Why the Borzoi Coat Is Never Clipped
A Borzoi does not get haircuts in the way a poodle or spaniel does. The breed carries a long, silky, slightly wavy coat, flat against the body on the back and flowing into feathering on the chest, belly, legs, and tail. That coat is meant to be left at full length. Shaving or heavy clipping damages the fine texture, the hair grows back softer and patchy, and the dog loses the sleek outline the coat creates. At most, a groomer tidies the hair between the paw pads and neaten stray ends, and even that is optional for a pet dog.
The trade-off for skipping haircuts is brushing, and Borzoi brushing cannot be rushed. The silk-like hair tangles where it rubs: behind the ears, in the armpits, along the belly fringe, and where a harness or collar sits during long, fast walks.
A Section-by-Section Brushing Routine
Brush two or three times a week, more often during the heavy seasonal shed when the undercoat releases in handfuls. Use a pin brush and work in sections, lifting the feathering and brushing from the skin outward so you clear the base of the coat rather than skimming the surface. A slicker brush used gently helps on small tangles behind the ears, and a metal comb is your final check: if the comb glides through, the section is truly clear.
Start with a young Borzoi standing on a non-slip surface and keep early sessions short and calm. This is a sensitive, tall breed that can brace against handling, so building a quiet routine on a table or low platform pays off for years. Always detangle before a bath, never after, because wet Borzoi feathering sets tangles tighter as it dries.
Bathing and Drying a Fine, Long Coat
Borzois stay cleaner than many long-coated breeds and often need a bath only every four to eight weeks, or after a muddy countryside run. Use a gentle dog shampoo, support the long coat as you rinse so it does not knot, and consider a light conditioner on the feathering to make the next brushing easier. Dry with a towel and a cool or warm dryer while brushing through, section by section, rather than letting the fringe air-dry into waves of small mats.
Check the skin as you part the hair during drying. The Borzoi frame is lean, and ticks, thorns, and small cuts from sprinting through rough ground hide easily in the longer hair around the neck and chest.
When to Involve Your Vet or Groomer
Ask your veterinarian for advice if your Borzoi develops widespread matting close to the skin, red or flaky patches under the feathering, or sudden heavy hair loss outside the normal seasonal shed. Mats that have felted tight should be worked out patiently or clipped out by a professional groomer rather than pulled, since the skin beneath is thin. A groomer experienced with sighthounds is worth finding before you ever need urgent help.
Keeping track of which sections were brushed on which day prevents the same easy back being done twice while the armpits are missed, and KinsLe Care Teams lets you split your Borzoi coat sessions into assigned tasks that are ticked off as each area is finished.