Russian Black Terrier Breed description: Character & Co

Facts & Origin

What is the origin of the Black Russian Terrier?

This dog is a Cold War creation, developed in Moscow after World War II for military and police work. Its breeders started with a Giant Schnauzer and crossed it with other breeds such as.

the Airedale,
the Rottweiler.
the Moscow Retriever
the German Shepherd

The result was a large black dog with a protective temperament and a healthy dose of suspicion of strangers. Less than two decades ago, the black russian terrier was seen in small numbers at European and Scandinavian dog shows, but today the Russian black terrier ranks 135th among breeds registered by the AKC (American Kennel Club).

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Alternate Name	Black Russian Terrier, Chornyi Terrier, Русский чёрный терьер
Origin	Russia
Life expectancy	- years
Care requirements	-

Activity level	-
FCI group	Pinscher and Schnauzer type
AKC group	working group
KC group	working group

Attitude, character and temperament of the breed

What are the breed characteristics of the Black Russian Terrier?

The Black Russian Terrier was created by the Russian army for use as a guard dog in climates with extremely cold temperatures. Nowadays, he still performs his duties as a guard dog, but mainly in a family environment. He has many positive qualities, but he is not the easiest dog. If you want a calm, protective dog, you must be willing to do a lot of homework, put a lot of effort into training and socialization every day, and provide him with exercise throughout his life. This terrier is intelligent, but like any dog with a working background, he is an independent thinker. You will need to start early if you want to teach him to think of you as a pack leader. Therefore, the Russian Terrier is not a suitable choice for a first-time dog owner.

What are typical traits of the Russian terrier?

A Russian black terrier is calm but has a strong protective instinct. He is able to distinguish between situations that require protective action and those that do not. However, he is not innately this way. Early and frequent socialization is important to prevent your BRT from becoming overly suspicious or fearful of new developments and people. They are active and athletic and enjoy long walks, jogs and hikes (always on a leash!). It is important to give a BRT a job to do, from his daily training exercises to participating in a dog sport such as agility, obedience, rally or tracking. The Black Russian Terrier is best suited to a home with a large yard surrounded by a solid fence that is at least 6 feet high. Black Russian Terriers have a high prey drive and will chase other animals, but if raised together they can learn to live peacefully with domestic cats or smaller dogs. They are gentle and tolerant of small children when raised with them, but because of their size, they need to be supervised so they don't accidentally knock over small children.

Health and breeding information

What are typical diseases of the Russian Terrier?

All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit diseases. However, you should avoid breeders who do not offer a health guarantee for the puppies, who tell you that the breed has no known problems, or who isolate the puppies from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and upfront about health problems in the breed and the regularity with which they occur in their lines. Black Russian Terriers do have some health issues that can be a problem, such as urinary tract stones.

What to consider when breeding Russian black terriers?

If you are thinking of breeding Russian black terriers, be sure to check the relationship of the breeding stock, as the breeding community for this breed is still quite small and so inbreeding can occur.

What does a Russian Black Terrier cost?

You should expect to pay at least 800 Euros for a puppy of this breed. Top breeders can charge more, prices start at 1.500 Euro upwards.

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Appearance and coat of the Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier's coat does not shed much, but it will form mats and tangles if not thoroughly brushed once a week. Professional grooming is recommended every six weeks. Other grooming requirements include cleaning his ears and trimming his nails as needed, as well as bathing him when he is dirty.