Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and no matter how big your yard is they will be sitting at your front door waiting to come in. They love to live very close to their owner. They will follow you from one room to the other. Kept in a garden they will follow you from window to window and wait for you at the door. They need very close human contact. This breed does not do well living in a kennel; they must have close human contact to be happy.

Moderately Easy Training: The Black Russian Terrier is very eager to please and will learn quickly. They do require a firm and consistent pack master, but will respond better to a slightly more loving approach. It is necessary to begin training at a young age, as the Black Russian Terrier will grow to a relatively large size and may be more difficult to correct. The Black Russian Terrier must be made to know that they do not rank above the human members of its pack. When walking your Black Russian Terrier, it is imperative that the dog heel beside you and never lead. In the dog's mind the leader is the one in front.

The Black Russian Terrier must be strong of body and mind to perform its duties as a reliable guard and military dog. This is a large-boned and well-muscled dog, capable of pulling a heavy load, yet having the agility to traverse rocky terrain or overtake an adversary. The head and neck are powerful. A reliable, intelligent temperament is essential in a dog that also has strong protective instincts; courage is also a must. The weatherproof outercoat repels water while the undercoat insulates the dog from the cold. Length of coat should vary from 1.5 inches to 4 inches with longer coats detracting from the dog's working ability.

Calm, confident and courageous sums up the Black Russian Terrier. Reserved with strangers, BRTs are very attached to and protective of their family. They are fast learners, but also independent thinkers, and they can be stubborn if pushed to do something they don't want to do. BRTs are affectionate and social. They tend to stick close to their people, even inside the house. They are gentle and playful with children. They may not be good with strange or dominant dogs, but are fine with other pets and smaller canine housemates.

The Black Russian Terrier was created in Russia during the late 1940s and early 1950s by selective interbreeding of several breeds, including the Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier and Newfoundland. The Giant Schnauzer is considered to be the main ancestor of the breed. The initial breeding was supervised by the military cynological school outside Moscow, and the dogs were based in their kennels named “Red Star”. The aim of the creators of the breed was the development of a large, brave, strong and manageable working dog with pronounced guarding instinct; a dog that could be useful for many services. The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1984. On July 1, 2004, the Black Russian Terrier was admitted to full membership in the AKC Working Group.