Whenever a rare breed gains viral fame, rescue networks brace for the fallout. The "Dalmatian effect" of the 1990s and the French Bulldog boom of the 2010s demonstrated the dangers of sudden, media-driven demand. Following the peak of the Borzoi meme cycle between 2023 and 2024, regional sighthound rescue coordinators reported an initial wave of unsuitable ownership inquiries.
Impulse buyers often assume that an online meme behaves like a Golden Retriever. When reality sets in, an 80-pound dog that sheds substantial silk coat, exhibits aloof behavior around strangers, and cannot be trusted off-leash at public parks, buyers experience regret. Fortunately, reputable Borzoi Club of America preservation breeders maintain rigorous screening processes, enforcing multi-year waitlists and strict return-to-breeder contracts that shielded the breed from industrial puppy mills.
The trend also generated positive developments. Scientific attention shifted toward dolichocephalic breeds as researchers grew increasingly alarmed by the respiratory crises plaguing flat-faced dogs. Studies comparing nasal cavity heat dissipation and airway resistance showed that long-snouted dogs process airflow efficiently, avoiding the chronic soft palate collapse seen in extreme brachycephalic breeds. The meme opened a broader public conversation on canine welfare, prompting prospective owners to think twice about flat-faced breeding trends.