Soviet Wolfhound, also known as the Russian Wolfhound, is a breed of hunting dog developed for chasing wild animals in open areas, relying primarily on vision rather than smell for hunting.
This breed is a common sight hound, including the Taigan, Taz, the steppe hound of southern Russia and the Chortaiqi.
This breed is noble, tall and slender, but full of strength, extremely good at running; the lines of the body structure are smooth, with elegant and beautiful movements and postures. Males appear strong but not rough; females appear soft but not weak. It is polite to people and rarely barks. It is lively when active and quiet when still. It is not very patient with children, cold or unfriendly to strangers, and aggressive towards other dogs. It requires strict and gentle owners for training.
The Soviet Wolfhound, originating in the 14th century, is a breed of short-haired, sight-oriented hunting dog. It was initially developed to protect owners from local wolf attacks. This breed may be a crossbreed of the Saik dog, the Borzoi, and a Russian Shepherd dog.
In the Mongol invasion of Russia, this breed was brought to Russia and gradually adapted to the cold climate through crossbreeding with many local hunting dogs. It relies on its excellent vision for hunting, thus becoming the Soviet Wolfhound. Due to its elegant temperament, this breed was kept exclusively by nobles in Russia and often served as gifts exchanged among nobles. Using the Soviet Wolfhound for hunting has become a noble sport that represents social status in Russia. Even the renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy was a fan of this breed. Because both the royal family and the people love this elegant hunting dog, it was designated as the national dog of Russia.
In 1842, the Russian royal family gave a Soviet Wolfhound to Princess Alexandra of England. This was the first time this breed had left Russian territory and was exhibited at the first Crufts Dog Show in 1891. However, during the wars in Europe in the mid-19th century, many Soviet Wolfhounds were used for crossbreeding experiments, and only a few old breeds were preserved. People began to pay attention to the preservation of this ancient purebred.
In 1889, William Wade first brought a Soviet Wolfhound to the American continent, but this dog did not come from the breed's original country, Russia, but from England. Later, an American named C. Stedman Hanks finally brought back a purebred Soviet Wolfhound from Russia, and this breed began to spread in the United States.
Today, although the environment of Soviet Wolfhounds has changed significantly from the time of Imperial Russia, they still maintain their noble temperament. This noble hunting dog easily earns the love of its owners.
Soviet Wolfhounds are gentlemen, quiet, and do not bark. They can adapt to hot and cold climates and can become gentle and friendly companion dogs. However, they are not very patient with children and are indifferent or unfriendly towards strangers. They have an aggressive nature towards other dogs and require strict yet gentle training from their owners. It is best not to keep them if there are children or other dogs in the household.
The coat of this breed needs regular grooming. They are not willing to stay alone and require sufficient exercise to release their abundant energy. They are not suitable for busy professionals or students with limited free time.
1. Heart Disease
Dogs are prone to heart disease, which is often associated with obesity and old age. When a dog has heart disease, it may experience symptoms such as easy fatigue and difficulty breathing. Heart disease in dogs is difficult to detect, and often by the time the owner notices, the dog's condition is already critical.
2. Infectious Diseases
Distemper and parvovirus are common and highly fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are more susceptible to these diseases. Once infected, dogs may exhibit symptoms such as listlessness, decreased appetite, high body temperature, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney Disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease must be mentioned. The scary thing about kidney disease in dogs is that it often develops without noticeable signs, and by the time the owner realizes, more than 75% of the dog's kidney cells may have been damaged. Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs generally include blood in the urine, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasitic Infections
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms, as well as heartworms, are common parasitic infections in dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, main symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, diarrhea, presence of worms in the feces, and pale gums. On the other hand, heartworm is a parasite that lives in the dog's heart, and infected dogs may show symptoms such as decreased vitality, coughing, anemia, wheezing, and abdominal effusion.
5. Canine Pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but it usually occurs as a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract, bacterial infections, distemper virus infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal discharge, and elevated body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
Soviet Wolfhounds are noble and dignified, strong and brave, and energetic. They need enough opportunities to release their energy and really enjoy outdoor activities. They love running in fresh air, especially in slightly cooler temperatures. However, they must be kept on a leash during walks, or they may chase after other small animals.
These dogs are often affectionate only towards their owners and may not have much patience for children. They are indifferent or even unfriendly towards strangers and can be aggressive towards other dogs, so they require strict yet gentle training from their owners.
Soviet Wolfhounds have thick fur, and in hot weather, they need even more cool air to prevent them from getting too hot and being harmed by the intense sun.
1. Do not bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene conditions. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog a few more times, and in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its coat and skin!
2. Brush regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn, when seasonal shedding is more severe. To ensure good hair growth, regular brushing is an important step. Owners can use pet-specific brushes to help the dog remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the dog's hair growth. In addition to making the hair more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, owners can let the dog exercise, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.
4. Deworm
Poor coat condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body and compete for nutrients. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Deworming drugs can cause significant damage to the dog's stomach and intestines, so it is advisable to feed probiotics to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have a shiny coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for the dog and provides sufficient nutrients to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can feed the dog appropriate amounts of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.
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