The Bloodhound Borzoi Mix, is a mixed breed dog resulting from breeding the Bloodhound and the Borzoi. Both of these dogs can be friendly but personalities differ, so you never know. The Bloddhound is known for being stubborn, even-tempered, and affectionate. All dogs need proper socialization and that will be a big factor in how they interact with others. What does this mixed breed look and act like? Is it more like the Bloodhound or the Borzoi? Those are the questions we will try and answer below. Continue reading below to see pictures, videos, and learn more about the beautiful Bloodhound Borzoi Mix.
While we really recommend that you acquire all animals through a rescue, we understand that some people might go through a breeder to get their Bloodhound Borzoi Mix puppy. That is, if they have any Bloodhound Borzoi Mix puppies for sale.
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All hybrid or designer dogs are tough to get a good read on as there isn’t much history to them. Breeding specific dogs like this has become common in the last twenty years or so even though I am sure that this mixed breed found it’s share of dogs to the shelter due to accidental breeding. We will take a closer look at the history of both parent breeds below. If you are looking at breeders for new, designer dogs please beware of Puppy Mills. These are places that mass produce puppies, specifically for profit and don’t care at all about the dogs. If you have a few minutes, please sign our petition to stop puppy mills.
Bloodhound History
The Bloodhound is the oldest of all the scent hounds and the one with the sharpest sense of smell. That means she’s also a favorite with law enforcement, as she can tirelessly track suspects or support search and rescue operations with a high degree of success — even though she will not hold or attack the object of her pursuit, preferring to wait for her handler. Their success as hunters in catching human quarry is so great that they are are one of handful of breeds whose findings can be used and upheld as testimony in a court of law. Bloodhounds are one of the many “gentle giant” breeds who transition easily from a day of work to an evening with the family. They have enjoyed a steady presence in popular culture; for example, the family dog Ladybird in the animated series King of the Hill is a bloodhound, as are the “Bumpuses’ hounds,” a pack that lives next door to Ralphie Parker’s family and ultimately runs off with their Thanksgiving turkey in A Christmas Story. A Bloodhound is also one of the show champion hopefuls in the classic Christopher Guest mockumentary Best in Show. Bloodhound history is thought to reach as far back as the third century A.D., when they are thought to have been selectively bred for centuries with other dogs in the Mediterranean region. Today’s Bloodhound is believed to descend from two known dogs of this period: the St. Hubert’s Hound and the Southern Hound. The British began breeding today’s Bloodhound in the 11th and 12th centuries; eventually, the breed was so highly regarded in Great Britain that the royals and high-ranking church officials kept packs of them.
Over time, England’s deer population waned and hunters turned to foxes as their new quarry. Fox-hunting required a dog with a speedier gait than the Bloodhound, and the Foxhound soon supplanted the Bloodhound as hunting companion of choice. The British Bloodhound, as she became known, nearly disappeared in England the post-World War II years, but by that time she had gradually become a favorite in “the Colonies” among soldiers in battle and police tracking criminals. Bloodhounds were accepted into the American Kennel Club’s Hound Group in 1885.
A bloodhound is at her happiest when tracking. The problem-solving aspect of tracking satisfies her high intelligence and need to solve problems. A Bloodhound was part of the team that collared prison escapee James Earl Ray, murderer of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, if you’re not a hunter or employed in law enforcement, you and your Bloodhound can still enjoy hiking, bicycling and walking together.
Borzoi History
The Borzoi is an extremely intelligent Russian-bred sighthound (she tracks her prey visually rather than by scent.) Her name, Borzoi, derives from the Russian word for “swift,” a quality that enables her to chase, pass, and finally hold prey (originally over open terrain in Russia). Today’s Borzoi are mostly house pets and show dogs, but they still possess their keen eyesight and ability to pursue.
As with most hunting dogs, a Borzoi needs plenty of exercise and room to run. When not exercised adequately, Borzoi can become destructive. In Russia, the Borzoi was variously called the Russian Wolfhound, the Russian Greyhound, the Siberian Wolfhound, the Borzaya, the Psowaya Barsaya and the Russkaya Psovaya Borzaya, until Borzoi fanciers finally settled on the present name.
Fun fact: Edward J. Smith, captain of the Titanic, owned a beautiful white male Borzoi named Ben. A photo of the captain and Ben was hung outside his cabin on the ship. Happily for Ben, he was not on the maiden voyage. The opening of the archives of the former Soviet Union reveals that the the earliest sighthound evolved between the Kyrgyzstan, the lower Kazakhstan part of Altai and the Afghan plains. The earliest actual sighthound breeds were the plains Afghan hounds and the Kyrgyz Taigan.
Fast-forward to the late 19th/early 20th century: The Psovoi, as they were known then, were so highly prized by the Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievich that they could not be purchased, only given as gifts by the duke himself, who bred the hounds at his private estate.
The Russian aristocracy were very careful about breeding Borzoi, going so far as to hold hunting trials for the purpose of selecting breeding stock. Only the fastest and most intelligent Borzoi were chosen for breeding.
Fast-forward to the years following the 1917 Russian revolution: Borzoi are on the ropes. They are seen as an artifact of an overthrown aristocracy, a dog whose purpose (hunting wolves) could be accomplished by more efficient means. The breed might have fallen into extinction had it not been for a Soviet soldier named Constantin Esmont, who during this period traveled through the Cossacks making detailed drawings and descriptions of the different Borzoi he encountered. Esmont’s work convinced the Soviet government that borzois were a valuable asset to the hunters who supported the fur industry, and from that time on their breeding was not only sanctioned, but regulated.
Bloodhound
Height: 23 - 27 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 80 - 100 lb.
Lifespan: 10 - 12 years
Borzoi
Height: 26 - 30 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 70 - 100 lb.
Lifespan: 7 - 10 years
The Bloodhound and the Borzoi are both loyal and affectionate. They are also very charming, so watch out! This dog will require a good training regimen as they can get excited. They are very loyal to their family. One of the best things you can do for any breed is to socialize it as much as possible. Please use positive reinforcement, it goes a long way! She should be rather affectionate and love being with you, she can also be stubborn so keep that in mind.
All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems as all breeds are susceptible to some things more than others. However, the one positive thing about getting a puppy is that you can avoid this as much as possible. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies. If they won’t do this, then look no more and don’t consider that breeder at all. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur. We obviously recommend that you look for a reputable animal rescue in your area to find your new mixed breed. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.
The Bloodhound mixed with the Borzoi might be prone to joint dysplasia, eye problems, patellar luxation, among others.
Note that these are just common problems in both breeds.
What are the grooming requirements?
Even if you know the breed, sometimes it is hard to tell if it will be a heavy shedder or a light shedder. Either way, Get ready to invest in a good vacuum if you want to keep your floors clean! Give them baths as needed, but not so much that you dry out their skin.
What are the exercise requirements?
Plan on taking them for extremely long walks and hikes to keep their energy level down. This mix will more than likely have a high energy level. This exercise will keep them from being destructive. A tired dog is a good dog. A tired dog is a good dog though. Never tie your dog up outside - that is inhumane and not fair to him.
What are the training requirements?
This is an intelligent dog that will be a little bit challenging to train. They are going to want to take the alpha position and need someone with a firm, strong, hand that can let them know their place. The best thing you can do is break the sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher. It might have a prey drive and be disposed to running for and chasing small prey, but if handled properly this can be managed. All dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. So make sure to praise her when she does well. She is an intelligent dog who loves to please, and loves a physical challenge. The more exercise she gets the easier she will be to train. Proper socialization is imperative to all dogs and puppies. Make sure to take her to the park and doggy day care to get her around as many people and dogs as possible.
"A lot of times diet is done on a per-dog basis. Each one is unique and has different dietary requirements. Most dogs in the U.S. are overweight. A mix like this one that is prone to hip and elbow dysplasia should really be on fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements as soon as possible. A good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background.
Overfeeding any dog is not a good idea as that can really exacerbate health problems such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
I good diet to look into is Raw Food Diet. A raw food diet will be especially good for the Wolf background."