Description

Also called the Chornyi Terrier, this Russian breed is large and agile. The Black Russian Terrier (not actually a true terrier) is muscular and hardy, with large sturdy bones. Their oval eyes are dark and wide-set, with black rims. Their ears are floppy and high-set (cropping is absolutely prohibited). The large white teeth meet in an even scissor bite.
The Black Russian Terrier has a deep chest, with well-sprung ribs. There is a slight slope from the shoulders down to the back and down to the thick, sabre-like tail. Although docking was traditional, this is banned in many countries. Their legs are straight and sturdy, with large round feet.

Origin: Russia

Look

As the name suggests, the Black Russian Terrier is black, though they sometimes have a few grey hairs here and there. The breed has a double coat, with a protective outer coat and a soft undercoat. The hair is typically between 5 to 15cm when properly trimmed, with a thick beard, bushy eyebrows, and a slight mane. The Black Russian’s hair should be straight. Although the coat is long and does need trimming and brushing to keep it in good condition, the good news is that the Black Russian doesn’t shed too much.

Health

While the Black Russian Terrier is generally a healthy dog, they are prone to a few health conditions:
• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Hyperuricosuria
• Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy
• Panosteitis
• Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
• Hot spot
• Fungal infections
• Eye issues:
‐ Ectropion
‐ Entropion
‐ Conjunctivitis
‐ Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Heart issues:
‐ Aortic stenosis
‐ Mitral valve dysplasia
‐ Cardiomyopathy
At Newdoggy.com, we recommend that you buy your puppy from reputable breeders, who use genetic testing and good breeding practices to remove genetic conditions from their breeding lines.

Learning

The Black Russian Terrier is incredibly clever, but also incredibly stubborn. It’s best to start training and socialisation when your puppy is young, but you’ll also need to commit to lifelong training to prevent aggressive behaviour. Fortunately the Black Russian has a calm and collected character, with a natural confidence. Happily, these dogs are often very easy to house train. Although slow to mature, they are capable of learning very quickly, if their trainer is consistent, firm, and fair.

Temperament

One the one hand, the Black Russian Terrier can be wilful, as befits a dog bred for military work. On the other hand, they are typically intelligent, brave, and calm dogs. This combination of traits makes them a great dog for experienced dog owners who would enjoy the challenge of working with such an intelligent, people-oriented dog. Their stubbornness makes them very difficult for novices to work with, as the stubborn Black Russian often intimidates or ignores them.
The Black Russian Terrier tends to be aloof with strangers, but fortunately not aggressive or shy with them. That said, if they feel that a stranger is a threat, they may become hostile towards them in order to defend you. Proper socialisation will help to avoid such problems.

Living with

This large breed is a surprisingly good family dog. Despite being bred for guarding and military work, the Black Russian Terrier is excellent with children. They love to be around people: this is not a dog who should be left out in the garden all day! They are incredibly affectionate and thrive off attention. Although this large breed would be most comfortable in a house with a fenced garden or yard, they can cope with living in an apartment if exercised frequently.
The Black Russian Terrier is a wonderful dog if you love canine sports. They need a minimum of 30 minutes walking each day, but are happiest when they have a job to do. Your Black Russian could be a champion at Schutzhund, canine agility, obedience, or any other canine sport.