Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier is native to Russia and rarely seen outside its country. It is originally trained to guard and also developed as a police/military dog. The breed was primarily imported to countries that occupied the former USSR like East Germany. . It was bred for its ability to work rather than its appearance, and early examples only resembled today's Black Russian Terrier in their build and coat type.

The Black Russian Terrier is strong and athletic. The breed is generally not associated with meek and timid characteristics and is quite a courageous and confident breed of dogs. It is thus preferred to maintain the rustic and tough appearance of the coat of the Black Russian Terrier. The coat is usually between 4-10cm in length and its texture is dense. It is never soft and silky. Males are generally identified with the appearance of a beard and eyebrows which are thick. Also, they appear to have a light mane around the withers and neck. The coat has very slight shedding and is characteristic in black or grey.

The breed weighs 77 to 154 pounds (35-70 kg). Males are not considerably larger than the females. Larger dogs of the same breed however are also seen in Russia. Proportionally, a Black Russian Terrier is supposed to be longer than it is tall. Contrary to popular belief Black Russian terriers do not prefer to be aloof but require the company of a family and other human companionship. There are characterized by their bravery, strength, confidence and intelligence. They have been traditionally used for various tasks like carting, guarding and protecting.

The Black Russian Terrier is a dog trained to work by nature. It was developed with a purpose of making it a ‘working’ dog. It needs to be active and requires a task to perform on a regular basis in order to remain healthy and happy. However, it is advisable to start training from the onset. This enables the owner to establish an upper hand and sets the tone of clear dominance. Due to the size of the dog it is imperative that it be well trained. The breed is quite receptive and responsive to strict and regular training. They are known to excel at Obedience contests. The breed is agile and strong hence performs well in dog sports. As the Black Russian Terrier is a low shedding breed it requires grooming once a week.

As the Black Russian Terrier is a working dog and requires training, it needs to exercise well. If not provided with the necessary amount of physical activity, the lethargy may lead to it becoming hyperactive and also destructive. The Black Russian Terrier is known to be a healthy breed but it might be prone to certain hereditary diseases. Due to the nature and amount of its work hip dysplasia is always a major concern with this breed. Elbow dysplasia and Progressive Retinal Atrophy are also some health concerns which need to be kept in mind.