Borzoi
Also known as Borzoi, Russian Wolfhound
The Borzoi is an elegant sighthound whose silky combination coat needs regular line brushing, carding, and professional grooming to stay mat-free and naturally flowing.
Overview
The Borzoi is a tall, elegant sighthound with a silky combination coat that can look effortless but still needs consistent brushing and professional care. The coat should be mat-free, shiny, light, and airy — moving freely as the dog runs. Professional grooming focuses on bath-and-brush work, line combing, carding on shorter areas, and light natural trimming. Thick areas behind the ears, around the ruff, thighs, undercarriage, and tail need extra attention.
Characteristics & Traits
Breed Traits
Physical Traits
Drooling level
Shedding level
Coat grooming frequency
Social & Family
Playfulness level
Adaptability level
Openness to strangers
Watchdog protective nature
Good with other dogs
Good with young children
Affectionate with family
Personality
Energy level
Barking level
Trainability level
Mental stimulation needs
For Pet Parents
The Borzoi is an elegant sighthound whose silky combination coat needs regular line brushing, carding, and professional grooming to stay mat-free and naturally flowing.
Grooming Commitment
Elegant coat flow requires consistent line brushing at home.
The Borzoi's elegant coat only looks effortless when line brushing and professional care stay consistent.
- The Borzoi coat looks flowing but needs regular line brushing.
- Mats often start behind the ears and in the ruff.
- Professional grooming every 4–8 weeks supports coat health.
- Whisker removal is optional.
At-Home Basics
- Difficulty
- moderate_to_high
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Brushing
- 2–4 times per week; daily on long areas during shedding
- Pro Grooming?
- Yes
- Pro Frequency
- Every 4–8 weeks
Caring for Your Borzoi at Home
Brushing
Line brush in sections.
Chest & thigh brushing
Check behind ears, ruff, thighs, and tail.
Professional grooming schedule
Schedule grooming before mats tighten.
Drying after swimming
Dry coat completely after bathing at home.
Ownership Profile
- First-time Owner
- Moderate
- Alone Time Tolerance
- Moderate
- Handling Sensitivity
- High
- Apartment Friendly
- No
- City Friendly
- Yes
Best Suited For
- Owners with space for a large sighthound
- Homes committed to coat maintenance
- Calm households
- People who appreciate a quiet, elegant companion
May Not Suit
- Homes with unsupervised small pets
- Owners wanting minimal brushing
- Households unable to provide safe running opportunities
Mistakes to Avoid
- Surface brushing without combing long areas to the skin.
- Creating hard ear edges instead of a natural light edge.
When to Call in a Professional
Leave full grooming — bathing, complete drying, deshedding, and any trimming — to a professional groomer every 4–8 weeks. It keeps the coat healthy and comfortable between visits.
History
The Borzoi developed in Russia for coursing wolves and game across open terrain. Aristocratic breeding programs emphasized speed, elegance, and coat quality. The breed spread internationally in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Modern grooming preserves a natural, flowing outline rather than heavy sculpting.
Temperament
Gentle, dignified, independent, and sensitive.
Borzoi Coat
The Borzoi has a combination silky coat that should look light, airy, and mat-free.
All colors and combinations are acceptable.
Some dogs have a shorter saddled-out area on the front legs where fuzzy undercoat may need finger plucking.
The coat should bounce and float as the dog moves when properly maintained.
- Type
- Silky
- Family
- Combination coat
- Structure
- Double
- Density
- Moderate to high
- Undercoat
- Yes
- Shedding
- Moderate
- Seasonal Change
- Yes
- Matting Risk
- Moderate
- Drying Difficulty
- Moderate to high
- Water Retention
- Moderate
- Growth Pattern
- Seasonal and continuous
- Breakage Risk
- Moderate
Common Problem Areas
Groomer's Guide
Technical reference for professional groomers — specifications and standard operating procedures intended for certified groomers.
Goal: Mat-free, shiny, airy coat
Tools Required
- Slicker brush
- Greyhound comb
- Rubber curry
- Carding tool
- Deshedding tool
- Professional clippers
- Small detailing shears
- Thinning shears
- High-velocity dryer
- Nail clippers or grinder
- Ear cleaning solution
- Cotton balls
Pre-Bath Prep
- Trim or grind nails every four to six weeks.
- Swab ears with mild ear-cleaning solution.
- Use rubber curry, carding tool, or HV dryer on dry coat.
- Line brush or remove matting in long areas before bathing when water cannot penetrate.
Before Grooming
- Matting behind ears, ruff, thighs, undercarriage, and tail
- Undercoat density
- Saddled-out front leg areas
- Ear condition
- Owner preference for whisker removal
Consultation Notes
- Confirm whisker removal preference.
- Ask about home line brushing routine.
- Set expectations for a natural finish.
- Check whether mats require pre-bath removal.
Preparation Objectives
- Remove loose coat and identify mats
- Confirm natural finish plan
- Prepare long coat for effective bathing
Recommended Actions
- Trim or grind nails every four to six weeks.
- Swab ears with mild ear-cleaning solution.
- Use rubber curry, carding tool, or HV dryer on dry coat.
- Line brush or remove matting in long areas before bathing when water cannot penetrate.
Preparation Warnings
- Do not bathe severe mats without assessment.
- Refer ear or skin concerns to a veterinarian.
Objectives
- Clean the full coat
- Prepare for complete drying and fluff
- Remove dirt from long feathering
Process
- Follow combination coat bathing protocols.
- Fully saturate long areas.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Condition when coat feels dry or tangled.
Product Guidance
- Choose products based on coat dryness and skin sensitivity.
- Light conditioning can ease post-bath combing.
Breed Specifics
- Use a damp towel on the muzzle after bathing.
- Remove whiskers only if the client requests.
- HV dry before and after bathing when possible.
Drying Objectives
- Dry completely
- Fluff coat for natural movement
- Expose hidden tangles
Drying Methods
- High-velocity drying in sections
- Line brushing during drying
- Comb check when fully dry
Drying — Breed Specifics
- Pay extra attention to ruff, thighs, undercarriage, and tail.
- Do not trim until coat is fully dry.
Drying Quality Standard
Coat should be fully dry, mat-free, and combable with a light airy finish.
Techniques
- Bath and brush out
- Line brushing
- Carding
- Light thinning
- Natural foot and hock neatening
Common Trims
- Natural Brush-Out Finish
Clipper Areas
- Pad trimming
- Optional #4F on feet and hocks in reverse
- Sanitary trimming when needed
Scissor Areas
- Feet
- Hocks
- Ear edges
Scissoring — Primary Areas
- Feet
- Hocks
- Ear edges
Scissoring — Finish Goals
- Natural neat feet
- Light ear edging
- No visible scissor lines
Scissoring — Breed Specifics
- Thinning shears create more natural edges.
- Back-brush toe hair before thinning excess.
- Hand pluck wispy flyaways around ears.
Clipper Work — Common Uses
- Pad trimming
- Optional #4F on feet and hocks in reverse
- Sanitary trimming when needed
Clipper Safety Notes
- Trim pads with a #10 blade regardless of other blade choices.
- Use a light touch on thin sighthound skin.
- Confirm blade temperature frequently.
Equipment
- #10 blade for pads
- #4F blade for feet and hocks optional finishing
- Thinning shears for natural blending
Blade & Length Selection
- Coat density
- Owner preference for natural feet
- Skin sensitivity
Common Pet Trim Styles
- Natural Brush-Out Finish — Bath, line brush, card, and light natural trim preserving the breed's flowing silhouette.
Style Selection Factors
- Home brushing frequency
- Seasonal shedding
- Matting history
- Owner preference for natural finish
Head
Keep natural sighthound expression
Over-trimming whiskers without owner approval
Ears
Edge lightly with thinning shears. Hand pluck flyaway hairs. Dry thoroughly after bathing.
Refer ear concerns to a veterinarian.
Feet
Trim pads with a #10 blade. Back-brush between toes. Neaten with thinning shears. Trim hocks lightly.
Long hair between toes matting
Tail
Remove mats and strays while preserving length
Sanitary Area
Minimal hygiene trimming only
ears
highMaintenance
- -Edge lightly with thinning shears.
- -Hand pluck flyaway hairs.
- -Dry thoroughly after bathing.
Styles
- -Natural with light thinning edge
Risks & Warnings
- -Refer ear concerns to a veterinarian.
feet
highMaintenance
- -Trim pads with a #10 blade.
- -Back-brush between toes.
- -Neaten with thinning shears.
- -Trim hocks lightly.
Styles
- -Natural neat feet
Risks & Warnings
- -Long hair between toes matting
head
moderateGoals
- -Keep natural sighthound expression
Styles
- -Natural muzzle
- -Optional whisker removal
Risks & Warnings
- -Over-trimming whiskers without owner approval
tail
moderateGoals
- -Remove mats and strays while preserving length
Styles
- -Natural flowing tail
sanitary Area
lowGoals
- -Minimal hygiene trimming only
High-Risk Areas
- Behind the ears
- Ruff
- Thigh area
- Undercarriage
- Tail
Challenges
- Mats in ruff and thigh areas
- Seasonal undercoat
- Owner expecting a clipper cut instead of natural finish
- Incomplete line brushing at home
- Using blades other than #10 for pad trimming.
- Beginning detail work while the ruff or tail is still damp.
Management Principles
- Line brush in sections.
- Card before cosmetic trimming.
- Dry completely before evaluating finish.
- Use thinning shears for natural edges.
Pro Tips
- HV dry before and after bathing.
- Line brush in sections until tangle-free.
- Card saddled front-leg areas when fuzzy undercoat is present.
- Trim pads with a #10 blade.
- Edge ears lightly with thinning shears.
- Finish with coat polish mist.
Assessment Priority
Keep the coat mat-free, airy, and naturally elegant
Ready to book your Borzoi's grooming session?
Connect with a Buddyz professional to schedule online in minutes.
Not the right match?
Continue exploring our directory to find the perfect breed for your lifestyle.
Are you a professional?
Use Buddyz to manage your salon, understand complex coats, and educate pet parents.