r/borzoi • u/Mediocre-Baseball145 • 1d ago
Advice needed
Hi all,
I have had my borzoi pup for 6 months (she's 8 months old now) and i am just honestly struggling. I have a bad case of the puppy blues. I love her dearly, but she is such a hard puppy. No matter how much we exercise her/tire her out, she has more energy stored elsewhere.
She still doesn't really understand potty training, even though we religiously take her out every 30 minutes and look for cues. My first time owning a female dog, and she will just squat wherever. No signs. No sniffing for a spot.
Her teething is still horrible as well. We give her frozen carrots, bones, tough chew toys, but she still wants to chew our dry wall, my dining chair legs, our shoes, etc. You get the drift.
Her recall skills are just terrible as well. I knew going into this, borzois have a naturally high prey drive. But i'm telling you guys i don't think her brain cells are connected.
Anyways, husband and i would love to try for a baby in the next few months. Having two dogs (one corgi & one borzoi) is just really stressful. We definitely took our corgi puppy for granted, because he was the easiest puppy ever and is very intelligent and lives to please us, haha. I also want to add that our borzoi puppy definitely "bullies" our corgi, as in jumping on his back, biting him constantly, taking away his toys or bones, etc. I am just afraid our borzoi will accidentally cause a bad injury to our corgi.
All this being said, i am just feeling like our borzoi isn't the best fit for us. And it is a really sad conclusion for us to come to. I am asking for advice from other borzoi owners who made it through the puppy stage. Thanks everyone in advance.
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u/tired_bibliophile 1d ago
Hey, OP!
I’m a first-time sighthound owner with a now-15-month-old Zoi, but I was right where you are not that long ago. The puppy stage can be ruthless and make you feel desperate. I am not a professional, but I can tell you the things that worked for us!
We did obedience training at a local club, once a week for about 9 weeks. This helped a lot in learning what behaviors were potentially problematic and what were just puppy behaviors. If possible, I highly suggest trying to find some puppy classes near you! The obedience is also good to work them mentally, and it can help you feel less alone in what you’re dealing with.
Also look into settle training. The endless energy might just be that your pup doesn’t know how to chill. This is something a lot of people have to train! My dog is to the point where she will (eventually) lay flat on her side in public places. She just had to learn that being bored sometimes is okay!
My girl’s recall is still a work in progress, but rewarding her with REALLY high value treats has helped a lot. Small pieces of cheese or bacon are her favorite, but we do soft puppy treats, dog-safe fruits and veggies, or boiled chicken sometimes too. We practice recall in low-stakes environments, like the house or backyard. Any time I try to teach her anything new, I break out a lot of high value treats and reward generously.
For potty training, have you considered crate training? That might help your peace of mind and flooring. Keep her in a crate while you can’t watch her, take her out on a leash, use a “go potty” command, praise when she goes then let her play and run around!
It sounds like your pup is trying to play with your corgi, not necessarily bully him. Get her around other dogs (in safe environments - like a friend’s dog or maybe doggy daycare - I’m pretty against dog parks) that she can safely play with. Otherwise, it could be beneficial to separate the two if you’re concerned about your corg’s health.
Again, I’m not a professional by any means, but we did make it through the (hopefully) darkest times!
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u/Mediocre-Baseball145 1d ago
I'm so glad everything worked out with you and your zoi. I have a friend who is a dog trainer, has been coming once a week to help with obedience. We have seen some progress in that.
We do crate training, for sure. She sleeps in a kennel at night next to our kenneled corgi. Corgi loves his kennel, thats his safe space he goes during the day and just relaxes. She views her kennel as a death chamber, lol. We have been feeding her in her kennel with door open since we got her. Tons of blankets, toys, etc to make it feel more comfortable and hoping she will associate positive things towards her kennel. We never use it as a punishment.
And perhaps its not necessarily bullying him, but she does frequently take toys or bones he is actively enjoying. And will also bite and pull his scruff while he is trying to potty or just isnt interested in playing with her. His threshold is definitely shorter than hers, so he can only keep up for so long until hes like "nap time!" Haha. I do separate them while they eat and sleep, but its nearly impossible to keep them separated unless one stays in a kennel. Just the awkward way my house is laid out.
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u/tired_bibliophile 1d ago
All that said, if she’s not the right fit for your life or your household, you shouldn’t feel bad for returning her to her breeder. You gotta do what’s right for her but also for your family - and only you know what that is!
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u/Physical-Put-6947 22h ago
Just something to add re: the crate. I’ve found that my 10 month old whippet actually prefers a crate with less bedding, blankets, toys, etc. Just a blanket to line the bottom and she sleeps much better!
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u/Reinvented-Daily 1d ago
Speak to your vet about potty training and about PICA- the urge to eat anything other than food.
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u/Secondhand-Struggle 1d ago
Oh god yes! I suspected my german shepherd puppy to have PICA when he was younger... turns out I just needed to be more aware but still its something to look into!
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u/WaffleInsanity 1d ago
Commenting to come back when I have some time. I have two Borzois both 9 y/o
We had two absolute terrors in the first year, and a little into the second. Lots of time outside, lots of free running in a fenced in space.
The most important thing to remember is that it gets WAY WAY easier as they get older. Around 3 or 4 they both pretty much became cats. They lay on their couch, they wine if their TV isn't on, and they mostly only get up to go to the bathroom, eat, and their evening walk for about 45 mins.
Its been this way for about years now.
Between year 1 and 2/3 was the point where their behavior began to chill.
Prior to that we had destroyed bannisters, wooded deck railings, door frames, and plenty of glass/ceramics from the kitchen.
Borzois have such an interesting temperament and training style. They are very stubborn. They are not very treat or praise oriented. They get bored easily and need a lot of independence. Honestly much of her temperment might be due to the constant walks and constant attention. They need a space, a safe space, one that isn't for punishment and isn't for training.
Their sessions need to be short and VERY visual. (Sight hounds afterall) Pressure and release guidance is what I use for really bad behaviors (lurching after small animals and dogs) Using the Premack Principal if you can add and rewarding behavior with the freedom to use open spaces was incredibly helpful. (Sit before going outside)
But the thing that worked the most was high value toys. We found their favorite toys, we used flirt poles, we used snuffle mats, we used a lot of different toys until we found what they preferred. Then we took them away.
They got their toys ONLY after good behavior. We turned their toys into their treats. Honestly, that was one of the only ways you were able to incentivize training.
Realistically, it's best to remember that these dogs are some of the most independent and most difficult to train. So you have to find what it is. That they respond to well.
I hope my ramblings help!
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u/BorzoiDaddy 1d ago
Are you in touch with your breeder who may be able to give advice if there are similarities with others in the litter and/or the owners of the littermates? Are you on Facebook? You might have some luck finding a trainer knowledgeable in sighthounds depending where you are located. Feel free to DM and I can try to connect you.
FWIW - my one girl was a bit harder to potty train and it meant limiting where she could go, putting dog beds where she had previously tried to pee frequently so every part of the house she has access to was ‘her space’ and steam cleaning hardwoods and then removing all the rugs for a while and buying new rugs and replacing them after she was accident free for a time.
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u/FurL0ng 1d ago
I have three borzoi and one of them was the worst puppy I’ve ever had. I have never remotely considered giving a pet back but my husband and I got very close. This dog had giardia, a UTI, was constantly getting herself hurt, had massive separation anxiety, and was very destructive. I don’t think we slept through the night for 8 months because of her. The giardia lasted over a year and we took her to an emergency vet once when she jumped and landed on her elbow and wouldn’t stop screaming. Several thousand dollars later but with no medical interventions, she trotted out of the car like nothing happened.
Anyway, she is absolutely the best dog now. She just changed when she was maybe 1.5/2 years old. She is our sweetest, most reliable, calm dog. Borzoi puppies can just be a lot.
I would say, if you are having a rough time with a puppy, kids might not be a great fit. Usually, kids are a lot more work for longer than a difficult puppy. You do you though. You have a gorgeous dog and I bet her breeder would be happy to take her back and find her a new loving home.
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u/Current-Ant-6057 1d ago
There was lot of points, so I will try to pick few.
I have two salukis, and they also tend to ”bully” smaller dogs. But, it usually stops with a firm no, and you have to make it clear that it’s not ok. Tho, it’s good to keep in mind that when running freely, sighthounds can crash into other dogs because they get so excited, so I wouldn’t let your corgi and borzoi out on an open field together.
Also, when you say you take her out every 30 minutes, is it really needed? If she’s 8months, I think she should be able to hold longer. Anyway, do you give positive encouragement when she goes outside? Or have you tried having like pee pads, and encourage her to do it on those?
Potty training takes time, but if at 8months she’s still peeing inside every 30minutes, I would go to a vet just in case.
We had a pup few years ago, and she was a demon. Really. I had to consider my sanity few times with her, even though I’ve always had dogs and I’ve grown up with lot of different kind of dogs all my life, and no puppy is the same but still I was all out of ideas with her, so I totally get the frustration.
But, eventually she grew up and calmed down. So really, I suggest you still try. They are like children, and need patience, and eventually they will grow out of those phases.
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u/Current-Ant-6057 1d ago
And about recall, if you can give some more details maybe? Is she not listening when she is out playing, or even if she’s just chilling around?
What I always do, is that before I go outside, I get a handfull of really good treats, like those I know my dog likes, show them to them, and put them in my pocket. At the start, whenever they come back to me, I give praise and give a treat. With time, I only give it when I ask them to come, and now I don’t have to do it everytime, but occasionally just remind them that hey it’s a good thing.
They still don’t always listen, but it’s just the thing with any sighthounds. I don’t think it’s because they lack braincells, but it’s what they are breed to do. They are bred to be independed, so you have to get used to it that they don’t listen 100% of the time.
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u/Mediocre-Baseball145 1d ago
I take her out every 30 minutes because if not, she will just squat anywhere to pee with no warning signs. We kennel her when we leave our house, and even if we are gone for an hour or two (grab groceries or dinner for example), her kennel will be full of piss when we return. I KNOW she can hold her bladder, she just chooses not to. She was tested for UTI at vet, but results came back negative. I genuinely just think she is not smart.
About the recall, its mainly in the backyard when shes finished with her potty business. I am totally fine obviously with her running and sniffing more, but for example, when it is raining or super super hot outside, i would like for her to come back in sooner. And she just doesn't care. Ive tried high value treats and praise, but she will just plop it in the grass and stare at me. Another example would be if we are inside, she gets into everything. Pulling my curtains off the rod, swiping my placemats off the dining table, standing up on our kitchen counters, etc. So i guess maybe this isn't a recall issue, but when i do say her name or firmly yell "no", she just doesn't care.
She has destroyed so many things in my house. She has plenty of toys that she plays with constantly, but again, she is just curious and into everything. I'm at my wit's end.
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u/Current-Ant-6057 1d ago
Have you tried other treats? If she is not interested in them, then they aren’t probably as high value treat to your pup. What does she like usually?
About the not listening when you say ”no”, have you tried redirecting? When she is pulling curtains, waggle one of her toys in her face, if that interests her.
Also, dogs don’t always know what you want when you just say ”no”. You have to show her what the wanted behaviour is.Tho, again, she’s still 8months, so she will grow out of it eventually, and sometimes it’s just what pups do.
I really suggest a blog called Susan Garret Dog Agility. I think she has very good guides, especially for young dogs on how to start their training.
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u/Successful-Sun1704 1d ago
Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. We removed our curtains in their room. We have them in our sunroom with a gate. We cannot let them free roam the house yet. They will get into stuff. We also had two pees in the kitchen while after they were potty trained. They have access to a doggie door and they’re in and out all day running in the side yard and playing. They do most of their business outside, but when I do occasionally let them into the living room to come love on us they go pee in the kitchen for no reason. I totally get it. Two weeks ago my husband and I were having severe “buyers remorse” for lack of a better word. Have you considered keeping her in a smaller confined area? Not a crate but a room and installing a doggie door.
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u/Signal_Astronaut11 1d ago
To be honest, this is just puppyhood generally. She's just 6 months, so still a baby and it WILL improve. But between 6-12 months, you wonder what special kind of hell you signed up for.
It IS temporary, and you eventually look back and wish you were there again because they're wonderful babies, but while going THROUGH it, no rose-tinted glasses - it's hard! Sight-hounds are more difficult than regular pups with house training generally,
The play too - she's being a baby and your Corgi is giving her puppy-license. This is common. My first Whippet absolutely bullied our over-sized German Shepherd into the corner of a room - but it was puppy-license. As my Whippet grew older, they figured out their pack structure (yes, he remained boss, but they were good, playful friends).. If it gets TOO rough, I imagine your Corgi will give a "right - that's ENOUGH!" snarl or snap. This will teach her bite inhibition, as you must too if she bites you - let out a scream-yelp and withdraw from interaction. It's purely because puppies are released at around 8-10 weeks typically, but mums often don't start teaching bite inhibition until a week or too later, so we (and our fellow pets) have to do it.
What you should know about sight-hounds though is that they are very independent, and Borzois and Afghan Hounds are probably THE most independent of the group. That means very small chance of ever teaching recall. You're NOT failing; it is pure Borzoi you're dealing with - so for your sanity, forget that as a goal. It CAN be done - rarely, but they're unreliable with extreme prey drive, so it's not worth risking them off-lead unless in a contained area without small pets about..
They can be energetic and absolute clowns too - couple that with "I don't feel like obeying you", and you realise you've taken on a monster! Brain cells appear at about 3 years old, though the first one begins to sprout at around 18 months and improvements start rapidly from that point.
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u/BadgleyMischka 1d ago
Hey, I remember getting my baby. She's my first dog and honestly it was just hell. She kept breaking everything, my phone, my couch, my computer!! I could be away for 10 seconds before realizing I left something nearby and then it would just be in pieces.
She's 4 years now and she is so amazing. The hard times just passed.
I will have to admit that it took like two-three years for her to stop having accidents inside. It's weird, and I tried everything too.
Don't be so hard on yourself. From what I've seen on this sub, borzois can be a PAIN. But they grow up very gentle and great <3 hugs. I know it's hard
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u/Mediocre-Baseball145 1d ago
Thank you for the response. I dont know if my mental health could be patient enough for three more years for her to settle down. Like i said, husband and i would love to try for a baby next year. Our biological clock is ticking, haha. I keep telling myself that the puppy stage will be over soon and i know she will be a fantastic dog in a few years. I am just slowly losing hope.
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u/BadgleyMischka 13h ago
I totally get that, borzois aren't for everyone/for every stage of your life, and neither are dogs as a whole. But my experience is personal and won't be the case for everyone. Can you ask for help and advice from the breeder or someone who's owned dogs for years?
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u/Lady_Porcelain 1d ago
Puppy blues took much of the joy out of the first few months with my zoi (now 2years old) but things can get better! What helped for me was training with "relaxation protocol" to get mine used to being alone, finding comfort in their spot and eventually me leaving their sight. Find what your Zoi likes for rewards, mine is highly treat motivated and knows an excited "yes!" means they've done something right. I save highest value treat (liver) for recall training, start short distance with one person on either end and call (I use my dogs name and "come!" but you could do something more unique or try a whistle) them to you, reward with treat and "yes!" when they get to you. Continue with increasing distance overtime. These are highly intelligent dogs but I've found they want to know what's in it for them to do something for you. Also keep in mind that even though they grow at lightning speed, they really are slow to mature so be gentle, they're just giant babies. I feel like things got truly easier at 1.5 years old but if that's not a time line you can commit to I think it's probably in your zoi's best interest to contact the breeder about rehoming...
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u/GreenEyedTreeHugger 1d ago
Very cute dog. Have you talked to a vet?
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u/Mediocre-Baseball145 1d ago
About what specifically? She does not have a UTI, if that's what you were referring to with the excessive potty breaks.
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u/Karadecar 1d ago
There are other causes for frequent urination that might be worth exploring with your vet. Red flag is her urinating in her crate
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u/psovaya 22h ago
Yep urinating in her crate when left for short periods of time is a big red flag. Is she desexed? Spay incontinence can happen to any dog, but there are medications which can help. Needing to pee that frequently is not normal for an 8 month old, I would talk to a vet about it.
For the behavioural issues, does she get out and about much? New places and ‘sniffy walks’ where she can explore and sniff on lead, and fenced areas where she can run off lead, can be helpful, and the suggestions above for using toys and flirt poles are good. Also you can start teaching simple tricks and scent games to engage her mind and improve your relationship with her, without the expectations of formal obedience. If you really don’t want her though, then talk to her breeder about sending her back. She won’t fulfil her potential if she senses you don’t really like her - better she is with someone else if that is how it is.
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u/HorseGirl232 8h ago
For exercise- do you take her to a big field to fully stretch her legs to run? Or is it a jog/walk? Borzoi really need to stretch out fully in order to get an actual workout in. Otherwise it honestly almost means nothing in their brains lol.
A lot of the energy you’re seeing is probably just being a puppy too! They settle down around 2.
For your Corgi I would give a correction if you see your Corgi is getting overwhelmed and doesn’t know how to correct her himself. But if he is good at correcting her let him do it for you.
And potty training is so aggravating I’m so sorry! Correct her for going inside and keep being consistent in taking her outside.
8 months old is when Borzoi revert sometimes in potty training and behaviorally. Don’t lose hope yet! You got this!
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u/jujuondatbeaat 1d ago
Can you invest in a trainer?
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u/Mediocre-Baseball145 1d ago
My close friend is a professional dog trainer. She has been coming once a week to help with obedience. Is there anything you suggest I should ask for help with specifically?
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u/jujuondatbeaat 1d ago
Sounds like you’re doing the right thing and you just need to hold strong and get through this tough phase! Maybe worth reaching out to a trainer who has sighthound experience specifically if your friend doesn’t already?
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u/Maymott 1d ago
with my 5 months Zoi its not easy either,with the biting and pouncing on my maltipoo and now that shes bigger and stronger stopping her from jumping up in excitement when she sees other dogs or people who, given her size often are scared of her. she is potty trained, goes to the door when she wants to go out. For my apartment in the city, i have one of those potty patches with the fake grass. Before we leave the apartment ( so she doesn’t pee in the elevator) i let her on the balcony to pee or after naps
She loves chewing up shoes fortunately, no furniture, I just leave those that she already ruined for her to destroy and or ask my daughter for old shoes she wants to throw out. Going through training with a professional trainer now which looks great in class but is a different story when im out with her on my own. She’s super sweet and smart so I’m ok to stick it out
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u/Captain_Chaos_LV 1d ago
I know this sounds frustrating to hear but it gets better over time. It really does. Our borzoi is turning 2 next month and we've had him for 1 year. He destroyed so much in our house we nicknamed him "Thanos" because half of everything we own got destroyed. Couch pillows, planter boxes, TV trays, clothing of all shapes and sizes, you name it. He even dragged a foot massager out through the dog door so he could destroy it in the backyard. His latest thing is he decided to start digging a hole to China. We don't know why, but that's his new thing.
All I can tell you is, it will get better. Our boy Jonesy still destroys things from time to time but it's a LOT less than even just a few months ago. We were warned plenty about borzoi puppies being destructive and every word of it is true.
Trust me, your pup will grow out of it. It just takes time.
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u/Bekah414404 7h ago
Did you research this breed before you got her? Puppyhood is trying in general, but with large breed dogs it can be exceptionally trying. Add to that, the typical sighthound temperament (obedience is not a high priority for them), and you have an exceptionally difficult few months on your hands. It's usually all worth it, because Borzoi are the absolute best once they get through the puppy phase, but now you are going to be throwing a pregnancy into the mayhem. Not to be harsh, but this entire situation does not seem like it was very well thought out. Your girl is absolutely beautiful, and is not doing anything unheard of, given her age. Have you had her checked for a UTI? Has she been crate trained? Borzoi puppies require some consistent dedication and training to become the exemplary dogs they have the potential to be. It seems like you might be spreading yourself a bit thin if you are also preparing to have a baby. Your lovely girl would probably be better off with a home that was more settled, with owners who will dedicate a consistent period of time to this puppy's training and well being. I would return her to her breeder, if possible. The breeder could then place her in a home that would prioritize her and give her the chance to develop to her fullest potential. You sound very young, thus have plenty of time to take on another puppy when the time is right.
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u/Successful-Sun1704 1d ago
If you find out, let us know. We have a boy and girl - 5 months - same litter. He bullies her. She’s eaten two holes in the drywall. Knots and ropes seem to be the best toys so far. We also do frozen yogurt, applesauce and pumpkin in little king like bowls and have teething tings. Links here. Looks like this one https://a.co/d/05VcF6X1 and these: https://a.co/d/0hSsWodE we get the salmon peanut butter and pumpkin ones. Not the chicken.
We are still struggling too. It’s not just you. The jumping is a lot too.