Hortaya Borzaya vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison

Hortaya Borzaya vs English Foxhound - Breed ComparisonEnglish Foxhound is originated from United Kingdom but Hortaya Borzaya is originated from Russia. English Foxhound may grow 11 cm / 4 inches shorter than Hortaya Borzaya. Both English Foxhound and Hortaya Borzaya are having almost same weight. Both English Foxhound and Hortaya Borzaya has almost same life span. Both English Foxhound and Hortaya Borzaya has almost same litter size. Both English Foxhound and Hortaya Borzaya requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
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United Kingdom
Russia
Height Male:
58 - 64 cm
22 - 26 inches
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
Height Female:
56 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 32 kg
63 - 71 pounds
18 - 35 kg
39 - 78 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 31 kg
59 - 69 pounds
16 - 32 kg
35 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
14 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 7
6 - 8
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Foxhound
Hort, Chortaja borzaja, Kурч, Kurtas Chortaj Hortaya Horty, Xорт, Hrt, Chort
Colors Available:
tricolor coat of black, white and tan
brown, black, white, red, piebald , brindle
Coat:
short, hard, dense, glossy
short yet dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

english foxhoundThe English Foxhound was found in Great Britain as far back as the late 1700’s. They were bred to be scent hounds and hunt the fox by following his smell. It was a crossing of several different types of hounds that produced the English Foxhound. This included the Greyhound, the Bulldog and the Fox Terrier. It was perceived that there were not a lot of deer left in the United Kingdom to be hunted for both sport and food. So, a new dog would be needed instead for the Staghound and Deerhound.

The Foxhound was developed as a pack animal bred to chase the fox followed by hunters on horses. The Foxhound was bred with incredible stamina, a great ability to follow scents, track prey, and act as a watchdog as well. This breed are pack animals. They hunt in packs and prefer to live in packs. A solitary English Foxhound is probably not a happy Foxhound. The English Foxhound is stockier and slower than his cousin the American Foxhound. The English Foxhound is recognized by the AKC and UKC. In 2012 the International Foxhound Association was developed to promote the English Foxhound.

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

english foxhound puppy - descriptionThe English Foxhound is a superb athlete who can run for hours without a break. He has muscular, sturdy and straight legs with round paws. His chest is deep, and his back is level. Their head is wide, and the muzzle is long with 16 inches in the front of the ears. The nose is long, and those ears are set low. They can be many colors as long as it is a “hound” color of tan, tricolor, black and white, or red.

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

english foxhound dog - characteristicsThe English Foxhound gets along with other dogs and like people. He was bred to be a pack animal, not a loner. He will get along with most any other animal and children as well. However, they are not often kept as pets because their prey drive and pursuit drive are so strong that nothing else matters. The chase is what life is all about for this breed. They are hardwired for it. They are not easy to train because they are constantly distracted by smells and movements that could send them off on the chase.

Keep them on a lease when walking them so they don’t go wandering or running of. They love to run, and they love to talk – bay actually. They might slow down somewhere around 8-10 years old. They need a strong owner and a lot of exercise to be happy.

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

english foxhound puppies - health problemsOverall a healthy and hearty breed, they are prone to hip dysplasia and renal disease.

Hip Dysplasia

Degenerative and debilitating at worse. In mild forms cause lameness and arthritis.

Renal Disease

Kidney disease – for some reason the kidneys cannot clear out toxins like urea and creatine

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

Feeding

english foxhound dogs - caringThe English Foxhound is a high energy dog that needs a high quality dog food. He should be fed about 2.5 -3 cups a day in two meals of dry food. Because he is a deep chested dog, beware of bloat and don’t feed large meals, particularly before or after strenuous exercise.

Health issues

In addition to the issues presented above, the English Foxhound is prone to:

Epilepsy

Seizures are caused by epilepsy, but they can be treated, and the dog can have a quality life.

Bloat

When the stomach becomes distended or twisted. Can result in death if not treated immediately.

Ears

The English Foxhound’s long, floppy ears are prone to infection and allergies. Inspect and clean them regularly.

Exercise and games

The English Foxhound is an easygoing canine, but he has an incredible energy level and needs a lot of exercise every day. In fact, if you are not going to hunt then don’t get a Foxhound. It is not fair to the dog. Of course, if you have acres of land and are into agility, tracking, coursing and rally then this might be the dog for you. But if the English Foxhound does not get enough daily exercise, he will not be a good house pet. This dog was bred to run for miles. You cant keep him cooped up in your house.

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
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  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
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  20. Hortaya Borzaya vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  23. Hortaya Borzaya vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Hortaya Borzaya vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Hortaya Borzaya vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. English Foxhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. English Foxhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. English Foxhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. English Foxhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. English Foxhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. English Foxhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. English Foxhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. English Foxhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. English Foxhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. English Foxhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. English Foxhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. English Foxhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. English Foxhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. English Foxhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. English Foxhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. English Foxhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. English Foxhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. English Foxhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. English Foxhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. English Foxhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. English Foxhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. English Foxhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. English Foxhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. English Foxhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. English Foxhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison