Black Russian Terrier

About twenty dog breeds were used for its creation, mainly the Giant Schnauzer, the Rottweiler and the Airedale, each for approximately 30% of the current genetic material. In the remaining 10%, there are the Newfoundland and the Caucasian Shepherd, present through the Moscow Water Dog (now extinct). The Moscow Guard Dog, derived from the Saint Bernard and the Caucasian Shepherd, was also used, as well as several other Russian breeds, some derived from the German Mastiff or the German Shepherd. A Giant Schnauzer named Roy is considered the founding ancestor of the breed. From 1952 to 1956, he produced more than thirty litters, notably with Sotta, Sima and Salma, three Airedale sisters, also with Una, Uda and Urma, three Rottweiler sisters and also with Tina, Tiza and Tessi, three Moscow Water Dog sisters descended from a Newfoundland father and a Caucasian Shepherd mother. Other male Giant Schnauzers were used, including the two brothers Dasso and Ditter in the 1960s, as well as Akbar in the 1970s and Jaguar in the 1980s. Until 1957, selection was based solely on working aptitudes in order to obtain a guard and police dog receptive to training, but which was also robust and adapted to different climates in the country. The external appearance was fixed later by civilian breeders. The breed was recognized by the International Canine Federation in 1983. Like the Tibetan Terrier, it has nothing but the name of a terrier.

Its large size and its grooming studied to accentuate its massive appearance give it a dissuasive appearance. The drooping ears, the fringe in front of the eyes and the docked tail (now prohibited in many countries) mask its body language. In principle, the Black Terrier is calm, courageous, reliable and self-assured. Very intelligent, it can ignore a wrong order or take the initiative in case of emergency. Its education requires some experience with strong-temperament dogs, especially since nothing will be achieved by force. Well trained, the Black Russian Terrier excels in sporting disciplines, notably obedience where its weight and size are not a handicap. It is also very talented as an assistance dog, including as a guide dog for the blind. However, if it likes to learn, it grows tired of repetition. The fact that the Black Terrier is a large dog presents some disadvantages. Indeed, it takes two to three years to reach maturity, which delays its entry into service. A shorter career combined with the constraints of regular grooming and greater food requirements make it substantially less profitable than the breeds usually used as service dogs. But apart from economic considerations, these few drawbacks are largely compensated by its many qualities.