Black Russian Terrier

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT
fast facts

About Black Russian Terrier

Weight
80-140 lb
Lifespan
10-14 years
Group
AKC Working Group
Best Suited For
Families with children, active single, houses with yards, farms and rural areas
Temperament
Energetic, confident, brave, hardy
Comparable Breeds
Bouvier des Flandres, Giant Schnauzer
Height
26-28 inches
ADVERTISEMENT

Black Russian Terrier Basics

Also known as Stalin’s dog or Sobaka Stalina, the Black Russian Terrier is a low-maintenance and hard working dog. Developed by the post World War II Soviet Union, the Black Russian Terrier or BRT, is not a true terrier, and is instead categorized as a working dog.

The BRT is a fairly large dog and has a powerfully built body. Both its forelegs and hindquarters are well-boned and muscular, and end in large, padded feet. The BRT’s head is fairly large and block shaped and is equipped with a powerful set of teeth that meet in a scissor bite. The BRT’s body is covered in a thick double coat. The outer-coat is coarse and wiry while the thick undercoat is soft to the touch. The BRTs coat is black and sometimes has a few stray grey hairs. Brown or white markings are considered to be a fault.

BRTs are extremely intelligent and self-assured dogs. Bred primarily as guard dogs, they have extremely strong protective instincts and are devoted to their owners. Their strong personalities do however require owners with a thorough understanding of dog psychology and leadership.

The Black Russian Terrier is a low-maintenance and hard working dog.

Origin

The Black Russian Terrier was developed by the former USSR’s state owned Red Star Kennel. The breed was developed specifically to serve as a military/working dog. The primary goal when developing the BRT was to create a low-maintenance and robust dog that was also high-spirited and able to adapt to various tasks and climatic conditions. Until 1957 the BRT was bred solely by the Red Star Kennel, and the kennel bred specimens, although similar in temperament and character, would vary in appearance. However, once the Black Russian Terrier was made available to civilian breeders, efforts were taken to standardize their “look” while at the same time retaining their temperament and physical capabilities.

Pedigree

ADVERTISEMENT

It is believed that the breeding stock used to develop the Black Russian Terrier came mainly from the USSR occupied territories. Their pedigree includes crossings of over 20 distinct breeds such as the Airedale Terrier, Caucasian Ovcharka, Newfoundland, Giant and Standard Schnauzer and the Moscow Water Dog.

Food/Diet

Black Russian Terriers should be fed on 3.5-4 cups of high quality dog food divided into two meals a day.

Black Russian Terriers are extremely intelligent and eager to please and are fairly easy to train.

Training

Black Russian Terriers are extremely intelligent and eager to please and are fairly easy to train. They do however have strong personalities and should be handled with a loving but firm hand from an early age. BRT puppies are inquisitive and playful and some adults too display this extreme curiosity. Black Russian Terriers often excel at various obedience competitions and dog sports such as agility and Schutzhund training.

Weight

Fully grown Black Russian Terriers weigh between 80 to 140 pounds.

Temperament and Behavior

ADVERTISEMENT

Black Russian Terriers were bred to have a hard work ethic and therefore need a “meaningful” job to lead a happy and balanced life. They are also a highly energetic breed and require at least an hour of rigorous exercise each day. When not provided with an outlet to release their excess energy Black Russian Terriers can become extremely hyperactive and develop various behavioral issues.

Black Russian Terriers have a very strong guarding instinct that kicks in around two years of age. They are extremely brave and highly devoted to their owners. They are also naturally suspicious of strangers and do not take well to intruders. However, they rarely bark excessively unless they feel that it is absolutely required. These qualities make the BRT an excellent modern-day guard dog.

BRTs also get along extremely well with children and love to frolic and play with them. They also get along well with other household pets and animals. However, problems can arise when housing a Black Russian Terrier with another large and dominant dog as BRTs have very strong personalities. Therefore it is imperative that owners be able to maintain dominance and leadership over both dogs.

Common Health Problems

The Black Russian Terrier is a fairly healthy breed of dog. However, they do suffer from a few hereditary conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia and Hyperuricosuria.

Life Expectancy

When well cared for, a Black Russian Terrier will often enjoy a lifespan of 10-14 years.

Exercise Requirements

A responsible BRT owner will ensure that his or her dog gets at least an hour of rigorous exercise each day. These dogs were bred to be hard workers and need to drain their high levels of energy in order to lead a happy and well-balanced life.

Black Russian Terriers were bred to have a hard work ethic and therefore need a “meaningful” job to lead a happy and balanced life.

AKC

The Black Russian Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in July, 2004.

The club has this to say about the breed: “Large, robust and powerful, the Black Russian Terrier (BRT) was developed in Russia as a guard dog. Despite its name, the Black Russian is a member of the Working Group and not the Terrier Group. Their tousled double coat must be coal black and coarse in texture.”

Coat

A Black Russian Terriers coat should be brushed 2-3 times a week and requires a trim at least twice a year. Owners should take care to remove any dead hair from the dog’s ear ducts and to trim the hair under its paws. BRTs are light shedders.

Puppies

BRT puppies mature fairly slowly in comparison to other breeds. However it is important that training and socializing begins at a very early age. BRTs have excellent memories and often retain various lessons and experiences from puppyhood.

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/alazor; dutchmasterdutchie/Flickr; Pleple2000/Wikimedia

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

7 Ways a Shelter Dog Can Improve Your Life

If you want to experience the joys of owning a dog but aren''t sure that buying a puppy is the right choice for you, think about adopting a shelter dog.

Sco-Shi

The scruffy little Sco-Shi brings together the feisty personality of the Shih Tzu and the tenacious nature of the Scottish Terrier for a loyal family pooch.

Two-Faced Kitty Pulls an About-Face With Copycat Face-ade!

Now here''s a look you don''t see everyday. This adorable little two-faced cat has scientists wondering if she is a true ''Chimera.''

Best Dog Crate Pads

Dog crate pads offer comfort and make the crate more inviting for your pet. Read on to find out which are worth your money!

How To Keep Pets Safe From Coyotes

With housing developments expanding into wooded areas, it''s not uncommon to hear of coyote attacks on pets. Here''s how to protect your furry loved ones.

Forget The Gym – MyFitDog’s Best Fit Friend KickStarter Project Wi

Want to get in better shape with your dog? It would be great to have something that would keep me on track - kind of like MyFitDog''s Best Fit Friend.

Gingerbread Dog Treat Recipe

We’ve checked our list twice and found out we had a lot of dogs to buy for this Christmas. That’s why we whipped up a couple batches of these Gin…

Fighting Like Cats And Dogs: Dealing With A Cat-Aggressive Dog

Why can''t they just get along? What to do when your dog doesn’t see eye-to-eye with catsIf you have a multi-pet household, there may be times when your pets…

Peterbald

The Peterbald is a new hairless cat breed that originated in Russia in the 1990s. These cats are renowned for their dog-like loyalty toward their humans.

Lhasa Apso

Calm and subdued, the Lhasa Apso is a wonderful house pet as it doesn''t require a lot of exercise. This breed is curious about everything around them.

Upside Down Dog Of The Week – Charlie

Meet Charlie, our Upside Down Dog of the Week from Upsidedowndogs.com. Charlie is a 6-month-old male Labrador Retriever and Pitbull mix from Houston, TX. Her…

3 Sobering Reasons Why Dog Insurance Is Important

In 2014, it’s estimated that we spent about $14.2 billion at the vet – so why aren’t we investing in dog insurance? You do everything you c…

Cane Corso

Nobel and brave, the Cane Corso is strong in mind, body and conviction. His intelligence makes him the perfect candidate for obedience training.

Ancient Dogs Provide Clues About North America’s Early Inhabitants

Research digs up evidence on how the North American dog/human dynamic has changed over the centuries New research out of the University of Illinois is using…

Dalmador

The Dalmador is a hybrid of the easy-going Labrador Retriever and the feisty Dalmatian. This is a friendly, trusting breed that is loyal to his family.