Hortaya Borzaya vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison

Hortaya Borzaya vs Alaskan Husky - Breed ComparisonHortaya Borzaya is originated from Russia but Alaskan Husky is originated from United States. Hortaya Borzaya may grow 19 cm / 8 inches higher than Alaskan Husky. Hortaya Borzaya may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Alaskan Husky. Both Hortaya Borzaya and Alaskan Husky has same life span. Both Hortaya Borzaya and Alaskan Husky has same litter size. Both Hortaya Borzaya and Alaskan Husky requires Low maintenance.

History

hortaya borzaya - historyThe 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.

alaskan husky - historyAlaskan Husky is created to be a working dog who can do many different jobs like hauling logs, transport, supplies delivery, racing dogs, etc. Mushers created this breed. Alaskan Husky is created as a mix of Inuit dog, Siberian Husky, Greyhound and German pointers, and it is very difficult to find pure breed Alaskan Husky, and they are not recognized by any Kennel club.

Description

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.

alaskan husky puppy - descriptionAlaskan Husky average weight depends from dog to dog, but on average male weights 21-25kg, while their height is moderate size. Females are slightly smaller than males, and they can weight 17-19kg.

A lifespan of Alaskan Husky depends, again, from dog to dog, but it is 10-15 years. Of course, if you are taking care of your dog, they can live much longer.

Litter Size of average female is 4-10 puppies.

Characteristics

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.

alaskan husky dog - characteristicsAlaskan Husky is the best dog for the active people or families. They are bred to be working dogs. This breed is not created for it looks or pedigree, but this breed is bred purely to help with various tasks. They love being around the family, and they are very happy and cheerful. Alaskan Husky is not good watchdogs because they love everyone, including strangers. They are highly intelligent breed, but it can be tricky to train them sometimes. You must be a leader who makes decisions because if you are not confident, they will not see the reason for listening to you. The best way of training your dog would be with patience and firm, decisive manner. The old-fashioned way of training that includes punishment is not recommendable. They do not respond well to that. Training with awards is the best way to teach your dog. Alaskan Husky is a very active dog, so they are not very good for apartments. Although, you can have them in apartments but only if they have active walks and exercises. They love jogging, and they can be excellent buddies in any activity. They will love all the animals but it is important for them to socialize from the early age.

Health Problems

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.

alaskan husky puppies - health problemsThis breed has no any specific health issues. However, as any breed they can develop some issues that are related to genetics. It is very important to discuss with owners that you are getting the dog from, and if they are not ready to show medical records or proofs that dogs are healthy then you should be extra careful. If you do not have a lot of experience in getting a puppy or an adult dog, you should bring someone who has more experience. Again, this breed is very healthy and if you give them adequate caring with regular vet checks you will have a healthy and a happy dog for a long time.

Caring The Pet

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.

Feeding the Alaskan Husky

alaskan husky dogs - caringFeeding Alaskan Husky, or basically any other dog depends on how active your dog is, and how big it is. Basically, if it is big and very active you will have to give it more food. On average, Alaskan Husky can eat 3-4 cups of high-quality dry food and that should be enough to keep them well-fed and healthy. You can always add vegetables, oil or fruits in their meal, but first, consult which additional food is the best for your dog. Carrots, broccoli, apples are always a good treat for any pet.

Feeding the puppy

Puppies eat more than an adult dog, so it would be perfect if you can divide small portions of food 3-5 times per day. It will help them develop into perfectly healthy adult dogs.

Grooming the Alaskan Husky

They are not very difficult to groom. Overall, Alaskan Husky does not need any special care, except twice a year during shed season. Then you have to brush them with a metal comb every day, but overall, occasional brushing and bathing when it is necessary is more than enough to have a healthy and perfectly groomed pet.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
Origin:
Russia
United States
Height Male:
65 - 75 cm
25 - 30 inches
48 - 56 cm
18 - 23 inches
Height Female:
61 - 71 cm
24 - 28 inches
41 - 49 cm
16 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 35 kg
39 - 78 pounds
21 - 25 kg
46 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 32 kg
35 - 71 pounds
17 - 19 kg
37 - 42 pounds
Life Span:
14 - 15 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Hort, Chortaja borzaja, Kурч, Kurtas Chortaj Hortaya Horty, Xорт, Hrt, Chort
Colors Available:
brown, black, white, red, piebald , brindle
Any color
Coat:
short yet dense
medium coat
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful
Affectionate, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Social, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Hard
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Border Collie vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. Sakhalin Husky vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  3. Alaskan Husky vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  4. Alaskan Husky vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  5. Alaskan Husky vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  6. Alaskan Husky vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Catahoula Leopard vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  8. German Pinscher vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  9. Portuguese Water Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  10. Puli vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  11. Griffon Bleu de Gascogne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  12. Borador vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  13. German Spaniel vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Canadian Eskimo Dog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  15. McNab vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  16. Porcelaine vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Finnish Lapphund vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  18. Berger Blanc Suisse vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  19. Griffon Nivernais vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Hokkaido vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  21. Petit Bleu de Gascogne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  22. Pumi vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  23. Griffon Fauve de Bretagne vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  24. Istrian Sheepdog vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  25. Jamthund vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  27. Saluki vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  28. Mountain Cur vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  29. Rajapalayam vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  30. Plott Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  31. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  32. Otterhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  33. Mudhol Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  34. Ibizan Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  35. Rampur Greyhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  36. Majestic Tree Hound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  37. Polish Hunting Dog vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  38. Segugio Italiano vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  39. Sloughi vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  40. Tasy vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  41. Treeing Walker Coonhound vs Hortaya Borzaya - Breed Comparison
  42. Hortaya Borzaya vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  43. Hortaya Borzaya vs Greyhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hortaya Borzaya vs Francais Blanc et Noir - Breed Comparison
  45. Hortaya Borzaya vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Hortaya Borzaya vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  47. Hortaya Borzaya vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  48. Hortaya Borzaya vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  49. Hortaya Borzaya vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  50. Hortaya Borzaya vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds