Zsa Zsa at her first lure coursing trial
Zsa Zsa, 3 years
Rezance Satara Maid of Amsterdam
Random shots of Dune and Fig (2nd cousins) at a lure coursing trial over the weekend.
Anonymous asked:
I never considered borzois + cats can = dead kitty but it makes sense considering that's a whole hound bred to smoke things of cat-relevant size. My family owns a pig and he can't be left with the dogs for fear the dogs could hurt him so it's definitely applicable in many homes lol!
Yeah lots of considerations to be had with a large prey driven animal! We have chickens now and have to keep the two totally separated (except Obie, who doesn’t have a scrap of prey drive). It’s easier since the borzoi are mostly active for a few hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening. So while they’re passed out on the couch, the hens get to free range 😁
I would really love a borzoi and have done a lot of research on them, but my girlfriend is worried because we have a cat and some dogs like borzois are supposedly dangerous for cats. Do you know anything about that?
There are lots of borzoi + cat homes that are living harmoniously! It takes a little more management but you can have both. Here are some key things:
- The cat(s) must be indoor only. Outdoor cats are prey. A borzoi could be fine with a cat indoors and then dispatch that same cat outdoors.
- Borzoi that are raised with cats from puppyhood have higher success rates. Seek breeders that have cats.
- The home should be set up in such a way that the cat has safe spaces that the borzoi doesn’t have access to. High up perches, tunnels, cat doors between rooms, etc.
- The temperament of the cats can play a role too. Cats that get zoomies all the time and move in frantic patterns are more exciting to a borzoi than docile cats who just puddle all day.
- Don’t leave them loose in the same room when you leave the house. A lot of borzoi/cat homes can do this but if you want that extra level of protection, crate the dog when you leave or put them in separate rooms.
Photo from my first visit to @sataraborzoi — she also has a great video of the same cat jumping in and out of the whelping box with Fig and his siblings as puppies. When we had our litter, her other cat was regularly in the whelping room :)
Dune - Satara Rezance Sea and Sand
Anonymous asked:
Hi! happy new year. :) I have an afghan hound and have been looking into borzois / silken windhounds. my dog is usually really friendly with the other dogs he meets, but more often than not most dogs wont keep up with him/play too rough and make him lose interest, and so i was thinking of adding another sighthound to the family, so my dog has some more company during the day and a more reliable playpal. do you have any idea if a borzoi or silken would be a better match?
Ooh it can depends on a few different factors but generally, I would say borzoi. They are closer in brains, play style, and tend to handle rough play better IME. Silkens can play rough too but the size difference can be a hindrance and some are sensitive little souls.
Happy pumpkin season from Fig!
Dune at his first dock diving competition
Dune QC’d for AKC lure coursing today! He’s all clear to enter trials now.
Anonymous asked:
what’s the smallest borzoi you’ve ever seen? the last ask inspired me to ask you. i am interested in the breed and mesh with them more than silkens, but would still love a bottom of the standard zoi if possible, if you have recommendations on to find one too
There have been a few itty bitties (for borzoi) throughout the years. A few years ago, I posted about a miniature borzoi project that predated silken windhounds, that involved selecting smaller and smaller and then line breeding on those smalls.
There used to be a kennel called Pickle Hill that had some pretty small borzoi. The breeder, Fern, passed away right before I got into the breed but I was able to meet a couple of the dogs that were pulled from her property. I think they were around 25”.
I know of one case of dwarfism and posted about the dog, Bilbo, who looked like a basset hound in a borzoi suit :)
But the smallest I’ve ever seen in photographs was this teeny tiny dude, who is a whopping 20” at the shoulder and was owned by Janet Vandenburgh.
These days, there doesn’t seem to be anyone intentionally selecting for particularly tiny borzoi. I know of a few 26” girls, but most are 27”+. The smallest male I’ve met IRL was 28”, and most I think are 30”+. It’s hard to truly guarantee size too. But if you message me or ask off anon, I can send you some potential breeders who trend a bit more on the small side (but again, there really are no guarantees with this).
Anonymous asked:
what are the physical differences between a borzoi and a silken windhound?
Size is the big one! Silkens range from 18.5 inches to 23.5 inches at the shoulder. Borzoi females can be as small as 26 inches and males as small as 28 inches but they don’t have a height maximum in the AKC standard.
Head shape is another one. A lot of silkens seem to have more stop, less muzzle length, and a more prominent foreskull. Many silkens prick their ears with more frequency than borzoi. There’s a huge range of course but these are the general trends I see.
Neck carriage is another one. Silkens tend to naturally carry their necks upright whereas borzoi tend to carry their necks at more of an angle.
Their running styles are a little different too. Borzoi have a blend of endurance and speed where they won’t tire as quickly as sprinting breeds like greyhounds, but they also can’t last as long as a saluki. They are slower than greyhounds but faster than salukis. Silkens are a bit slower and with less endurance, but with better acceleration due to size and the whippet influence. Size also allows them to corner sharper.
Dune, coming up on 2 years old.
Anonymous asked:
So sorry if this is not the right term for it- I am doing research on some breeds for my next dog and was wondering if sighthounds (like silkens, borzoi, saluki in particular), exhibit predatory drift towards small dogs at all?
I can’t speak for salukis and most other sighthounds, but I have never seen it in silkens and have seen it once in borzoi (though have heard of one or two accounts online). There are tons of borzoi + small dog homes, same with silkens, and they can live very harmoniously!
The bigger concern, for me, would be the size difference during play. Some borzoi and other large-giant sighthounds are very careful and gentle with smaller dogs. Some have 2 brain cells to rub together and might accidentally send a small dog flying.
All of my dogs adore smaller dogs. Here’s how Fig introduces himself to new friends at a dog show: