Borzoi

Borzoi tend to eat less than you might assume for their size, though puppies eat more during rapid growth. A Borzoi does well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or home-prepared under your veterinarian's supervision and approval, matched to the dog's life stage (puppy, adult, or senior). Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.

A simple feeding schedule works well:

• Puppies: three meals a day on a regular schedule.
• Adults: two meals a day.

Avoid free-feeding, since these slender dogs can become overweight if overfed, and follow the portion guidance on your food for your dog's weight. Treats help with training, but too many add up, so keep them modest. Because Borzoi are prone to bloat, avoid strenuous exercise right before or after feeding, and do not overfeed their lean frame.

A high-quality, complete diet covers a Borzoi's nutritional needs. Because the breed can be prone to osteochondritis dissecans and hip and elbow dysplasia, joint supplements may be worth discussing. Always talk with your vet before giving any supplement.

Like any long-coated dog, the Borzoi sheds year round, with one heavier shedding period of several weeks when more frequent grooming helps. Brushing every day or two with a pin brush, slicker brush, or comb removes loose hair and dirt, keeps the silky fur from clinging to clothes and furniture, and prevents tangles in the long coat.

Regular baths keep a Borzoi clean and looking handsome. Their size can make bathing tricky, so a dog dry shampoo (look for aloe or oatmeal, and avoid harsh drying formulas) keeps the coat fresh between baths. Borzoi don't typically have sensitive skin, so occasional baths are all they need.

Trim nails as needed when they aren't worn down by exercise, and keep up regular dental care with at-home brushing and professional cleanings. During grooming, check the ears: redness, odor, or debris can signal an infection worth a vet visit. Because the breed can be prone to progressive retinal atrophy, watch the eyes too, and if your Borzoi starts bumping into things, especially at night, book an eye exam.

Borzoi are graceful, athletic dogs. Most of the time they are low-key, with bursts of speed followed by curling up on the couch. They need daily exercise, whether long walks or running in a securely fenced yard. Once that energy is spent, they adjust easily to apartment living.

As sighthounds, they are apt to chase anything that moves. Off-leash time in open or public spaces is never advisable. Keep your Borzoi inside a fenced area or on a leash on walks and at parks. There they can run without chasing squirrels, cats, or other animals.

They enjoy doing things alongside their owners. Agility and lure coursing also give them mental work. Borzoi do not like being left alone too long and suit a household that can be around most of the day.

Borzoi are intelligent and very affectionate with their family, but independent and sometimes stubborn, so training can be a challenge. They are sensitive dogs that don't do well with harsh methods, so build sessions on positive reinforcement, patience, consistency, and repetition, with good humor.

Early socialization and puppy classes are recommended. Exposing a Borzoi puppy to a wide variety of people, places, and situations helps it grow into a well-adjusted adult who is more comfortable with strangers, since the breed tends to stay reserved with new people.

Their sweet, friendly temperament makes them good with people of all ages, including children, and with other dogs, though they may be shy before making canine friends. They don't like rough play but enjoy low-key games like tug-of-war. Because Borzoi were bred to chase game, socialize them with small animals while young so the cat or hamster at home reads as family, not quarry, and keep them leashed outside an enclosed area where the urge to chase can take over.