Thanks for making these videos! I don’t have a borzoi but it’s the only breed I can see myself owning and I intend to adopt when I have the space, money, and time to raise a dog right. Regarding bloating and spreading out the feeding and playing times, what would you say is a good schedule? An hour in-between playing and feeding? Or does it really depend on the dog’s size/age?
Sensitivity is a con for sighthounds. If you live in a "yelling house," forget about it. Even if you yell at someone else, the hound will get upset. I literally have to apologize to my silken for her to cheer up. On the bright side, she's forcing me to less of an arse. 😂
This will be interesting. I am dog trainer who is partial to Dobermans. My favorite 3 breeds are Doberman, Kangal, and Borzoi. Getting a Borzoi soon. It'll be interesting to see the difference in how trainable they are. Dobermans are a lot tougher and in my opinion, just more dog than a Borzoi, however Dobermans very much want to please their owners and will train for over an hour straight with no problem. I am imagining training sessions will be in shorter increments with the Borzoi. We shall see!
Beast Tamer....curious if you have any further insights now. I currently own a 2 year old female Doberman, raised from 9 weeks old. She is very well trained and the first 16 months with her was a huge amount of work. I am glad we laid the foundation though as she is now perfection. We do nosework training and a lot of mental games. I am no stranger to a high drive dog but she was also extremely biddable. We are considering a Borzoi for our next dog. I am open to puppy or a young adult and have reached out to some quality breeders to discuss. I would be so interested in hearing someones opinion that has raised or trained both breeds.
I've had Rika for over a year (from 10 weeks onward) and can now really appreciate how spot-on your description is! Kudos! I'd just like to add two things: You said it, but I'm not sure everybody heard the end of the phrase "It would be ridiculous to let a borzoi off leash IN THE STREET." Yes, absolutely. You can't let a sighthound run where it could endanger itself or others. However, if you take walks in the country, miles away from traffic, with farm animals safely behind fences then in my opinion and experience you can train a reliable recall and let a single borzoi run. (Not sure about more - two dogs are a pack and pack behaviour is different). Secondly, my three cats are still alive. The old tomcat was easiest - at 17 he didn't feel like running away so there was nothing to pursue. 'cause that's the key: Rika will run after everything that moves away fast but so far she does not seem to want to hurt or kill anything. If we meet a cat in the street that does not move - not a problem. But a passing car on a country lane is a temptation to chase (we are working on it).
So cute, I love them! Thanks for that, helps with future decisions! My biggest worry is a short lifespan, my collie is 11 now and cant even imagine him passing yet as he is so full of life and healthy and I get used to dogs so much, really part of family, so Im worried about a quick heartbreak now :/
Great video! I would have loved to have a video like this before I adopted my borzoi, it would have only had me more sure they were the right breed for me, but i definitely wasn't prepared for how much they actually shed!
Your videos are so helpful. We just rescued our first Borzoi 4 months ago and your videos have helped a lot. Our poor boy probably passed through 3 owners and has never gotten affection from humans. He is recovering tremendously. I appreciate that you put out info on a breed not well known. Our boy looks just like your girl and he gets up everytime I put your videos on.
I really appreciate these heartfelt videos. It's been my lifelong dream to have a borzoi. They have always captured my fascination! I just never thought it was practical for some reason. Well, I have never seen one in person--never known anyone to have one. Preparing to acquire a dog soon and thought, you know what?? Why not research them! You're exactly the kind of person I've wanted to talk to about them. These videos are so helpful! I'm loving them. Much to think about. Continuing on thru the vids!
Thank you for the video. I'm thinking about borzoi almost a year. I have a 2 years old corgi and hope he will love to have a company. Your information is very helpful. How do you exercise you dogs, on the leash or off leash?
I do a combination of both, since Ora is still young we do a lot of leash work (not too much since it can be bad for puppies to be too active ), I try to take her all over the place with me (including in the car). Then the other side is the off leash about an hour, she loves FETCH now so we use that to really motivate her to run.
Jacob, could you post a video of you preparing a meal for Esper and Ora? I am trying to learn as much as possible before we welcome our first Borzoi into our home. I would love to see what a meal of fresh / cooked veggies, fruit and meat would look like in portions for Ora, a pup and Esper an adult dog. The idea of fresh whole foods resonates with me and would love to see examples! BTW I have been researching this breed at length and your videos with the pups have sealed to deal! Thank you!
I love ❤ love all of your videos... you should not attribute too much weight to either very positive or very negative outliers in comments... Just a thought from a non-borzoi family... I appreciate and love your informative videos. Don't take negative criticisms to heart from commenters :) of course you have an internal bias, BUT in NO way does that devalue the information you present. Incidentally it is impossible to convey information without bias as the words or language we choose unconsciously enter the dialog. Don't sweat it- no one should use solely one source for getting information anyway. The goal shouldn't be "neutrality" which information transmission because that can give false weight to things that aren't truly important. The best we can do is announce that we *might* have a bias and then let people decide to take that into account when consuming that info. PS English setter household - we have hunting dogs rather than AKC or show dogs- they have slightly different physical builds and temperaments so I can only comment on our experience just as you have info on yours and people just need to be better consumers of info... don't worry so much about your presentations
Thank you for the personal testimony- I am considering a borzoi from an AKCbreeder- my one and only big reservation is not the shedding but the idea that this breed cannot be off a leash - so providing the room/space to run is probably important- Does one have to have a certain height fence to keep a borzoi in? Do they jump fences to get out if these see something move? Is a privacy fence then preferred? Thanks, sandra
Sandra Walton that’s a tough question. Running is very important and during their younger years it’s fundamental to their proper growth- so they will need to stretch their legs somewhere fenced. That said, I let Epser off leash all time at my parents - it’s a ranch with a lot of room to run. She’s adept at recall and had never had a problem. However, I know other dogs might not have the personality for that sort of thing. Also, Borzoi can be incredible jumpers, and a 5 foot high fence is recommended (by contrast Esper won’t step over a baby gate any higher than her feet), but there is a big variance between each dog’s prey drive, some of that can be genetic, especially of the breeders specialize in coursing. Anecdotally, and that’s the only way I feel comfortably advising since I’m not an expert, Esper, even if trigged by prey, would never attempt to jump a fence - she’s been trained to keep 4 paws on the floor and abides by that. I hope this helps!
Also on the topic of bloat. My girls great grandmother died from bloat so when I got her spayed I also made the decision to get her stomach tacked (gastropexy). I've seen a lot of debate about the surgery amongst borzoi owners about if it's really needed or not, but I felt like it was a "better safe then sorry" situation. It was a hard decision but I don't regret it. The likelihood of her bloating is low because I take all the precautions, but it's nice to have the knowledge that if it did happen, at least her stomach won't twist.
Thanks for the informational video series! I've owned many hound breeds, including Borzoi's and Dachshunds, cats, and horses. This is the video I showed to my husband when he was asking about adopting a Borzoi. It prompted him to realize he was biting off more than he could chew - he couldn't commit to the daily exercise requirement and the prey drive these dogs have. The prey drive isn't a bad thing (to me), it's part of the breed's history, but it also means we can never have a pet rabbit or cat because no matter how careful we would be, accidents can happen, the situation could in all reality end poorly for the cat or rabbit. As pet owners, and as in all things in life, it's good to make an informed, prudent decision.
You raise a lot of really good points for potential Borzoi enthusiasts. :) One thing that I'd like to touch on is the difference between the dogs and bitches personality-wise (in a general sense). Bitches, while incredibly affectionate toward their people, tend to be more independent when compared to the males...who have a tendency to be clingy. My two boys want to be with me and on me 24/7, and it's not a separation anxiety thing. They just prefer my company over anything else's, while their female counterparts are happy to be off doing their own thing. As they say, the girls love you but the boys are IN love with you. LOL Prey drive-wise, the females tend to be sharper and more keen. A fair chunk of the top AKC lure coursing Borzoi are all female, though that's not to say that the boys aren't equally as driven because my oldest boy turns into the Koolaid Man at the sound of the lure machine or the sight of live prey. My youngest boy is only 4 months, so he hasn't learned what the lure machine sounds like...though he does enjoy chasing anything that moves. :D I'm loving being able to continue watching little Ora grow up with you guys! Her breeder is a friend of mine, so I've been enjoying these pups since they were born.
This is amazing, such a great comment! you had me rolling at "Koolaid man." I"ll do a video about the Male / Female differences, my parents preferred males, I REALLY love the female borzoi vibe. So glad to have you on our Journey, any and all advice welcome! =)
@@esperborzoi Sonic's favorite game on the planet is "Catch the bunny", and he will let you know it! I have video of him on my kennel Instagram (@supersoniczoi) singing the song of his people at a lure coursing meet in Tennessee because he wanted to run RIGHT NOW DANGIT! Holding him at the line is like holding onto lightning because he knows that "Tally ho!" is the magic word for "RUN FAST" LOL As much as I love my boys, there is definitely a different vibe with the girls that I totally get. :D I've been helping raise Zeal's littermates, so I've had two of his sister stay with me. They're a really nice contrast personality-wise compared to the boys, and I love it!
You are exactly describing our now almost 4 year old Borzoi girl !! Her direct ancestors have been hunting wolves in Russia and she is the hunter par excellence ...the first time she left us and went for a "hunt" she was 14 weeks old ?! We would never let her off the leash near a street; we let her run in the open on a meadow or a field, her pal, our Deerhound-Borzoi mix usually doesn't let her go too far ... Every movement attracts her attention; she once grabbed a rat before I could even realize there had been one; the next time it was a squirrel... If she could she would spend 20 hours of the day in our garden; she can't be forced to do ANYTHING - if it pleases her she will follow us inside. The Deerhound-Borzoi boy is almost the opposite - he wants to be around us all the time. Both would probably chase very small dogs or little kids so we NEVER take a chance. BTW she never jumps, only on two legs to be able to see better what is in the distance !! The boy does jump but he never tried to get over the garden gate which is only under 4 ft. the rest of the fence is over 5 ft.
All of your videos i've seen have been spot on, fun, independent dog. I had a red and white, sasha, who lived a little over 14 years, biggest goofball who made you feel special when she came to you for love. I love the breed, biggest couch potatoes i've ever seen.
Jacob, that was super balanced -- so bravo! I appreciate your teaching me about bloat. I never knew how it happened...and I also did not know that borzois were susceptible... One word that comes to mind is "needy:" Borzois, generally speaking, are not "needy" dogs. Yes, they want love and attention -- but they want it on their terms. For me, after recently owning labs, that was an adjustment. But now that I'm used to that behavior, it would be hard to have a dog that was constantly seeking my attention.
Your last comment is much appreciated. I breed silkens and I think we need less "noodle dragon" memes and more informative conversations on the idiosyncrasies of sighthounds.
Yes! the reason I started this youtube was to spread informational bout the actual breed, recognizing that we were getting viral and needed to become a resource for actual sighthound stuff.
Love the breed, hate the breeders, (the ones I’ve dealt with and hearing how they talk about each other) for the most part-not all-anyway, they will want pictures of your house, ok, yard, ok, I said my tax returns too? She paused...really?! Then tell me yours. You sign a contract that they go back to the breeder, but what if they are coming from a bad situation (not the norm, but it happens)...watch too, my first Borzoi seems to have died from DM (The vet couldn’t do an autopsy because she wasn’t able to be refrigerated the 10 hours before they opened) A neurological disorder that plagued (past tense for the most part) the breed. The dogs love to run, have a fenced yard, or wall, and tall! Very few rescues out there! The best dogs in the world, unfortunately exploited in the dog show business for their beauty! I can’t even go there to talk about it-they disgust me. One year old non-show/pet quality go for around 800.00 that is when all of their features come in to let the breeder know the value of the dog...good luck! Great dogs!
I have heard some crazy stories about breeders. Even some of the rescue organizations require incredible amounts of information and inspections. I am sorry about your experience.
I have a greyhound, can you talk about food. I understand they are not the same. But I really love my guy and love to hear what everyone is talking about. Thank You
Hey Cindy! I've done a few videos on what I feed my girls, it's definitely evolved over time (I'm a tinkerer by nature). Did you have any specific questions?
My mother and I are debating getting some Silken Windhounds. I know they are different but still pretty similar. I grew up with a greyhound. Loved her to pieces. I was thinking if I wanted a larger dog or bitch, I'd get a Borzoi. Maybe another Greyhound. But, I'd want to rescue them primarily. Where as Borzoi and Silken would both be working with a very well established kennel. Please pet one or both of your pooches for me. Thanks for the content.
I have a question about bloating.. So my family is semi-active, we go on hikes up in the mountains at least once every other week an while we have 2 german shepherds that come with us we were thinking about getting a borzoi.. [for various reasons, not just as a hiking partner, which is why we arent looking at more high-sprung dogs, this is just a sometimes situation] on our hikes we sometimes bring snacks for the dogs an give them snacks mid-hike say when we stop for a break or whatever [or a picnic on the peak], its nothing like a huge breakfast/dinner meal but could giving them a small snack during the hike still run a risk of bloating? Our shepherds have never had a problem an we raised them hiking up mountains/ bounding and jumping around rough, rocky, slippery terrain an im assuming their bodies are just used to our routines, but sighthounds stomachs are much more sensitive so im just wondering. If anyone has any info that would help, i would appreciate it! We arent completely set on a borzoi but we're really considering one, need to do a bit more research.
Hey! Sorry it took me a minute to get back to you. Luckily I've never dealt with any of my dogs having bloat, though I know it can be a terrifying experience. Small snacks and such while on a hike should be fine, the problem comes when the stomach is weighed down with a large meal then while exercising their stomach literally folds over itself - imagine like flipping over in a hammock. Kibble and other foods that expand with water make it even worse. There is a procedure known as Gastroplexy (stomach tacking) that can do to anchor the stomach into place - this is a preventative measure. I would bet, as long as you are careful, there would not be a problem.
sighthounds go from 0-30 mph in 3 steps...that's about 3 seconds. scientific fact. champion racehorses hit about 40-42 mph top speed. your AVERAGE sighthound hits about 42-45 mph. yes, they're faster than Kentucky Derby winners 😵 do not ever, EVER let them off the leash. ever ever EVERRR.
I am a dog trainer and my first dog is a Pomsky (Pomeranian, Husky mix) and he is a lot of what you are describing Borzois to be which humors me so much; he sheds greatly, he has bursts of energy but naps a lot as well, he was very stubborn with his training and is very independent, and so on. I have been interested in getting a sighthound for many years and have been very interested in a Borzoi I have been in contact with AKC breeders and might be getting a Borzoi puppy soon your videos have been greatly appreciated and extremely helpful! I look forward to sharing my home with one of these beautiful creatures and going on many adventures and making making memories with my new Borzoi and my Pomsky!
Hi, I'm considering purchasing a Borzoi puppy (Whippets are a close second) to train as a service dog. Specifically for short trips out to the store (1-2 hours), walks and easy hikes. I have Chiari 1 Malformation (and some other rare diseases) that makes balance a challenge. I'd like a dog to help me retrieve dropped items occasionally or alert if I fall. I do also have troubles with vision and hearing. I live in an apartment but can visit the dog park daily or every other day. I personally feel Borzois are a good choice for me due to their mellow temperament, but I would like to know your opinion on whether or not they are suited for this. Also, are they cuddly? Most of the time I spend relaxing and working from home. Thank you
Hey Anastasia, great question, I know there are some people who have successfully used Borzois as service animals, but some of their natural tendencies make them a lot more difficult than other breeds especially as traditional service animals - namely their independent thinking and their prey drive. You might also find that most breeders are not open to having their pups be trained as a service dog because of these difficulties, though some do exist. With the tasks you described, I don't know if a Borzoi would be a good option, that said I am by no means an expert, and it would be worth contacting breeders to get their opinions. In regards to being cuddly, I would not describe Borzois overall as cuddly breed, they do enjoy cuddles but on their own times and terms. I hope that helps answer some of your questions.
@@esperborzoi Awesome, thank you! I've had dogs with strong prey drives before and they made great service animals, but for specific situations really. It gives me hope for Borzoi too. All of your videos & replies are very helpful :) And so the search continues haha
You told us to never ever let them off leash. How do you deal with dog to dog meetings on leash? Do you let them play on (short) leash? Play off leash and get them on leash again? Just avoid meeting dogs on a Not fenced-in area? Thank you so much!
Oh man! on leash meetings are always strange, especially for a dog that likes to RUN and MOVE around and part of it's body language. I really try to avoid meeting on a leash as much as possible, and try to do it in places they can be leash-less, however, when it does happen, I try to give them as much slack as possible (Of course after we determine the other dog is not aggressive).
Thanks for your answer Unfortunately I have no fenced-in area or dog park available, so I am hesitant in getting a sighthound since I want them to run from time to time. But maybe I'll have the opportunity at some point. :) Love your videos, it's so educational
We are in between borzoi right now. Our last one, Nitro, died in March. We are still finding giant borzoi balls and have cleaned the filter twice since that time. The shedding is no joke.
So they would natural not go with cats? I have 3 cats ans they run around and play inside and outside and chase each other.. that triggered the pyrshep face rase i had so much that the cats got stressed and was afraid to play..
Our laid back two year old male borzoi, Lyric, lives with and loves his two cats. The fourteen year old cat is the boss. He even excepts the neighbours confident cat. The trick is, he has been socialised with cats, and the ones he lives with know not to run. That said, other cats are not tolerated.
I wish there was something that could be done to extend the life of this breed and other short-lived breeds. I think it's a tragedy these animals live for such a short life. I'm coming from the world of parrots, which are quite the opposite in the life expectancy department...
I know Esper isn't especially a foodie lol. But I had many dogs (no borzois though) who had a full bowl of food and they could eat whenever they felt like without eating too much. Can you do the same with borzois in general, and say once you want to go outside to exercise you remove the bowl an hour before? Also, are they more sociable or suspicious to people and/or dogs visiting? I guess my question is more about if they can adapt to an additional dog/baby/small animal (always under supervision never on the floor definitely) if they are trained to new things as a puppy? Thank you so much for your videos I really enjoy them!!
Great question. My parents do exactly what you describe in your top paragraph. They have open feed all day, and then remove it prior to exercise. For some this works really well- I've read about how Borzois self regulate their feeding well, and I've read the opposite... It would not work with Esper because she already does not like her kibble (ANY KIBBLE), so the more exposure to it, the more chances she wont eat any of it at dinner time and also, currently, Esper and Ora are on two different foods because of Ora's age. Probably would take a dog specific approach on this, especially if a dog was a heavy eater. I have found, with Esper especially, once she understood that small dogs and children are NOT play things, it applied to all other dogs and children not the specific ones. I fully trust Esper now in all situations like that, and am training Ora to do the same.
Great video Jacob! I’ve been missing yours because I myself got my own Borzoi pup around the time you got Ora! He’s a week younger than Ora and such a great puppy. Quirky, but fun. I hope Ora grows up big and strong and her and Esper continue to be good friends.
#NotificationSQUAD!! I guess only me :/ oh well. Great upload! I really love your videos, they make me feel better, I actually have a lot of Esper’s pictures from Instagram saved on my phone, since there’s sometimes no internet, She makes me feel better when I’m down. MAGICAL NOODLE HORSE!!
This was a great video! We had a borzoi for 9 years (he passed away from bone cancer, which sadly, is not uncommon for large dogs) and one shocking thing I didn't expect about having a borzoi was how many people stopped us on the street to ask what kind of dog he was. Or just stared and pointed. It was a little uncomfortable at times. We loved talking with people if they were walking by and asked but it was pretty intrusive when people would stop their cars in the middle of the street to shout questions at us. Just something to think about. They are so beautiful but that can be a real target sometimes and some people (aka Karens) can get really pushy. I counted once how many times we had people ask us and it was 7 times in like a 40 minute walk. It got old fast, Lol.
It’s so true, when I’m in LA no one seems to care, but in AZ - they are a literal talking piece. Sorry to hear about your pup too, sending you bunches of ♥️♥️♥️
I have had the experience of raising a Borzoi puppy years ago, and 10 months ago getting a 1 year old rescue. It has been a challenge getting the rescue acclimated to a new environment. My daughter hated her in the beginning and now she just loves her. She wants to trade one of our dachshunds in for another Borzoi (we are at our limit of 4 dogs, we won't be trading anyone) LOL. I still can't put her out with the doxies. I don't know if it is the site hound drive, or if she just wants to play, but she runs out them and scares them. We feed our girl with a bowl that has projections and it slows her eating down. The analogy of the Borzoi as the cat of the dog world is accurate. I enjoy your videos. It was many years since I had the other Borzoi (she lived to 13 years), so it is good to know that a lot of Aria's behavior is normal, some isn't.
My parents have rescued a few over the years and they Always present challenges. Borzois have incredible memories and their experiences they had as youngsters seem to really carry over with them into adulthood. Acclimation is something we had to FIGHT FOR with Esper, we had to spend so much time getting her used to life, but it really pays off (as it seems like you are seeing already). It's smart to keep her away from the doxies, or at least be very wary of her when they are around each other - that prey drive can be incredible. So glad you are enjoying the content. I love the idea of using a slow-eating bowl - we got one for Ora since she likes to INHALE her food.
Among all those sneaky bloggers it is so relaxing to watch somebody just sharing their passion.
That's 100% what I am trying to do.
AMONG US!!!!!!
Thanks for making these videos! I don’t have a borzoi but it’s the only breed I can see myself owning and I intend to adopt when I have the space, money, and time to raise a dog right. Regarding bloating and spreading out the feeding and playing times, what would you say is a good schedule? An hour in-between playing and feeding? Or does it really depend on the dog’s size/age?
They recommend not exercising 30mins to 1 hours before and after meals. I stick with at least 1 hour. Never had a problem
Sensitivity is a con for sighthounds. If you live in a "yelling house," forget about it. Even if you yell at someone else, the hound will get upset. I literally have to apologize to my silken for her to cheer up. On the bright side, she's forcing me to less of an arse. 😂
This will be interesting. I am dog trainer who is partial to Dobermans. My favorite 3 breeds are Doberman, Kangal, and Borzoi. Getting a Borzoi soon. It'll be interesting to see the difference in how trainable they are. Dobermans are a lot tougher and in my opinion, just more dog than a Borzoi, however Dobermans very much want to please their owners and will train for over an hour straight with no problem. I am imagining training sessions will be in shorter increments with the Borzoi. We shall see!
Incredible, I gotta know how it goes for you !
Beast Tamer....curious if you have any further insights now. I currently own a 2 year old female Doberman, raised from 9 weeks old. She is very well trained and the first 16 months with her was a huge amount of work. I am glad we laid the foundation though as she is now perfection. We do nosework training and a lot of mental games. I am no stranger to a high drive dog but she was also extremely biddable. We are considering a Borzoi for our next dog. I am open to puppy or a young adult and have reached out to some quality breeders to discuss. I would be so interested in hearing someones opinion that has raised or trained both breeds.
I've had Rika for over a year (from 10 weeks onward) and can now really appreciate how spot-on your description is! Kudos!
I'd just like to add two things: You said it, but I'm not sure everybody heard the end of the phrase "It would be ridiculous to let a borzoi off leash IN THE STREET." Yes, absolutely. You can't let a sighthound run where it could endanger itself or others. However, if you take walks in the country, miles away from traffic, with farm animals safely behind fences then in my opinion and experience you can train a reliable recall and let a single borzoi run. (Not sure about more - two dogs are a pack and pack behaviour is different).
Secondly, my three cats are still alive. The old tomcat was easiest - at 17 he didn't feel like running away so there was nothing to pursue. 'cause that's the key: Rika will run after everything that moves away fast but so far she does not seem to want to hurt or kill anything. If we meet a cat in the street that does not move - not a problem. But a passing car on a country lane is a temptation to chase (we are working on it).
So cute, I love them! Thanks for that, helps with future decisions! My biggest worry is a short lifespan, my collie is 11 now and cant even imagine him passing yet as he is so full of life and healthy and I get used to dogs so much, really part of family, so Im worried about a quick heartbreak now :/
Great video! I would have loved to have a video like this before I adopted my borzoi, it would have only had me more sure they were the right breed for me, but i definitely wasn't prepared for how much they actually shed!
Do they like winter? Are they OK in a place like New Hampshire… playing outside to do things like snowshoeing or skijoring?
They sound really similar to a greyhound! My family has one right now and I’d love a borzoi in the future
Your videos are so helpful. We just rescued our first Borzoi 4 months ago and your videos have helped a lot. Our poor boy probably passed through 3 owners and has never gotten affection from humans. He is recovering tremendously. I appreciate that you put out info on a breed not well known. Our boy looks just like your girl and he gets up everytime I put your videos on.
I really appreciate these heartfelt videos. It's been my lifelong dream to have a borzoi. They have always captured my fascination! I just never thought it was practical for some reason. Well, I have never seen one in person--never known anyone to have one. Preparing to acquire a dog soon and thought, you know what?? Why not research them! You're exactly the kind of person I've wanted to talk to about them. These videos are so helpful! I'm loving them. Much to think about. Continuing on thru the vids!
No problem! and if you have any specific questions please send me a DM on insta or tikok @esperborzoi - or post here and I'll try to do a video
Thank you for the video. I'm thinking about borzoi almost a year. I have a 2 years old corgi and hope he will love to have a company. Your information is very helpful. How do you exercise you dogs, on the leash or off leash?
I do a combination of both, since Ora is still young we do a lot of leash work (not too much since it can be bad for puppies to be too active ), I try to take her all over the place with me (including in the car). Then the other side is the off leash about an hour, she loves FETCH now so we use that to really motivate her to run.
Jacob, could you post a video of you preparing a meal for Esper and Ora? I am trying to learn as much as possible before we welcome our first Borzoi into our home. I would love to see what a meal of fresh / cooked veggies, fruit and meat would look like in portions for Ora, a pup and Esper an adult dog. The idea of fresh whole foods resonates with me and would love to see examples! BTW I have been researching this breed at length and your videos with the pups have sealed to deal! Thank you!
That's a great idea for an episode. I'll see what I can do. =)
Thank you!
I love ❤ love all of your videos... you should not attribute too much weight to either very positive or very negative outliers in comments... Just a thought from a non-borzoi family... I appreciate and love your informative videos. Don't take negative criticisms to heart from commenters :) of course you have an internal bias, BUT in NO way does that devalue the information you present. Incidentally it is impossible to convey information without bias as the words or language we choose unconsciously enter the dialog. Don't sweat it- no one should use solely one source for getting information anyway. The goal shouldn't be "neutrality" which information transmission because that can give false weight to things that aren't truly important. The best we can do is announce that we *might* have a bias and then let people decide to take that into account when consuming that info.
PS English setter household - we have hunting dogs rather than AKC or show dogs- they have slightly different physical builds and temperaments so I can only comment on our experience just as you have info on yours and people just need to be better consumers of info... don't worry so much about your presentations
Thank you for the personal testimony- I am considering a borzoi from an AKCbreeder- my one and only big reservation is not the shedding but the idea that this breed cannot be off a leash - so providing the room/space to run is probably important- Does one have to have a certain height fence to keep a borzoi in? Do they jump fences to get out if these see something move? Is a privacy fence then preferred? Thanks, sandra
Sandra Walton that’s a tough question. Running is very important and during their younger years it’s fundamental to their proper growth- so they will need to stretch their legs somewhere fenced. That said, I let Epser off leash all time at my parents - it’s a ranch with a lot of room to run. She’s adept at recall and had never had a problem. However, I know other dogs might not have the personality for that sort of thing. Also, Borzoi can be incredible jumpers, and a 5 foot high fence is recommended (by contrast Esper won’t step over a baby gate any higher than her feet), but there is a big variance between each dog’s prey drive, some of that can be genetic, especially of the breeders specialize in coursing. Anecdotally, and that’s the only way I feel comfortably advising since I’m not an expert, Esper, even if trigged by prey, would never attempt to jump a fence - she’s been trained to keep 4 paws on the floor and abides by that. I hope this helps!
Also on the topic of bloat. My girls great grandmother died from bloat so when I got her spayed I also made the decision to get her stomach tacked (gastropexy). I've seen a lot of debate about the surgery amongst borzoi owners about if it's really needed or not, but I felt like it was a "better safe then sorry" situation. It was a hard decision but I don't regret it. The likelihood of her bloating is low because I take all the precautions, but it's nice to have the knowledge that if it did happen, at least her stomach won't twist.
That's really interesting! I'll do some research on that right now. Thank you.
Thanks for the informational video series! I've owned many hound breeds, including Borzoi's and Dachshunds, cats, and horses. This is the video I showed to my husband when he was asking about adopting a Borzoi. It prompted him to realize he was biting off more than he could chew - he couldn't commit to the daily exercise requirement and the prey drive these dogs have. The prey drive isn't a bad thing (to me), it's part of the breed's history, but it also means we can never have a pet rabbit or cat because no matter how careful we would be, accidents can happen, the situation could in all reality end poorly for the cat or rabbit. As pet owners, and as in all things in life, it's good to make an informed, prudent decision.
Aaah, I am so happy to find a person who does actually good, down to earth videos about this breed! I am so happy that I found your channel ~☆
HotPinkBerry yay! Welcome!
You raise a lot of really good points for potential Borzoi enthusiasts. :)
One thing that I'd like to touch on is the difference between the dogs and bitches personality-wise (in a general sense). Bitches, while incredibly affectionate toward their people, tend to be more independent when compared to the males...who have a tendency to be clingy. My two boys want to be with me and on me 24/7, and it's not a separation anxiety thing. They just prefer my company over anything else's, while their female counterparts are happy to be off doing their own thing. As they say, the girls love you but the boys are IN love with you. LOL
Prey drive-wise, the females tend to be sharper and more keen. A fair chunk of the top AKC lure coursing Borzoi are all female, though that's not to say that the boys aren't equally as driven because my oldest boy turns into the Koolaid Man at the sound of the lure machine or the sight of live prey. My youngest boy is only 4 months, so he hasn't learned what the lure machine sounds like...though he does enjoy chasing anything that moves. :D
I'm loving being able to continue watching little Ora grow up with you guys! Her breeder is a friend of mine, so I've been enjoying these pups since they were born.
This is amazing, such a great comment! you had me rolling at "Koolaid man." I"ll do a video about the Male / Female differences, my parents preferred males, I REALLY love the female borzoi vibe. So glad to have you on our Journey, any and all advice welcome! =)
@@esperborzoi Sonic's favorite game on the planet is "Catch the bunny", and he will let you know it! I have video of him on my kennel Instagram (@supersoniczoi) singing the song of his people at a lure coursing meet in Tennessee because he wanted to run RIGHT NOW DANGIT! Holding him at the line is like holding onto lightning because he knows that "Tally ho!" is the magic word for "RUN FAST" LOL
As much as I love my boys, there is definitely a different vibe with the girls that I totally get. :D I've been helping raise Zeal's littermates, so I've had two of his sister stay with me. They're a really nice contrast personality-wise compared to the boys, and I love it!
@@CuSidhe I love it! It's amazing how different the sexes are in borzois, it's shocking really.
@@esperborzoi It really is! But it's such a fun contrast. :D
Are you guys going to the BCOA Nationals in Albuquerque, NM this April?
@@CuSidhe We are not unfortunately!
You are exactly describing our now almost 4 year old Borzoi girl !! Her direct ancestors have been hunting wolves in Russia and she is the hunter par excellence ...the first time she left us and went for a "hunt" she was 14 weeks old ?!
We would never let her off the leash near a street; we let her run in the open on a meadow or a field, her pal, our Deerhound-Borzoi mix usually doesn't let her go too far ...
Every movement attracts her attention; she once grabbed a rat before I could even realize there had been one; the next time it was a squirrel...
If she could she would spend 20 hours of the day in our garden; she can't be forced to do ANYTHING - if it pleases her she will follow us inside. The Deerhound-Borzoi boy is almost the opposite - he wants to be around us all the time.
Both would probably chase very small dogs or little kids so we NEVER take a chance.
BTW she never jumps, only on two legs to be able to see better what is in the distance !! The boy does jump but he never tried to get over the garden gate which is only under 4 ft. the rest of the fence is over 5 ft.
They are all so amazingly unique. haha. I love the idea of Deerhound-Borzoi cross.
All of your videos i've seen have been spot on, fun, independent dog. I had a red and white, sasha, who lived a little over 14 years, biggest goofball who made you feel special when she came to you for love. I love the breed, biggest couch potatoes i've ever seen.
Thank you!!! =) Sasha sounds like she was amazing!
Jacob, that was super balanced -- so bravo!
I appreciate your teaching me about bloat. I never knew how it happened...and I also did not know that borzois were susceptible...
One word that comes to mind is "needy:" Borzois, generally speaking, are not "needy" dogs. Yes, they want love and attention -- but they want it on their terms. For me, after recently owning labs, that was an adjustment. But now that I'm used to that behavior, it would be hard to have a dog that was constantly seeking my attention.
Your last comment is much appreciated. I breed silkens and I think we need less "noodle dragon" memes and more informative conversations on the idiosyncrasies of sighthounds.
Yes! the reason I started this youtube was to spread informational bout the actual breed, recognizing that we were getting viral and needed to become a resource for actual sighthound stuff.
just wanna say that i liked this video because it was great and also because it was at 68 likes
hahahhaha
Love the breed, hate the breeders, (the ones I’ve dealt with and hearing how they talk about each other) for the most part-not all-anyway, they will want pictures of your house, ok, yard, ok, I said my tax returns too? She paused...really?! Then tell me yours. You sign a contract that they go back to the breeder, but what if they are coming from a bad situation (not the norm, but it happens)...watch too, my first Borzoi seems to have died from DM (The vet couldn’t do an autopsy because she wasn’t able to be refrigerated the 10 hours before they opened) A neurological disorder that plagued (past tense for the most part) the breed. The dogs love to run, have a fenced yard, or wall, and tall! Very few rescues out there! The best dogs in the world, unfortunately exploited in the dog show business for their beauty! I can’t even go there to talk about it-they disgust me. One year old non-show/pet quality go for around 800.00 that is when all of their features come in to let the breeder know the value of the dog...good luck! Great dogs!
I have heard some crazy stories about breeders. Even some of the rescue organizations require incredible amounts of information and inspections. I am sorry about your experience.
I have a greyhound, can you talk about food. I understand they are not the same. But I really love my guy and love to hear what everyone is talking about. Thank You
Hey Cindy! I've done a few videos on what I feed my girls, it's definitely evolved over time (I'm a tinkerer by nature). Did you have any specific questions?
My mother and I are debating getting some Silken Windhounds. I know they are different but still pretty similar. I grew up with a greyhound. Loved her to pieces. I was thinking if I wanted a larger dog or bitch, I'd get a Borzoi. Maybe another Greyhound. But, I'd want to rescue them primarily. Where as Borzoi and Silken would both be working with a very well established kennel.
Please pet one or both of your pooches for me. Thanks for the content.
My mother owns a Cavalier KIng Charles Spaniel named Lincoln. And we call his loose fur tumble-lincolns.
Silkens are amazing, a lot like a borzoi, but some differences (size, energy level) either way, noodles are the best ♥️♥️
I have a question about bloating.. So my family is semi-active, we go on hikes up in the mountains at least once every other week an while we have 2 german shepherds that come with us we were thinking about getting a borzoi.. [for various reasons, not just as a hiking partner, which is why we arent looking at more high-sprung dogs, this is just a sometimes situation] on our hikes we sometimes bring snacks for the dogs an give them snacks mid-hike say when we stop for a break or whatever [or a picnic on the peak], its nothing like a huge breakfast/dinner meal but could giving them a small snack during the hike still run a risk of bloating? Our shepherds have never had a problem an we raised them hiking up mountains/ bounding and jumping around rough, rocky, slippery terrain an im assuming their bodies are just used to our routines, but sighthounds stomachs are much more sensitive so im just wondering. If anyone has any info that would help, i would appreciate it! We arent completely set on a borzoi but we're really considering one, need to do a bit more research.
Hey! Sorry it took me a minute to get back to you. Luckily I've never dealt with any of my dogs having bloat, though I know it can be a terrifying experience. Small snacks and such while on a hike should be fine, the problem comes when the stomach is weighed down with a large meal then while exercising their stomach literally folds over itself - imagine like flipping over in a hammock. Kibble and other foods that expand with water make it even worse. There is a procedure known as Gastroplexy (stomach tacking) that can do to anchor the stomach into place - this is a preventative measure. I would bet, as long as you are careful, there would not be a problem.
sighthounds go from 0-30 mph in 3 steps...that's about 3 seconds. scientific fact.
champion racehorses hit about 40-42 mph top speed. your AVERAGE sighthound hits about 42-45 mph. yes, they're faster than Kentucky Derby winners 😵
do not ever, EVER let them off the leash. ever ever EVERRR.
I am a dog trainer and my first dog is a Pomsky (Pomeranian, Husky mix) and he is a lot of what you are describing Borzois to be which humors me so much; he sheds greatly, he has bursts of energy but naps a lot as well, he was very stubborn with his training and is very independent, and so on. I have been interested in getting a sighthound for many years and have been very interested in a Borzoi I have been in contact with AKC breeders and might be getting a Borzoi puppy soon your videos have been greatly appreciated and extremely helpful! I look forward to sharing my home with one of these beautiful creatures and going on many adventures and making making memories with my new Borzoi and my Pomsky!
About the bloat. I had the vet tack the stomach.
do you feed the raw beef or chicken??? cause a give mine vegetables cooked and uncooked and some cooked meats....Im woundering about doing RAW
Hi, I'm considering purchasing a Borzoi puppy (Whippets are a close second) to train as a service dog. Specifically for short trips out to the store (1-2 hours), walks and easy hikes. I have Chiari 1 Malformation (and some other rare diseases) that makes balance a challenge. I'd like a dog to help me retrieve dropped items occasionally or alert if I fall. I do also have troubles with vision and hearing. I live in an apartment but can visit the dog park daily or every other day. I personally feel Borzois are a good choice for me due to their mellow temperament, but I would like to know your opinion on whether or not they are suited for this. Also, are they cuddly? Most of the time I spend relaxing and working from home. Thank you
Hey Anastasia, great question, I know there are some people who have successfully used Borzois as service animals, but some of their natural tendencies make them a lot more difficult than other breeds especially as traditional service animals - namely their independent thinking and their prey drive. You might also find that most breeders are not open to having their pups be trained as a service dog because of these difficulties, though some do exist. With the tasks you described, I don't know if a Borzoi would be a good option, that said I am by no means an expert, and it would be worth contacting breeders to get their opinions. In regards to being cuddly, I would not describe Borzois overall as cuddly breed, they do enjoy cuddles but on their own times and terms. I hope that helps answer some of your questions.
@@esperborzoi Awesome, thank you! I've had dogs with strong prey drives before and they made great service animals, but for specific situations really. It gives me hope for Borzoi too. All of your videos & replies are very helpful :) And so the search continues haha
You told us to never ever let them off leash. How do you deal with dog to dog meetings on leash? Do you let them play on (short) leash? Play off leash and get them on leash again? Just avoid meeting dogs on a Not fenced-in area?
Thank you so much!
Oh man! on leash meetings are always strange, especially for a dog that likes to RUN and MOVE around and part of it's body language. I really try to avoid meeting on a leash as much as possible, and try to do it in places they can be leash-less, however, when it does happen, I try to give them as much slack as possible (Of course after we determine the other dog is not aggressive).
Thanks for your answer
Unfortunately I have no fenced-in area or dog park available, so I am hesitant in getting a sighthound since I want them to run from time to time.
But maybe I'll have the opportunity at some point. :) Love your videos, it's so educational
We are in between borzoi right now. Our last one, Nitro, died in March. We are still finding giant borzoi balls and have cleaned the filter twice since that time. The shedding is no joke.
So they would natural not go with cats? I have 3 cats ans they run around and play inside and outside and chase each other.. that triggered the pyrshep face rase i had so much that the cats got stressed and was afraid to play..
Some of my parents Zoi's were too high prey driven to be around cats, it realllly depends on the dog and how they were socialized as pups.
Our laid back two year old male borzoi, Lyric, lives with and loves his two cats. The fourteen year old cat is the boss. He even excepts the neighbours confident cat. The trick is, he has been socialised with cats, and the ones he lives with know not to run. That said, other cats are not tolerated.
I wish there was something that could be done to extend the life of this breed and other short-lived breeds. I think it's a tragedy these animals live for such a short life. I'm coming from the world of parrots, which are quite the opposite in the life expectancy department...
I know Esper isn't especially a foodie lol. But I had many dogs (no borzois though) who had a full bowl of food and they could eat whenever they felt like without eating too much. Can you do the same with borzois in general, and say once you want to go outside to exercise you remove the bowl an hour before?
Also, are they more sociable or suspicious to people and/or dogs visiting? I guess my question is more about if they can adapt to an additional dog/baby/small animal (always under supervision never on the floor definitely) if they are trained to new things as a puppy?
Thank you so much for your videos I really enjoy them!!
Great question. My parents do exactly what you describe in your top paragraph. They have open feed all day, and then remove it prior to exercise. For some this works really well- I've read about how Borzois self regulate their feeding well, and I've read the opposite... It would not work with Esper because she already does not like her kibble (ANY KIBBLE), so the more exposure to it, the more chances she wont eat any of it at dinner time and also, currently, Esper and Ora are on two different foods because of Ora's age. Probably would take a dog specific approach on this, especially if a dog was a heavy eater.
I have found, with Esper especially, once she understood that small dogs and children are NOT play things, it applied to all other dogs and children not the specific ones. I fully trust Esper now in all situations like that, and am training Ora to do the same.
@@esperborzoi thank you for the super detailed answer ! :)
Do you think a borzoi would do well in an RV?
It would really depend on the size of the RV as well as their access to the outdoors, with a large area to exercise around the RV, it might work.
how sweet she streatches her legs every time jacob pets her 👍👍
They bite kids ? ( if they see them on the street ? ) ps nice videos !
Great video Jacob! I’ve been missing yours because I myself got my own Borzoi pup around the time you got Ora! He’s a week younger than Ora and such a great puppy. Quirky, but fun.
I hope Ora grows up big and strong and her and Esper continue to be good friends.
Audrey A thank you!!!
Can they live with pet rabbits?
I had rabbits growing up and never had an issue, but I also never let my rabbit run around in front of my dogs.
#NotificationSQUAD!!
I guess only me :/ oh well. Great upload! I really love your videos, they make me feel better, I actually have a lot of Esper’s pictures from Instagram saved on my phone, since there’s sometimes no internet, She makes me feel better when I’m down. MAGICAL NOODLE HORSE!!
Sheriff Deputy_Cal {9222} that’s great to hear! ♥️
This was a great video! We had a borzoi for 9 years (he passed away from bone cancer, which sadly, is not uncommon for large dogs) and one shocking thing I didn't expect about having a borzoi was how many people stopped us on the street to ask what kind of dog he was. Or just stared and pointed. It was a little uncomfortable at times. We loved talking with people if they were walking by and asked but it was pretty intrusive when people would stop their cars in the middle of the street to shout questions at us. Just something to think about. They are so beautiful but that can be a real target sometimes and some people (aka Karens) can get really pushy. I counted once how many times we had people ask us and it was 7 times in like a 40 minute walk. It got old fast, Lol.
It’s so true, when I’m in LA no one seems to care, but in AZ - they are a literal talking piece. Sorry to hear about your pup too, sending you bunches of ♥️♥️♥️
I have had the experience of raising a Borzoi puppy years ago, and 10 months ago getting a 1 year old rescue. It has been a challenge getting the rescue acclimated to a new environment. My daughter hated her in the beginning and now she just loves her. She wants to trade one of our dachshunds in for another Borzoi (we are at our limit of 4 dogs, we won't be trading anyone) LOL. I still can't put her out with the doxies. I don't know if it is the site hound drive, or if she just wants to play, but she runs out them and scares them. We feed our girl with a bowl that has projections and it slows her eating down. The analogy of the Borzoi as the cat of the dog world is accurate. I enjoy your videos. It was many years since I had the other Borzoi (she lived to 13 years), so it is good to know that a lot of Aria's behavior is normal, some isn't.
My parents have rescued a few over the years and they Always present challenges. Borzois have incredible memories and their experiences they had as youngsters seem to really carry over with them into adulthood. Acclimation is something we had to FIGHT FOR with Esper, we had to spend so much time getting her used to life, but it really pays off (as it seems like you are seeing already). It's smart to keep her away from the doxies, or at least be very wary of her when they are around each other - that prey drive can be incredible. So glad you are enjoying the content. I love the idea of using a slow-eating bowl - we got one for Ora since she likes to INHALE her food.