The Borzoi is a tall, slender, regal breed that is thought to have originated from Russia during the seventeenth century, although they were probably brought to Russia from Arabia in the years prior to that. The Borzoi we know today are the descendants of the Arabic sight hounds, various Russian shepherd breeds and the Russian hounds that were used for hunting wolves. The breed was favored by Russian nobility and the popularity of the Borzoi soon spread to Europe where Queen Victoria and many of the British aristocracy took to keeping the Borzoi for companionship.
In 1903, the Borzoi was imported into the United States by a Mr. Joseph Thomas. While the breed?s popularity suffered in Russia after the revolution, the Borzoi?s popularity in the United States allowed it to flourish in the West. Although the Borzoi is hundreds of years old, the breed didn?t receive American Kennel Club recognition until June of 1972.
