Borzoi

A Borzoi typically lives 9 to 14 years, a fairly wide range for a large breed. Where a dog lands in it is shaped largely by two catastrophic risks rather than slow decline: gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer) are leading causes of death and can end an otherwise healthy Borzoi's life quickly. Feeding management and prophylactic gastropexy meaningfully address the bloat risk, while buying from lines with documented longevity and cardiac screening improves the odds. Keeping the dog sighthound-lean rather than overweight also protects those years.

No — and this is the single most important practical fact about the breed. The Borzoi was bred to chase and pin wolves at 35-40 mph, and that response is sighted, instant, and not under voice control. A Borzoi that spots a rabbit, cat, or even a distant runner can be hundreds of yards away before an owner finishes calling. The breed's recall is reliable right up until prey appears and then it is gone. Off-leash exercise must happen only in securely fenced areas; on open ground the dog stays on a leash for its entire life.

Yes, with the right expectations. Borzoi are gentle, affectionate, and notably quiet and clean in the house, and they are generally good with calm, respectful children. They are not, however, roughhousing dogs — they are dignified and sensitive and dislike being grabbed or chased, so they suit older children better than boisterous toddlers. The more important caution is other small pets: a Borzoi's predatory drive can be triggered by a fast-moving cat or small dog, so introductions must be careful and free-roaming small pets are a poor match.

Because sighthounds like the Borzoi handle anesthetic and sedative drugs differently from typical dogs. Their lean build and very low body fat can cause some drugs to act longer and recovery to be prolonged, and they are prone to temperature swings under anesthesia. A vet who knows the dog is a sighthound will choose appropriate drug protocols, dose carefully, and manage body temperature during surgery. This is not optional caution — using a standard protocol unaware can have serious consequences, so flag it for every procedure, including routine dentals and neutering.

Less than the long silky coat suggests, but not none. Brush the coat two to three times a week to prevent mats in the feathering on the legs, chest, and tail, and increase to daily during the heavy seasonal shed, which is substantial. The coat does not require clipping or professional trimming, so the cost is time rather than money. Routine nail, ear, and dental care round out the routine. Compared with a continuously-growing coat like a Poodle's, the Borzoi is moderate-maintenance — its bigger commitments are exercise safety and bloat management, not grooming.

Expect $1,500 to $3,000 for a puppy from a breeder who cardiac-screens and shares longevity records; rescue adoption is far less. The purchase price is the smaller concern. The financially significant items are the breed's two big risks: emergency bloat surgery runs roughly $3,000 to $8,000, and osteosarcoma diagnosis and treatment can run several thousand more. Prophylactic gastropexy (often $400-$1,200 done with a spay or neuter) is comparatively cheap insurance against the worst-case bloat scenario, and is worth budgeting for up front in this breed.