Taigan

Also called Kyrgyz Taigan, Taigan Kyrgyz Sighthound, Kyrgyzskaya Borzaya

Rare breedShort profile

From Tian Shan mountains, Kyrgyzstan1

At a glance the quick version

fast, capable hunter

good nose as well as good eyesight

works well at high altitude

Coat and looks how to spot one

medium-length, slightly curly coat

A lean mountain sighthound with a moderate, softly waved coat that suits life at high altitude.1

Colourswhitefawn shadesgreyblack1

Personality what they are like

A capable, hardworking hunting companion that uses both sight and scent and will even retrieve game.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

High. A working sighthound bred to hunt over mountain country.1

The story where it all began

The Taigan is the traditional sighthound of Kyrgyz hunters in the high Tian Shan, used on everything from marmots and hares to foxes and wolves. Its numbers fell after the Soviet era ended, and the Russian Kennel Club now works to keep the breed going.1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Kyrgyz hunters often use Taigans together with golden eagles.1
2
Unusually for a sighthound, it also follows scent trails and retrieves game.1
3
It is a close cousin of the Tazy and the Saluki.1

Recognised by the official bits

Russian Kennel Club: Recognised nationally; also acknowledged by the Hunting Commission of Kyrgyzstan's environment ministry (per Wikipedia). Not recognised by the FCI1

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Taigan. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkevery 2 weeks
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year

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Kazakh Tazy

Saluki

Afghan Hound

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

Wikipedia: Taigan en.wikipedia.orgused for all fields

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.