Are borzois hypoallergenic?

No dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, borzois included. Their long coat sheds seasonally and produces the same dander that triggers most pet allergies, so anyone with a significant allergy should spend time around the breed before committing rather than relying on coat type alone.

How often should I brush a borzoi?

Two to three times a week is a good baseline for most of the year, increasing to daily during the spring and autumn coat blow-outs. Regular brushing prevents the matting that a long, silky coat like a borzoi's is otherwise prone to.

Do borzois shed more than other long-haired breeds?

Borzois shed at a fairly moderate level for a long-coated sighthound — noticeable during seasonal changes but not constant heavy shedding the rest of the year. The length of the coat tends to make the hair more visible than the actual volume would suggest.

What's the best brush for a borzoi's coat?

A slicker brush or a long-pin brush designed for silky coats works through the length without snagging, followed by a wide-toothed comb to catch any early tangles. Using the comb regularly around the ears and legs helps catch matting before it sets in.

Do borzois need professional grooming?

Many owners manage a borzoi's coat at home with regular brushing, but a professional groom every couple of months can help with a thorough deshed, nail trim and a proper check over the coat for any tangles that have been missed at home.

Do borzois shed?

Yes, borzois shed. Their long, silky double coat sheds lightly all year and then more heavily during seasonal coat changes, usually spring and autumn, when the soft undercoat comes out in noticeably larger amounts. It is not an especially high-shedding breed compared with some, but the length of the coat means what does come out is more visible around the house.

What a borzoi's coat is actually doing

A borzoi's coat is long, silky and slightly wavy, with a soft undercoat beneath the longer guard hairs. That undercoat is what drives most of the seasonal shedding — it thickens up for colder months and then sheds out as the weather warms, which is when owners notice the biggest increase in loose hair.

Outside of those seasonal changes, borzois shed at a fairly moderate, manageable level for a long-coated breed. The main practical issue owners run into is not the volume of hair so much as its length, which shows up more on furniture and clothing than a shorter coat's shedding would.

Keeping on top of it

Regular brushing two or three times a week is the single biggest thing that keeps shedding manageable, lifting out loose undercoat before it ends up on the floor rather than after. During the heavier seasonal sheds, daily brushing for a week or two makes a real difference.

A slicker brush or a pin brush suited to long coats works through the length without pulling, and a wide-toothed comb afterwards helps catch any early matting, particularly behind the ears and around the legs where borzoi coats tend to tangle first.

A borzoi's feathering — the longer fringe on the ears, chest, legs and tail — is where tangles tend to start first, so pay it extra attention on brushing days. Left unchecked for a week or two, a small tangle behind an ear can tighten into a proper mat that then needs cutting out rather than combing through.

Bathing and everyday coat care

Borzois do not need frequent bathing — their coat sheds dirt reasonably well between washes — but a wash every couple of months, or after they have been somewhere muddy, keeps the coat in good condition and makes brushing easier afterwards.

A conditioning shampoo suited to long-coated breeds helps prevent the coat drying out and tangling, and a thorough dry afterwards matters more for a borzoi than for a short-coated dog, since a damp undercoat left to dry slowly is more prone to matting.

Kit for this breed

Things we stock that owners commonly reach for here. Nothing on this page depends on you buying one.

Microfibre Pet Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe that soaks up the wet fast after baths, swims and walks.

From£10.99

Absorbent Microfibre Dog Drying Robe

A super-absorbent microfibre drying robe with a handy front pocket to dry your dog off fast.

From£13.99

Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles

A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.

£18.99

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Common questions

Are borzois hypoallergenic?: No dog breed is truly hypoallergenic, borzois included. Their long coat sheds seasonally and produces the same dander that triggers most pet allergies, so anyone with a significant allergy should spend time around the breed before committing rather than relying on coat type alone.
How often should I brush a borzoi?: Two to three times a week is a good baseline for most of the year, increasing to daily during the spring and autumn coat blow-outs. Regular brushing prevents the matting that a long, silky coat like a borzoi's is otherwise prone to.
Do borzois shed more than other long-haired breeds?: Borzois shed at a fairly moderate level for a long-coated sighthound — noticeable during seasonal changes but not constant heavy shedding the rest of the year. The length of the coat tends to make the hair more visible than the actual volume would suggest.
What's the best brush for a borzoi's coat?: A slicker brush or a long-pin brush designed for silky coats works through the length without snagging, followed by a wide-toothed comb to catch any early tangles. Using the comb regularly around the ears and legs helps catch matting before it sets in.
Do borzois need professional grooming?: Many owners manage a borzoi's coat at home with regular brushing, but a professional groom every couple of months can help with a thorough deshed, nail trim and a proper check over the coat for any tangles that have been missed at home.

Sources

Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.