Black Russian Terrier

Find the perfect family dog

  You may have to wait to find that perfect puppy. Take this time to do your homework. Learn as much as possible about the breed, because the Black Russian Terrier isn’t a dog that should be purchased without thorough consideration and the agreement of all members of the family.
  Attend a dog show near you (we can help you find one if you’d like) to see the Black Russian Terriers in action. We recommend you contact various breeders about their dogs. Breeders will schedule time to meet with you and introduce you to their dogs, and will ask many questions about your home and your family.
  Puppies are cute and extremely energetic. You must have the time to dedicate to raising the puppy, providing consistent training, and mental and social stimulation. This is the best way to ensure your puppy will grow into a stable and calm adult who will be your best friend.
  All dogs deserve a Forever Home. Unfortunately, Black Russian Terriers are occasionally surrendered due to divorce, remarriage, a move etc. Please consider adopting an older BRT that desperately needs a home.

Confident and courageous, the Black Russian Terrier also favors owners with an appealing softer side.

  The Black Russian Terrier, originally called the Black Terrier and now known by a variety of names, among them the Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier and Russian Black Terrier, is one of the youngest breeds in the world, dating back only to the 1950s. So successful has its history been that its popularity has earned it the moniker "The Black Pearl of Russia", while many enthusiasts simply refer to the breed as the "Blackie."The short, fascinating history of this breed is admirable and has been remarkably well documented since its beginnings. It has been said that "necessity is the mother of invention," and it is true to say that the Black Russian Terrier was born of dire nacessity. Like most European countries at the close of World War II, Russia needed to rebuild itself in order to achieve both social and economic regrowth, for it was a country in ruin. The great country suffered severe losses not only amoung its people but also among its animals, and the most severely decimated of these animals were dogs.
  Many breeds of dog were involved in the makeup of the Black Russian Terrier, most of these having been selected from the few that had survived the war in Russia. However, some, such as the Giant Schnauzer, were improved from occupied territories. The other breeds that are familiar names to us are the Moscow Newfoundland, Moscow Great Dane and Brudasty Hound, the latter made up from the Airedale Terrier and Russian Hound.
  Also used was the Moscow Watchdog, which had among its ancestry the St.Bernard and the Skewbold Hound. Another breed employed was the Moscow Diver, also know as the Moscow Water Dog and Moscow Retriever, a little known breed derived from the Newfoundland, Caucasian Sheepdog and Eastern European Sheepdog.

Personality:

  Very courageous, self-confident, calm and stable. A highly intelligent thinker who learns because he wants to please and because the work is interesting. Keenly observant. Can be stubborn, but does not respond well to force. Requires training or can become dominant and insistent. Slow to mature; the protective instinct appears at the age of one and a half to two years, and from that point on, the dog will protect family, home, farm, everything. Will try to take care of his owner both physically and with emotional support. This excellent guardian will warn you of the approach of any stranger. Will take cues about how to behave towards particular strangers from the way the owner acts towards them, but will remain always watchful when strangers are present, no matter how many times the person comes to the house. The BRT may try to protect your children from their friends; never leave a BRT unsupervised with children. May also try to herd children. BRTs are good as farm guards because they are watchful, tend to stay within their territory, and are gentle with farm animals. They are different than many guard dogs in that they need to be with their families. This is not a kennel dog. If left alone too much, the BRT can become aggressive. This breed's temperament has softened over the last 15 years, so they are becoming more comfortable with children than they once were. Extensive socialization is the key to a well-adjusted BRT. Socialize early and thoroughly with other dogs and people, otherwise this breed may not tolerate handling by anyone outside the family. Though not usually the one to pick a fight when out walking, male same-sex and dominance aggression has been reported, in or out of the same household.
Black Russian Terriers are excelent in competitive obedience, agility, schutzhund, will track, guard livestock, home, business, some make good therapy dogs. They love swimming, pulling sleds in winter, running with your bike or hiking with the family.
  The BRT is sensitive to their owner. It means that the dog is not likely to challenge their owner.
  Protectiveness is the ability of the dog to use force to protect a person or property from a threat.
They are wary with strangers but gentle with its family, including children. They loves human contact and should not be neglected for long periods of time.
It has a very strong protective instinct and, when threatened, will not hesitate to fight to protect its family.
The Russian Terrier is dominant by nature. It's better not to have another large dominant dog living in the same house. They are fine with smaller, non-dominant dogs and other pets, including cats. These dogs love to please their owners, are easy to train and rarely bark for no reason.

Black Russian Terrier will demand attention through several methods, like the foot or a head butt. With other animals in their “pack” they will attempt to control the actions of those around them. They demonstrate no type of rank behavior.

They are definitely protective, more of people than property, but protective of both. Given a choice they will protect the person first. If they identify a threat they work to eliminate it. This can be a problem if they are not taught to identify a true threat. Because the BRT doesn’t have a rank bone in its body you have some more latitude than with a rank dog. Everything you do is a question of degree and if the dog is starting to get out of control you can clamp down a bit. This can also become a problem depending on the training and I will explain that later.
I suggest you to start train your BRT puppy from very first day when he/she got to your house and you can build so good relationship between you and your dog. From the very first day you have to show your puppy that you are the "pack lieder" and he is the follower. It will avoid so many serious problem on a future. If you will not be "pack lider" your dog will take that pisition for you.

Behavior:

Children:
Good with children only when raised with them from puppyhood or from the young age was socialized with friends kids, own or neighbors. Friendliness: Very wary of strangers, highly protective.Trainability: Easy to train. Independence: Very dependent - needs people a lot.Dominance: High Other Pets: Good with other pets if raised with them from puppyhood.Combativeness: Can be a bit dog aggressive. Noise: Average barking.

Makeup of the BRT

According to Moscow's Dr.Eugene Tisgelnitsky, today's Black Russian Terrier (BRT) is made up of 30% Giant Schnauzer, 30% Airedale Terrier and 30% Rottweiler, and the remaining 10% is a combination of Newfoundland, Caucasian Ovcharka and East European Shepherd and Great Dane.
Developed in Russia, the Black Russian Terrier was bred to guard and protect.
With their massive frames (males stand between 27 and 30 inches and can weigh up to 130 pounds), they can easily take down a man. But they are not aggressive, preferring to knock down opponents rather than attack, says Black Russian Terrier Club of America Presedent Jim Locke.
"They aren't dog aggressive, " Locke says. "They are not people aggressive. They are laid-back."
One of the youngest dog breeds, the Black Russian Terrier was introduced into the United State in 1991. Owners curently show it in the American Kennel Club's Miscellaneouse Class, the dress rehearsal for full recognition. Owners can also record Black Russian Terrier in the AKC's Foundation Stock Service, a registry designed to help rare breed fanciers monitor and develop a breed.
Black Russian Terrier's are not happy in a yard alone. They need companionship.
This "calm, confident, and courageouse" breed, now in it's 12th to 14th generation, works well with an owner who wants companionship, is equally loyal, and has time to spend with it.
This is very elegant, personable, stable dog.

Talents:

Watchdog, Guarding, Police, Search and Rescue, Tracking, Retrieving, Sledding, Agility, Obedience, Schutzhund, Tricks, Conformation and Protection.

Grooming

If brushed regularly. Russian Black Terriers not sheding breed.
For best look, brush for at least 30 minutes once a week. Trim the hair under the paws and in the ear ducts. Professional grooming is recommended every 8 weeks or so.