Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Borzoi

by Leave a Comment

Borzoi History and origin:

Once known as Russian Wolfhounds, this Russian sight hound was developed by crossing the extinct Lapp sled dog with the Collie.  The Borzoi was used as coursing hounds to chase rabbits, foxes, and wolves in packs.  His speed, agility, and strength allowed him to range far ahead of the mounted hunter, acquire the prey by sight, run it down, and hold it at bay until the hunter arrived. The first Borzoi was brought to the U.S. from England in 1889.

Description:
The Borzoi stands 26 to 28 inches at the shoulder and weighs 65 to 100 pounds.  He has a lean, leggy, athletic body and a long, silky, shedding coat that requires medium maintenance.  The coat is usually white with black, tan, or lemon markings.  It was developed to protect the breed from the cruel Russian winter.

About the Borzoi:

This breed was once a favorite among the Russian aristocrats and admired by the Russian czar’s court.  He has the beauty, elegance, carriage, and personality to match his regal heritage. The Borzoi is fast, agile, aloof, and very clean.  He is faithful to his owners but cautious with strangers.  He is normally intolerant of unpredictable young children and may bite without warning.  The Borzoi needs early training and socialization. The training should not be overbearing because this breed processes information slowly and will shut down if pushed.  Patience and consistency are important.  The “Sit” command is difficult to teach because of the Borzoi’s bony, lanky structure and lack of body padding.  The “Come” command is crucial and must be perfected because his great speed enables him to disappear from sight in seconds.  The Borzoi has a high prey drive and will seize and kill small animals before his owner can react.  He can also be very dog-aggressive.  Similar to all sight hounds, the Borzoi must often be allowed time to be by himself.  Do not expect him to be as affectionate as a Golden Retriever.  Owners who are used to the mind-set of cats will appreciate this breed, though it would be a mistake to own a cat along with a Borzoi.  He needs a bed or a thick blanket to lie on because he does not have much muscle or fat on his body and can get pressure sores if his sleeping area is not cushioned properly.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of branded meaty with biscuit added in same amount or 5 cupfuls of complete dry food.

Ideal home:
The Borzoi is not suitable to live in an apartment, although he can adapt to one  as long as he is getting plenty of space and exercise.  A quiet environment free of unpredictable events and young children is preferred.  Small animals may pose a problem due to this breed’s high prey drive.  He needs to run, and activity that is possible only if you have properly trained him to come when called and if you have socialized him among other dogs and people.  Borzoi owners should be calm, easygoing leaders who do not necessarily want a dog that is too affectionate.  Nervous, hyperactive, and pampering types should avoid this breed.  The elderly and disabled may have trouble training and exercising this breed.  A Borzoi should not be left alone in a yard because can easily jump a six-foot fence.

The Afghan Hound

by Leave a Comment

Afghan hound History and origin:

Often referred to as the “Dog of Noah’s Ark”, the Afghan Hound is one of the oldest, if not the oldest breed in existence. He was used as a herding dog, a guard dog, and a hunting dog. The Afghan’s long coat allowed him to stay warm in the harsh climate of Afghanistan, something that his faster, short-haired cousin from Egypt, the Greyhound, would not have been able to do.

Description:

The Afghan Hound stands 25 to 27 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 50 and 60 pounds. He possess an athletic body that is capable of supple and agile movement. The shedding coat is long, silky, and hard to maintain. It absorbs moisture and odors and requires daily brushing and regular clipping to prevent matting. The feet and ears are feathered, and there is a topknot of long silky hair. The color may be silver, cream, black, brindle, black-and-tan, or a combination of shades.

About the Afghan Hound:

This fast, graceful sight hound is aloof, dignified, and somewhat snooty with all but his close family. He is very elegant and aristocratic by nature who is also reserved and suspicious toward strangers. Though warm and affectionate to his owners, the Afghan is a hunting dog who is very independent and will not tolerate boisterous children or uninvited attention. He may shy away from the unwanted petting hand of a stranger. This breed is very laid-back at home, happily curling up on a sofa idling the day away. However, he also needs plenty of exercise and free running to keep him fit. Training is difficult with the Afghan. Sensitive and not overly bright, he will balk if pushed too quickly. He processes information more slowly than other breeds. Training technique must therefore be clear, slow, and precise. Overbearing methods will only to panic the breed and possibly bring on fearful snapping. As with most sight hounds, the Sit and Come commands take an especially long time to teach. The Afghan needs to be socialized from an early age so as to limit his aloof, distrustful nature. This is not a breed to spoil or pamper, despite his beauty and his elegance. Spoiling will enhance a dominant attitude and increase the chances of aggression. Because of his hunting nature, this breed can also be small dog-aggressive and has a very high prey drive toward smaller animals.

Feeding: Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ -2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with added biscuit in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete dry food.

Ideal Home: The owner of an Afghan Hound should be an easy-going person who does not demand constant attention and affection from the dog. A hunter by nature, the Afghan Hound needs a big place for him to be able to run free and is therefore not suitable for apartment living.

Recent Blog Posts