied to the greyhound cover, after applying it can not be bathed for 10 days.
• At the end of walks, it is always necessary to examine the pet in order to identify parasites. For hunting dogs, this measure is extremely relevant. If you find a parasite is better to seek help from a veterinarian. In the following days it will be useful to observe the animal for control over its activity, appetite and temperature.

Typical diseases for Russian greyhounds are:

• intestinal obstruction;
• abnormal development of joints;
• heart rhythm disorders;
• cataract.

They walk a greyhound at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. In the morning within half an hour, in the evening - an hour and a half, to allow the dog to actively run before bedtime. On weekends it will be useful to go out into nature, giving the greyhound the opportunity to run up to 10 km, to bring the muscular system in tone, so that the animal does not fall into depression.

A bitch is able to feed up no more than seven babies. If there are more of them, then from the 4th-5th day you need to either feed them with milk, using a nipple, or decide on a nurse. Mother feeds puppies 1-1,5 months. You shouldn't take away all puppies from a bitch right away - her milk should slow down gradually.

An excellent feed for 3-month-old babies will be a mixture of whole milk with bread, porridge, and minced meat. Somewhat later, they begin to give ground oats, steamed on boiling water and diluted with milk. Meat is better to give boiled, raw - only proven. Various dairy products (cottage cheese products and sour milk) are useful.

The growth of babies is completed by about a year, then they gradually mater. The greyhound needs vitamins with which the grated carrot and other vegetables, both raw and cooked, are rich. In small quantities is necessary for babies and mature dogs salt. Useful for puppies supplemented with vitamins fish oil.

The main purpose of greyhounds - hound hunting. This brings a number of features to the upbringing, training and behavioral aspects of greyhounds, which are important to know and take into account in their daily work with them. Dogs for hunting canines should be less dependent on the owner’s immediate commands than, for example, official breeds. The main qualities of the greyhounds are ingenuity, the ability to make decisions independently, complete dedication in the process of hunting.

Every year, the dog should be actively trained and educated. Otherwise, she will be bored and start losing all her “combat” qualities. It is recommended to take two puppies for training so that they actively move and gain speed. Regularity and intensity of training is the key to success and excellent animal well-being. Significant loads should not be given to babies.

Greyhounds must be trained from an early age. Considering the love of freedom and the desire for independence inherent in the breed, one should not expect from them an unquestioning execution of commands by analogy with service breeds. However, the greyhound should have basic teams and skills that clearly indicate what is allowed to do and what not.

Calmness and even a certain apathy of the greyhounds in everyday life is deceptive. Under hunting conditions, the dogs are instantly rearranged so that it is difficult to recognize in them a phlegmatic and unhurried individual, which obediently brings the newspaper to the owner for breakfast.

In the old days, greyhounds were used in the hunt for wolves, because the greyhound could have hunted such a strong predator alone, and they were always used to chasing their prey to the last. therefore training should be directed either to the inculcation of hunting skills, or to show behavior.

The basis and purpose of raising a puppy is to teach him at a young age to distinguish everyday reality from play and hunting. The dog should not rush to everything that moves during walking - it requires emphasis on the command "near", the execution of which should be accompanied by stimulation of feeding (edible bonus).

If a young dog reacts unreasonably actively to people, animals or moving objects, you need to use the old team of breeders. Even a puppy will be able to quickly master this command, thanks to genetic memory. Greyhounds can learn and perform many complex tricks, they often participate in circus performances. Hounds of greyhounds - perfectly trained animals, successfully acting in obedience and agility.

However, independence and stubbornness inherent in dogs imply the use of a significant amount of bonuses in training, as well as a soft and patient approach. Dogs are very sensitive to shouts and start to get nervous. Rough methods of education and training of the Russian houndhaft are strictly prohibited.

On the features of this breed of dogs, see below.