Borzoi vs Greyhound

A Borzoi
Photo: Deb from We are in Montoursville, PA , in the beautiful Susquehanna Valley of central Pennsylvania, USA
A Greyhound
Photo: Neurodoc

Side by side

Borzoi
Greyhound
Adult weight
Males 34–48 kg (75–105 lb); females 25–41 kg (55–90 lb)1
Males 26.2–38.5 kg (58–85 lb); females 22.3–32.2 kg (49–71 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 5,419, mean ±1.5 SD)2
Lifespan
Median 12 years3
Median 11.5 years3
Fully grown
13 months, both sexes4
12 months, both sexes4
Group
Sighthounds5
Sighthounds6
Coat
Long coat5
No sourced figure
Shedding
Sheds through the year
No sourced figure
Grooming
Daily brushing
No sourced figure
Exercise
A moderate amount
A modest amount
Health
No sourced figure
Bone cancer (far more likely); Blood-vessel cancer of the skin (more likely)7,8
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Borzoi is a little larger on average: about 37 kg (81 lb) as an adult, against 30 kg (66 lb) for the Greyhound.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Borzoi, and a modest amount with the Greyhound.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Borzoi: likes its own space; Greyhound: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Borzoi: decides for itself; Greyhound: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
Both are rated the same on intelligence: easy-going, simple routines.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Borzoi
Sighthounds · Large

At home it is usually quiet, gentle and dignified, often reserved with strangers and independent rather than eager to please, but it keeps a strong urge to chase anything that runs.

Greyhound
Sighthounds · Large

In temperament the breed is quiet and gentle, content to sleep for long stretches, affectionate with its own people and sometimes reserved with strangers.

The Borzoi page →The Greyhound page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Borzoi
Greyhound
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Easy-going, simple routines
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Suits a first-time owner
With people
Borzoi
Greyhound
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Borzoi
Greyhound
Sensitivity
Differs
Needs a calm, predictable home
Average
Voice
Quiet
Quiet
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Borzoi grows to the heavier adult, about 36 kg against the Greyhound's 30 kg.
Borzoi
Greyhound
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More comparisons

Compare the Borzoi with
Greyhound vs WhippetGreyhound vs Italian GreyhoundBorzoi vs SalukiGreyhound vs SalukiAzawakh vs GreyhoundDoberman Pinscher vs GreyhoundAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·