AKC Standard for the Borzoi
General Appearance
The Borzoi was originally bred for the coursing
of wild game on more or less open terrain, relying on sight
rather than scent. To accomplish this purpose, the Borzoi needed
particular structural qualities to chase, catch and hold his
quarry. Special emphasis is placed on sound running gear, strong
neck and jaws, courage and agility, combined with proper condition.
The Borzoi should always possess unmistakable elegance, with
flowing lines, graceful in motion or repose. Males, masculine
without coarseness; bitches, feminine and refined.
Head
Skull slightly domed, long and narrow, with
scarcely any perceptible stop, inclined to be Roman-nosed. Jaws
long, powerful and deep, somewhat finer in bitches but not snipy.
Teeth strong and clean with either an even or a scissors bite.
Missing teeth should be penalized. Nose large and black.
Ears
Small and fine in quality, lying back on the
neck when in repose with the tips when thrown back almost touching
behind occiput; raised when at attention.
Eyes
Set somewhat obliquely, dark in color, intelligent
but rather soft in expression; never round, full nor staring,
nor light in color; eye rims dark; inner corner midway between
tip of nose and occiput.
Neck
Clean, free from throatiness; slightly arched,
very powerful and well set on.
Shoulders
Sloping, fine at the withers and free from
coarseness or lumber.
Chest
Rather narrow, with great depth of brisket.
Ribs
Only slightly sprung, but very deep giving
room for heart and lung play.
Back
Rising a little at the loins in a graceful
curve.
Loins
Extremely muscular, but rather tucked up,
owing to the great depth of chest and comparative shortness
of back and ribs.
Forelegs
Bones straight and somewhat flattened like
blades, with the narrower edge forward. The elbows have free
play and are turned neither in nor out. Pasterns strong.
Feet
Hare-shaped, with well-arched knuckles, toes
close and well padded.
Hindquarters
Long, very muscular and powerful with well
bent stifles; somewhat wider than the forequarters; strong first
and second thighs; hocks clean and well let down; legs parallel
when viewed from the rear.
Dewclaws
Dewclaws, if any, on the hind legs are generally
removed; dewclaws on the forelegs may be removed.
Tail
Long, set on and carried low in a graceful
curve.
Coat
Long, silky (not woolly), either flat, wavy
or rather curly. On the head, ears and front of legs it should
be short and smooth; on the neck the frill should be profuse
and rather curly. Feather on hindquarters and tail, long and
profuse, less so on chest and back of forelegs.
Color
Any color, or combination of colors, is acceptable.
Size
Mature males should be at least 28 inches
at the withers and mature bitches at least 26 inches at the
withers. Dogs and bitches below these respective limits should
be severely penalized; dogs and bitches above the respective
limits should not be penalized as long as extra size is not
acquired at the expense of symmetry, speed and staying quality.
Range in weight for males from 75 to 105 pounds and for bitches
from 15 to 20 pounds less.
Gait
Front legs must reach well out in front with
pasterns strong and springy. Hackneyed motion with mincing gait
is not desired nor is weaving and crossing. However, while the
hind legs are wider apart than the front, the feet tend to move
closer to the center line when the dog moves at a fast trot.
When viewed from the side there should be a noticeable drive
with a ground-covering stride from well-angulated stifles and
hocks. The over-all appearance in motion should be that of effortless
power, endurance, speed, agility, smoothness and grace.
Faults
The foregoing description is that of the ideal
Borzoi. Any deviation from the above described dog must be penalized
to the extent of the deviation keeping in mind the importance
of the contribution of the various features toward the basic
original purpose of the breed.
Approved June 13, 1972
