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The Borzoi once went by the name Russian Wolfhound and was prized by Russian nobility. The breed descends from the ancient Persian Greyhound (a Saluki ancestor) crossed with native Russian herdsmen's dogs. By the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917, the breed had become well established in the United States and Europe. Tall, graceful and loaded with power, the Borzoi can be aloof with strangers but devoted to its family. The American Kennel Club standard calls for bitches to be taller than 26 inches and males to be more than 28 inches at the shoulder. The Borzoi has a long, silky coat, usually white marked with lemon, tan, gray, brindle or black, although whole-colored dogs in these colors are sometimes seen. The coat is largely self-cleaning. When dry, most dirt brushes easily off a Borzoi's coat. Daily brushing prevents matting. The breed can adjust to urban life, seems to enjoy the challenge of lurecoursing and appreciates the chance to run, but this should be done in an enclosed area. Because of its size, the Borzoi is best suited to a large home with a yard. This sighthound may or may not alert you to people approaching the home. Gentle, patient training methods work best with the Borzoi, and it is likely to respond well to food rewards. In general, sighthounds are not rough-and-tumble children's dogs, but they can be a good choice for an older child interested in showing or other structured activities.