Hortaya Borzaya vs Blue Lacy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Hortaya Borzaya vs Blue Lacy - Breed ComparisonBlue Lacy is originated from United States but Hortaya Borzaya is originated from Russia. Blue Lacy may grow 22 cm / 8 inches shorter than Hortaya Borzaya. Blue Lacy may weigh 12 kg / 26 pounds lesser than Hortaya Borzaya. Both Blue Lacy and Hortaya Borzaya has almost same life span. Blue Lacy may have less litter size than Hortaya Borzaya. Both Blue Lacy and Hortaya Borzaya requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Hound dog
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United States
Russia
Height Male:
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
46 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 23 kg
35 - 51 pounds
18 - 35 kg
39 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 23 kg
30 - 51 pounds
16 - 32 kg
35 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 16 Years
14 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Lacy Dog, Lacy Game Dog, Texas Blue Lacy
Hort, Chortaja borzaja, Kурч, Kurtas Chortaj Hortaya Horty, Xорт, Hrt, Chort
Colors Available:
Grey, blue, black, cream, tri-coloured
brown, black, white, red, piebald , brindle
Coat:
short and smooth
short yet dense
Shedding:
Minimal, Constant
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

blue lacyThe Lacy brothers came to Texas in 1858, and this breed is named after them. They wanted a strong, robust working dog. It is a working/herding dog breed that originated in Texas in the mid 19th century.

It is interesting to note that in June 2005, Governor Rick Perry brought about legislation adopting the Blue Lacy as the official Dog Breed of Texas. The breed is also registered by the National Lacy Dog Registry and the Animal Research Foundation.

Today the Blue Lacy is considered to be the perfect all-around dog, with the Lacy family history noting the breed to come from a mix of scent-hound, greyhound and coyote cross. There are theories around the scent hound used, with some believing it could have been an Italian Gray Hound, but whatever the case, the Lacy brothers established this breed under the guidelines required to develop a recognized breed.

hortaya borzayaThe Hortaya Borzaya is an ancient sighthound from Asia with its origins in Kievan Rus = Grand Duchy of Lithuania = Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Empire of Russia. The Hortaya is a large dog, especially a long in body dog with a muscular build suitable for running fast. He is one of the most talented of sighthounds, able to track moving prey at quite great distances. He is an intensely active when running prey and quiet and well balanced when not working.

In Asia and Russia, it is still a working hunting dog, hunting a variety of game such as Saiga antelopes, wolves, foxes, and hares. With tremendous endurance, the Hortaya can run at great speeds and great distances on the hunt. The Hortaya Borzaya is a long distance runner rather than a sprinter like the greyhound we are all so familiar with. He also needs very little rest between runs of up to 4 km. The Hortaya uses his sense of smell as well as sight in the hunt. They hunt solo, in pairs or in packs.

It was not until 2004 that the Hortaya was first exported to Europe and given full breeding papers. They went to Germany, Slovakia and the Czech Republic in 2004. They went to Switzerland and Finland in 2005 and to the United States around 2005. Prior to this the Hortaya Borzaya was bred only in its original territory for thousands of years.

Unlike Western breeding programs, the Hortaya is not bred for the purpose of improving the breed. Like Asian thoroughbred horses the breed is considered “finished”. Because of this there was no inbreeding, linebreeding or incest. This is true for about 4-6 generations of a line. This helps the breed to stay healthy.

The breed was developed centuries ago being bred by many different groups of people throughout the region, making it impossible to say exactly where and how this Central Asian/Afghanistan/ southern Russian breed developed. The Russian Kynological Federation (RKF) member of the FCI, developed a standard for the Hortaya Borzaya, which unlike most breed standards, does not tell you what the Hortaya must be like. Instead it tells you what he cannot be.

It gives boundaries that the dog must fit inside in order to be considered a Hortaya Borzaya. This is because the breeds of these dogs in their native territories want to preserve as many different types and sub-types as possible under the banner of one breed. To most people these dogs would look like very different breeds. For this reason, they have not been accepted into International Breed Groups and Associations. The breeders of these dogs do not want to be tied down to one standard. They do not want the breed to be separated into western lines and the original line or show lines and working lines. They wish to keep all the dogs within one grouping.

The breed is recognized on the national level by the originating countries and federations, including Russia’s. There are an estimated 2500-3500 dog of this breed in existence to day. Only a few dozen of the breed exist outside of the original countries. In other Eastern and European countries, the dogs may be registered with hunting associations instead of a breed association.

The breed is held mostly by hunters in remote, local areas and villages that are fairly isolated. Here the Hortaya is seen as a partner in feeding the hunters family and the dog is invaluable. In these remote areas a good hunting dog is equal in value to the good horse. Both are essential to the hunter and his family’s livelihood.

The Hortaya Borzaya is a pack dog and does well with the family as well as an athletic hunter. They hunt in packs, small groups or alone and bring their catch back to the hunter for the family meal. No hunter had to go with the dog. In fact, the hunters would send the dogs several times for food. The Hortaya might travel for miles across tough terrain to get food for the family.

Description

Lithe, Sleek and Agile to Look At

blue lacy puppy - descriptionThe medium-sized, well proportioned, muscular and lithe Blue Lacy stands at roughly 46–53cm. He has a coat which is smooth and short and in an attractive gun-metal gray color which can be classified as blue or almost black. Other shades are also available such as cream, yellow, reddish and you also get tri-colored Lacy’s.

Pure Blue Lacy’s have some white markings on their brisket. Whatever color you have, these clean-looking dogs with their low maintenance coats are referred to as Blue Lacy’s. Their brown eyes are bright and alert, they have long tails and their ears hang down.

A Wonderful All-Round Dog

The American Blue Lacy gives one the sense of speed, agility and endurance. He is intelligent, active and alert, being an all-round dog who can adapt to being among ranchers and cowboys and then become gentle with children and his family.

With socialization, he is also tolerant of other dogs. Because he is so intelligent he can be quickly trained, and training and socialization will be recommended for him to ensure he is the perfect all-rounder he was designed to be. His alertness makes him an excellent watch dog.

hortaya borzaya puppy - descriptionThis athletic sighthound is a handsome dog, ranging from large to giant. Remember there are many different ‘types’ of dogs within the one line/breed of Hortaya. Breed standards are exclusionary, and performance based rather than inclusionary, and appearance based. Still most of the breed lines share many of the same traits.

They are a long legged breed with a very deep chest and flexible spine. They have immensely strong lungs and a narrow but long skull. Their gait is fluid, effortless trotting when not hunting. When she is hunting, they gallop like a horse and cover a lot of ground.

There eyes are usually black but can be any color and their fur is also any color. It is thick and dense. Finally, in the 2000’s, there were some dogs in a subline exported to Europe and to North America. Here, for this subgroup, a standard was established based on appearance and the color or the coat was now set at only white, blue, black, cream, red, sable and brindle, and piebald. They might or might not have a saddle. Definition of this type is still going on and has not been entirely settled yet. This standard is only for the European and American market show dogs.

These dogs, bred for show, have the same ability to run like the wind and for a very long time with his muscled body and long legs. The breed has strength and stamina that will fool you. He also has a long neck and broad back. He has thin, short ears.

Characteristics

blue lacy dog - characteristicsYour Blue Lacy is such a low-maintenance, easy dog to have. Remember to have your puppy vaccinated from distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. These vaccinations start from 6 - 8 weeks of age. Also, because different areas have different regulations surrounding the rabies injection, check with your vet about this one.

A socialized, trained Blue Lacy makes such an awesome pet but you have responsibilities towards him. You need to know precisely what is required to keep him healthy and happy.

This is a versatile working dog who is intelligent and alert but also sensitive to being mistreated. Treat him decently and in exchange you’ll have a loyal, devoted canine family member.

Children friendliness

hortaya borzaya dog - characteristicsChildren friendliness - yes, they are very good with children and will play with them for hours.

Special talents

They have tremendous stamina, speed and intelligence to hunt on their own without the hunter and bring the prey back in good shape for the hunter’s family to eat.

Adaptability

No they are not very adaptable in terms of living arrangements. They will not do well in an apartment and probably not in the city as they need land to run.

Learning ability

Learning ability yes, they are intelligent and learn easily.

Health Problems

blue lacy puppies - health problemsThe Blue Lacy is generally a healthy breed, but just like with any other dog breed they will be prone to some health conditions. Blue Lacys can also suffer with the likes of hip or elbow dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a disease of the hip where the ball and socket joint is malformed. Hip dysplasia is when the hip joints don’t develop normally. It needs to be watched as it can result in loss of function of the hip joints. The disease can often begin when the dog is still very young.

Hypothyroidism

Some breeds are genetically predisposed towards hypothyroidism, but environmental factors and certain medications can trigger autoimmune reactions. Not only that, a tight collar can also cause thyroid damage. The symptoms of hypothyroidism are weight gain, skin problems, dislike of the cold and even hair loss and then it’s time to get your pet thyroid-tested.

hortaya borzaya puppies - health problemsAs previously mentioned, the original breed is isolated and therefore has a pretty good health track record. Most of the breed specific illnesses or conditions that usually are inherited barely exist in this breed.

They have a propensity toward obesity and diet is essential to prevent other issues.

Chronic or acute pancreatitis is possible because the breed developed eating small meals and hardly any meat. Too much meat or fat could cause this.

No tolerance for high protein dog food. Can cause puppies to have life threatening damage to bones and cartilage that is irreversible.

Bloat – because of the deep chest and the intolerance for large meals they are prone to bloat.

Caring The Pet

Exercise

blue lacy dogs - caringTypically of working breeds, the Blue Lacy is going to need a firm owner who provides guidance and leadership, and who is responsible with providing the Lacy with plenty of exercise. This dog was created for work, so they will be totally at home on a farm. If not, they will require long walks every day with lots of ball games too.

Grooming

Care for the Blue Lacy doesn’t take much effort. He isn’t much of a shedder and therefore has low grooming requirements. He’ll require being brushed twice a week to get rid of loose hairs. If you start early with this grooming routine, he looks forward to this ‘bonding’ session.

Routine maintenance will require nail clipping and teeth cleaning as plaque can build up and leave your pet with dental problems and gum disease. Ask your veterinarian about dental care because there are special dog-designed toothpastes and brushes. Also check for ticks and fleas in and around the ears of your dog.

Food

Your Blue Lacy is a high energy working dog so he will require a balanced diet to cater for his energy levels. He will certainly require some raw meat from time to time to avoid skin problems. Home prepared meals are also good and these can include rice, meat and vegetables.

Remember when in any kind of doubt, speak to your vet about dog food which meets the requirements of your dog, his age, his breed and his activity levels. Always have a bowl of clean, cool water available to him around the clock.

Feeding the puppy

hortaya borzaya dogs - caringAs mentioned above do not overfeed a Hortaya Borzaya puppy. There is serious risk of irreversible damage if you do. Feed small meals 3-6 times a day with lower protein.

Feeding the adult

3 cups of an average protein high quality dog food served at least 3-4 times per day. To avoid bloat do not feed large meals before or after exercise and don’t let your dog drink a lot of water at one time.

Points for Good Health

They have tremendous stamina and speed.

Games and Exercises

This is an extremely active dog bred to hunt 5-6 times a day over wide expanses of various and rough terrain. They need exercise. If you run, they will run with you happily and they will outlast you. They are good at and enjoy fetch, chase, agility, and field trials. They will last hours at any game they play.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Hortaya Borzaya vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Hortaya Borzaya vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Hortaya Borzaya vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Hortaya Borzaya vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Hortaya Borzaya vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Hortaya Borzaya vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Hortaya Borzaya vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Hortaya Borzaya vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Hortaya Borzaya vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Hortaya Borzaya vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Hortaya Borzaya vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Hortaya Borzaya vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Hortaya Borzaya vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Hortaya Borzaya vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Hortaya Borzaya vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Hortaya Borzaya vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Hortaya Borzaya vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Hortaya Borzaya vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Hortaya Borzaya vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Hortaya Borzaya vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Hortaya Borzaya vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Hortaya Borzaya vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Hortaya Borzaya vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hortaya Borzaya vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hortaya Borzaya vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Blue Lacy vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Blue Lacy vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Blue Lacy vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Blue Lacy vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Blue Lacy vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Blue Lacy vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Blue Lacy vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Blue Lacy vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Blue Lacy vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Blue Lacy vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Blue Lacy vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Blue Lacy vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Blue Lacy vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Blue Lacy vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Blue Lacy vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Blue Lacy vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Blue Lacy vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Blue Lacy vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Blue Lacy vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Blue Lacy vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Blue Lacy vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Blue Lacy vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Blue Lacy vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Blue Lacy vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Blue Lacy vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison