Black Russian Terrier breed: the large-sized protector

When talking about terriers, most people first think of small-sized hunting terriers. However, this perception can be deceptive. If we consider, for example, American Staffordshire Terriers, they are terriers too, yet not small. The Black Russian Terrier follows this trend as well.

The Black Russian Terrier is an unstoppable guardian-protector, designed to be the “perfect working dog,” strong and fierce. It might not be exactly as originally envisioned due to its outstanding human-oriented nature. However, it is intelligent, calm, balanced, yet powerful with excellent work ethic. Its name can be misleading because among its ancestors, it perhaps resembles terriers the least, both in appearance and temperament. It more prominently displays the impressive look of the giant schnauzer, and in character, it is much calmer and more deliberate than its terrier counterparts. It’s essential not to forget that its overall calmness does not mean it is harmless, as the breed was specifically developed for guardian-protective duties. In reality, it differs from the initial ideas only in being less independent from its owner, hence it is less commonly used as a working dog in Western countries.

History

The Black Russian Terrier is a relatively new breed, and the breeding is started after the Second World War. The Red Star kennel was established in 1924. It was part of the Central Military Dog Training School and was created with the goal of breeding climate-resistant, resilient, strong, yet easily manageable working dogs. Despite numerous attempts that ultimately ended in failure, the Moscow Watchdog was developed from these experimental crosses. In 1952, the Red Star kennel embarked on the breeding of a new breed (at least the first litter was born around this time). They had various expectations and allegedly considered 17 breeds, from which they eventually succeeded in creating the Black Russian Terrier. What was crucial for the breeders was manageability, trainability, work ethic, a healthy balance in behavior (ferocious during work but otherwise calm), adaptability to climatic conditions, a large size, black color, and a coat that covers the eyes.

Their starting point was a Giant Schnauzer male named Roy, along with numerous females of various breeds. Essentially, in the beginning, they progressed somewhat on a trial-and-error basis, aiming to incorporate breeds into the mix that, in temperament and appearance, would contribute to creating a dog that met their expectations. This is where Airedale Terriers, Rottweilers, and a previously created breed in the kennel’s history, the Moscow Water Dog (which has since become extinct), came into play. For the latter’s breeding, they mainly used Newfoundland, East European Shepherd, and Caucasian Shepherd, so a bit of each ended up in the Black RussianTerrier. The first breed standard was established in 1958, distinguishing between two coat variations. Long-haired individuals were more favored by those attending exhibitions, while the shorter-haired ones proved to be much more practical for fieldwork, the original purpose for which they were bred.

They are specifically good guard-protector dogs; in the 1950s, they served as guards for borders, military fortifications, and prisons. To this day, some individuals outside of Russia are assigned similar tasks, but most lead a more withdrawn life, guarding the family home or participating successfully in dog sports and exhibitions. The FCI officially recognized the breed in 1983.

Breed standard

At first glance, it is evident that this is a robust breed, as it is quite large. Its height is 64-72 cm, and its weight is 38-42 kg. In addition, its square shape and dense coat contribute visually to its impressive appearance. The color is black, the coat is moderately long with a coarse texture, and it is longer on the chin and facial area, forming a beard and mustache. It has a straight back, deep chest, and short, wide loins, along with column-like limbs. The hind paws are slightly larger than the front ones, but all are rounded and large-sized, with closed toes and black claws.

Its neck is long and muscular, although often not visible due to the fur. The head is elongated, the facial part is broad, and the skull is somewhat convex. Its ears are set high, hanging down, and triangular. The tail used to be docked for a long time, shortened, but nowadays, it is left long. There is no correct position; some dogs have a straight tail, while others have it curled upwards or in a crescent shape. This does not affect the evaluation of a dog participating in a show, as in its home country, they still often dock tails. According to the FCI standard published in 2010, it belongs to the II. group, in the category of Pinschers, Schnauzers – Molossoids – Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs.

Character

The impressive Black Russian Terrier is typically very intelligent, a good problem solver, balanced, and confident. It is a breed bred for guardian-protective tasks, but without provocation and with proper training, it is usually not aggressive and can easily integrate into family life. It is decisive and does not shy away from necessary conflicts; its strong protective instincts typically manifest around the age of 1. While it can be considered a one-person dog, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t value other family members. It is highly attentive to its surroundings and quickly notices if something is amiss, reacting promptly to perceived threats. Similarly, it assesses situations where someone is vulnerable and supports and protects its charges.

Training requires strong hands and experience because, although human-centered, it can become willful and dominant easily. For this reason, it is often not recommended for first-time dog owners, as consistency and an appropriate level of firmness are crucial (though punitive methods are not advisable, as they can be stubborn). Establishing boundaries and rules is important for every dog, but for a Black RussianTerrier, it is particularly crucial due to its size, instincts, and strength. Ideally, this should begin in puppyhood, including socialization efforts to introduce the newcomer to various experiences.

A new dog owner may not be certain how to start dog training, and no matter how much they’ve researched, putting theory into practice might not come as naturally. They might not know how to interact with a dog, what to pay attention to, how to be consistent, strict yet kind, positive, and rewarding. Without these skills, dealing with a dog of such character can be challenging, even if the dog’s appearance is adorable. However, the dog learns quickly and enjoys having tasks, so with proper attention, it can become an excellent companion fairly quickly.

It loves to move, is energetic, but not tireless. Generally, it’s satisfied with 30-40 minutes of more intense exercise per day, but it also appreciates longer, gentler forms of activity. It enjoys swimming, running, playing, walking, and hiking with its owner. With a balanced life, it can easily sleep through the whole day, depending on its age. When kept in the right conditions, it doesn’t cause destruction, but if it gets bored, it will find ways to entertain itself. To get the most out of this outstanding working dog, choosing a dog sport can further enrich its life.

Ideal environment

The Black Russian Terrier is highly affectionate, particularly sociable, and doesn’t enjoy spending its days alone. It adapts well to new life situations. While it’s not typically recommended for apartment living, if it gets everything it desires and doesn’t lack physical and mental stimulation, it can cope well indoors throughout the day.

Around children, it is cautious and plays very attentively, generally showing no aggression towards the little ones. With proper training, the expansion of the family is not a problem, and if someone isn’t ready for parenting but would welcome another pet, there’s no need to worry. The Black Russian Terrier gets along well with cats, too, treating them gently despite its size. Of course, education plays a significant role in this, and socialization should not be overlooked. Being a guardian-protective breed, it excels in home guarding and personal protection. However, it tends to be wary of strangers and may act more assertively than desired, making it crucial to teach basic commands as early as possible.

Care

It’s advisable to brush the coat once or twice a week since it is double-layered, and the outer layer is prone to matting. Occasionally, the owner may need to use scissors to shape protruding strands, especially around the facial area, mustache, and beard. Maintenance of nails, ears, and teeth is essential for the well-being of the dog, so don’t forget about these aspects.

Common health problems

Fortunately, despite its size, it generally has few health problems and is considered a healthy breed. However, breeders carefully screen puppies and breeding animals for certain conditions to maintain this health status. They may be prone to the following:

• Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy (JLPP): usually, it manifests before the age of 6 months. Unfortunately, every case ends in death very early. The puppy cannot control its larynx, which does not close properly, leading to breathing difficulties. Additionally, eating is challenging because food often enters their windpipe. This leads to pneumonia, which is often the cause of their demise. If the dog survives this, the torment is not over because neuropathy (damage to the nerve fibers of the peripheral nervous system, preventing proper communication between the nervous system and the affected body part) appears in the hind and then front limbs, initially causing limb weakness and eventually paralysis.
• Malignant Hyperthermia: briefly, this disorder is characterized by excessively high body temperature and abnormal muscle contractions. This set of symptoms appears in episodes and can often be fatal.
• Urinary Stones
• Bloat (Gastric torsion): unfortunately, this is the curse of large breed dogs; the risk is much higher in them.