Are Borzoi (Russian Wolfhounds) Good and Not Aggressive dogs?

nicole t: Does anyone own a Russian wolfhound Borzoi? Are they good dogs?
I've heard people say they are aggressive, but someone who owned one said they are good dogs.

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Answers and Views:

Answer by Cara :P
One of my best friends owns a Borzoi which is practically the same thing as Russian Wolfhound, and her dog is a female, and super sweet and nice, she tries to cuddle too but she's tooo big so its a little funny, but they require a LOT of exercises... Lots!... Best of Wishes and Luck...:P

Answer by Robert Horn II
Borzoi, like all dogs, are not aggressive by nature. Due to the environment and/or upbringing, they may learn that bad trait. That is why it is important to look for a good breeder. Pets, not just Borzoi, retain the memory of mistreatment. Their personality will change and they will be more protective of themselves. This can be construed as being “aggressive”.

I’ve personally never had a Borzoi exhibit aggressive tendencies towards humans. Though some may be very aggressive towards other dogs. I presently have 5 male Borzoi and they are all family dogs having full roam of our home. They are extremely needful of attention and affection. Each has its own personality. A couple I would trust with a baby, others I would be leery. Regardless, a Borzoi owner must always remember that a Borzoi is lightning fast. Liability usually befalls on the biggest dog.

Thus, we do not take our dogs to dog parks. We do socialize the dogs by taking them with us to outdoor cafes. All our dogs appreciate the attention. Yet, we always keep a close eye especially when young children are around. You must respect ALL dog’s “space”. It is wise to allow the dog to approach you prior to extending a hand to pet the dog.

So in short to answer the question “Are Borzoi aggressive?”, no more than I myself can be aggressive if agitated the wrong way!!

Answer by Vera Wonneberger
First of all, Borzois are dogs. So saying "they are aggressive" or "they are not aggressive but very sensitive" is just not right. As with every other living being you have individuals.
You have to take into account that you get a hunting dog who hunts on sight with great speed. I have experienced several Borzois that were quite aggressive. And this not because they were aggressive by nature from birth on. But because their owners did get them only for being an accessor and something to look at. So they weren't interested in the needs of the Borzoi which can lead to an unbalanced and aggressive dog. So here the character becomes important. If you have a Borzoi with a higher aggressive potential, he might show this when underemployed.

To say that a Borzoi is less destructive than a Wolfhound, housetrains himself and so on is plain wrong. A Borzoi is a dog and an individual. As with every other dog breed or mix breed, you see some that are easy from the beginning and you see some that need more training and supervision. As a professional hunting dog for wolves, a Borzoi is not being born to be a perfect house pet from the beginning.

I have seen wonderful Borzois with owners that exactly knew what they wanted and handled the dogs accordingly. And I have worked with Borzois, that had developed problematic behavior.

To get to learn to know a breed, ask owners. A lot of breeders won't tell you the not so positive sides of their breed. (Don't misunderstand me: There are great breeders that will tell you all about their breed, positive and negative). But you will be on the secure side with owners experiences. They are not selling a breed, they are living with a dog and are more interested in everyday life.

If you respect the Borzoi for being a dog and being a hunter and if you are willing to satisfy his needs, you can have a wonderful companion.

Answer by Kaz M
Borzoi are sensitive dogs that are RARELY aggressive. They do not need a strong hand, they need a FAIR and GENTLE hand — too harsh a correction will mentally scar a Borzoi. The Irish Wolfhound is more destructive in its early years(immature for years); a Borzoi practically housetrains itself, picks carefully around furniture, and leans against your thighs for affection. However, a Borzoi, esp. females, are very discerning, rarely ‘outgoing’, preferring the company of their family only – they don’t usually allow strangers to pet them.

Females are more reticent than males. You must thoroughly socialize a puppy. Borzoi needs at least one solid workout a day: a good ‘zoom’ for abt 10 minutes around a fenced yard will do. After a certain age, even that can be skipped. We walk our senior 8-year-old girl twice a day, and on cold dreary days, she voluntarily curtails her walks in favor of warm couches. They do SHED LIKE CRAZY so be prepared for that: we vacuum up a Pomeranian every week.

• Borzoi, the Russian Wolfhound
• Borzoi Pros and Cons Video
• Borzoi Breeders in the USA

They are not protectors. I have been owned by a Borzoi girl for more than a year now – she is silly and sweet in the home and reserved outside. They arbitrarily like some strangers, and won’t get near others, I still haven’t figured out my girl’s criteria. They are not “high-strung” but they are sensitive. The tail is their telegraph – You’ll learn quickly how to read the tail.

If you’ve never had a dog before, go to a dog show (find one in your area at infodog.com), and ask a breeder. Also, consider looking around for an “unfinished adult” – these are dogs that were meant to be show dogs, but for whatever reason never succeeded in the ring. So they’re adult, housetrained, obedience trained, reasonably well socialized, and usually relatively inexpensive to adopt. They were ‘fixed’ later in life, so they’re hormonally mature in the way puppies fixed at 10 wks are not, and will usually bond to you within a week or so. The best bet to bonding with a Borzoi — let it come to you. A Borzoi that chooses you does so FOREVER.
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