#dog structure

Borzoi puppies must have a playmate of similar size and energy levels as well as access to large play areas (half an acre minimum depending on the exact landscape) for 12+ hrs a day for at least the first eight to nine months to grow correctly on a structural level.

Borzoi that don’t get enough exercise are often narrow, in the chest especially, can develop slack pasterns and over exaggerated rear angles, and an overall lack of body or “substance.” All that being said, unless you’re steeped in the dog world the above probably doesn’t mean much. Which means it’s picture time!!!

Pictures cropped and color removed to protect identities lol but here are two sets of littermate that perfectly show what I mean about chest narrowness and slack pasterns:

Proper exercise with appropriate playmates for appropriate lengths of time on the left, puppies raised without on the right.

Improper growth doesn’t mean health issues, and both bottom dogs are amazing coursing dogs (the one on the right actually being MORE successful) but it can ruin a dog’s chances in the show ring, and makes it harder for a breeder to really know their lines and what they may be producing or even breeding to.

All that being said, exercise and playmates can’t change genetics. A dog with a narrow chest will have a narrow chest regardless(you can usually spot the difference once you know what to look for). But that’s why I’m showing littermates and not just four random dogs.

Just like anything, there is some nuance to this. Even puppies with an appropriate playmate, a large yard, living outside 24/7, can fail to develop to their full potential if they’re especially lazy puppies.

Omie happened to be standing real square after getting out of the river - and standing STILL, too. Looking back at these pics, she is on a bit of a slope, but this is the basic shape of my dog.

Arya vom Dakonic “Kaiya” at 1 1/2 years old <3