History of occurrence
The Black Russian Terrier, also known as the Tchiorny Terrier (tchiorny is Russian for black), is a relatively new breed. In the forties, the army-controlled kennel "Red Star" began to breed a dog for their own needs, using a program developed by Soviet breeder-specialists. The ideal dog was to be one who was a massive, robust, high-spirited all-round dog, always willing to work, and able to withstand the wide climatic differences in the country. The major ancestry began with Giant Schnauzers, Airedale Terriers, and Rottweilers. Other breeds were added as needed to achieve specific requirements, with character and temperament being at the top of the list. Several years later, Russian "DOSAAF" Breeders (DOSAAF is a paramilitary organisation) took on the task of standardising the look of the breed without neglecting the good qualities. In May 1984, the breed was recognised by the FCI with Standard #327, the "Black Russian Terrier". They are weatherproof, rescue, working, and family dogs.
General form
The size of the Black Russian Terriers is a larger than an average dog. Black Russian Terriers are strong, with massive bone structure and well-developed muscles. The skin is tight and elastic, without any folds or dewlap.Dogs of this breed are assertive, wary of strangers and resistant; they adjust easily to different climates. The Black Russian Terrier must yield to training.
Отличительная особенность породы Black Russian Terrier
Head and Skull: long with moderately narrow skull with well rounded cheekbones. The forehead is flat. The stop is marked but not too pronounced. The muzzle is parallel with the topline of the skull. The muzzle is strong, slightly tapering. The length of the muzzle is slightly less than the length of the skull. The moustache and the beard give the muzzle a truncated and square appearance. The lips are thick and full. The upper lip fits tightly to the line of the lower jaw without forming flews [without looseness].
Eyes: small, oval shaped, slanted, dark in colour.
Ears: attached high on the head, hanging straight down from the base, small and triangular in shape. The front rim of the ear hangs down against the cheekbones.
Mouth: teeth strong and white in colour, closely positioned. The incisors are positioned in one line; scissor bite.
Neck: long, powerful, lean, set at a 40-45 degree angle to the topline.
Chest: roomy, deep, with well sprung ribs, reaching to the level of the elbows or slightly below.
Withers: high, clearly marked above the topline.
Back: straight, wide and muscular.
Loins: short, wide, muscular and slightly arched.
Rump: wide, muscular, with a barely visible slope towards the tail.
Abdomen: rising above the lower line of the chest.
Forequarters: seen from the front, the legs are straight and parallel. The angle of the shoulder-blade with the upper arm is approximately 110 degrees. Elbows must point backwards. The upper arms are short and strong. The pasterns are short and straight.
Hindquarters: seen from behind, the legs are straight and parallel, but set slightly wider apart than the front legs. The upper thighs are muscular and well developed. The lower thighs are long and set obliquely. The hock joints are lean and well developed. Rear pasterns strong, long and almost vertical.
Feet: fore and Hind Thick, with well arched pads, rounded in shape.
Set high, thick and customarily docked. If docked short, leaving 3 to 4 vertebrae. Faults - Tail set low, incorrectly docked.
Rough, hard, ample and extremely dense. The seemingly broken coat is between 4-10 cm [1.6- 3.9 in]in length and covers the entire body. On the muzzle, the coat forms a rough, brushy moustache on the upper lip and a beard on the lower lip. Above the eyes, the eyebrows are rough and bristled. On the neck and the withers, the coat is longer and forms a mane. The forelegs, down to the elbows, and the hindlegs, down to the thighs, are covered by a rough and long coat. The undercoat is dense and well-developed.
Easy, harmonious and effortless A short [non overreaching] trot or gallop are the most typical gaits. When trotting, the legs must move in a straight line, with the front legs converging slightly towards a median line. The back and loin have an elastic, springy movement.
Height — 64-74 cm.
Weight — 36 - 65 kg.
Character
Black Russian Terriers are courageous, suspicious of strangers, persistent, brave, and self-confident. They are an universal working dog with a natural controllable sharpness and protective instinct without undue aggression. The pups are generally easy to train, but may be somewhat stubborn, so persistence and firmness is required. Their protective instincts will begin to show at around 18-24 months when they will want to protect everything: this is not a dog for a first-time dog owner; it is a dog for the experienced dog person. This dog must live with its family and not in a kennel; and once its instincts and energies are properly channeled, it will be a truly loyal family dog.
Maintenance care
This dog enjoys the outdoors, especially in cold weather. It needs daily exercise, either a good hike or a walk on leash. Although it can physically live outdoors in temperate to cold climates, it is so in tune with its human family that it cannot be relegated to life alone in the yard. Inside, it needs plenty of room to stretch out. Its coat needs brushing one or two times weekly. It very rarely sheds, but needs clipping regularly.
Lifespan — 9-11 years.
Dignity
Black Russian Terriers are calm, confident, and courageous.
Highly intelligent, Blackies take well to firm direction and need a job to perform, so training is easy.
Blackies love children and will guard those in their circle.
Difficulty keeping
Some breeds are brush-and-go dogs; others require regular bathing, clipping, and other grooming just to stay clean and healthy.
Diseases
The Black Russian Terrier is prone to minor health issues such as elbow dysplasia and major problems like canine hip dysplasia (CHD). The breed may also suffer from progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and dwarfism. To identify some of these issues, a veterinarian may recommend hip, elbow, and eye exams for the dog.
