Description of a Taigan.

The Taigan is today very rare and the total number of the pure breed is estimated at about 1000. It is therefore fortunate that this highly interesting dog has beensaved. It is not quite clear whether the Taigan is a type of Tazi which was accustomed to hard living conditions and which type became stable in the course of time, or whether he is an independent race of Greyhound.

If on one side the Taigan is similar in many parts to the Tazi, on the other side, the build and thickness of hair is similar to that of the Afghan. He shows, nevertheless, individual characteristics. His coat is wavy and coarse, the tail not very long, thin, fine and spirally formed at the end, the last tufts overgrown and the ears hanging and lying against the head and deep in contrast to the Tazi whose ears are set at a higher level, sticking out.

Finally the Taigan is an unusually strong built Greyhound with very strong bones. He is to be seen in several colours, black, red, grey and gold, white plain and spotted. The pure Taigan is never dappled. He is an excellent hunting dog, greatly respected by the Khirghizes. The Taigan is, with the Borzoi, the only Russian Greyhound with the strength, courage and keeness to hunt the fox.