Of the many foreign varieties of the dog that have been introduced within recent years, there is not one among the larger breeds that has made greater headway in the public favour than the Borzoi, or Russian Wolfhound.Borzoi Characteristics as follows:–
HEAD — This should be long, lean, and well balanced, and the length, from the tip of the nose to the eyes, must be the same as from the eyes to the occiput. A dog may have a long head, but the length may be all in front of the eyes. The heads of this breed have greatly improved the last few years; fewer “apple-headed” specimens, and more of the desired triangular heads being seen.
The skull should be flat and narrow, the stop not perceptible, the muzzle long and tapering. Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of the head being well filled up before the eyes. The head, from forehead to nose, should be so fine that the direction of the bones and principal veins can be seen clearly, and in profile should appear rather Roman nosed. Bitches should be even narrower in head than dogs.
EYES - should be dark, expressive, almond shaped, and not too far apart.
EARS -like those of a Greyhound, small, thin, and placed well back on the head, with the tips, when thrown back, almost touching behind the occiput. It is not a fault if the dog can raise his ears erect when excited or looking after game, although some English judges dislike this frequent characteristic. The head should be carried somewhat low, with the neck continuing the line of the back.
SHOULDERS — Clean and sloping well back, i.e., the shoulder blades should almost touch one another.
CHEST — Deep and somewhat narrow. It must be capacious, but the capacity must be got from depth, and not from “barrel” ribs a bad fault in a running hound.
BACK — Rather bony, and free from any cavity in the spinal column, the arch in the back being more marked in the dog than in the bitch.
LOINS — Broad and very powerful, showing plenty of muscular development.
THIGHS — Long and well developed, with good second thigh. The muscle in the Borzoi is longer than in the Greyhound.
RIBS — Slightly sprung, very deep, reaching to the elbow.
FORE-LEGS — Lean and straight. Seen from the front they should be narrow and from the side broad at the shoulder and narrowing gradually down to the foot, the bone appearing flat and not round as in the Foxhound.
HIND-LEGS — The least thing under the body when standing still, not straight, and the stifle slightly bent. They should, of course, be straight as regards each other, and not “cow-hocked,” but straight hind-legs imply a want of speed.
FEET — Like those of the Deerhound, rather long. The toes close together and well arched.
COAT — Long, silky, not woolly; either flat, wavy, or curly. On the head, ears and front-legs it should be short and smooth; on the neck the frill should be profuse and rather curly; on the chest and the rest of the body, the tail and hind-quarters, it should be long; the fore-legs being well feathered.
TAIL — Long, well feathered, and not gaily carried. It should be carried well down, almost touching the ground.
HEIGHT — Dogs from 29 inches upwards at shoulder, bitches from 27 inches upwards. (Originally 27 inches and 26 inches. Altered at a general meeting of the Borzoi Club, held February, 1906.)
FAULTS — Head short and thick; too much stop; parti-coloured nose; eyes too wide apart; heavy ears; heavy shoulders; wide chest; “barrel” ribbed; dew-claws; elbows turned out; wide behind. Also light eyes and over or undershot jaws.
COLOUR — The Club standard makes no mention of colour. White, of course, should predominate; fawn, lemon, orange, brindle, blue, slate and black markings are met with. Too much of the latter, or black and tan markings, are disliked. Whole colour dogs are also seen.
