Black Russian Terrier
Utility

Group:

Utility

Size:

large

Lifespan:

9-11 years

Exercise:

high

Grooming:

medium

Trainability:

medium

Watchdog ability:

very high

Protection ability:

high

Area of Origin:

Russia

Date of Origin:

1900's

Other Names:

Tchiorny Terrier

Original Function:

draft

History

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.

Temperament

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.

Upkeep

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.

Official Breed Standard

Note:
Words contained in brackets (.....) are as in the FCI Standard; words contained in square brackets [.....] are explanations or alternative translations.[Mrs A. Mitchell A.N.K.C. Breed Standards Coordinator]

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
[Developed by the former Russian Red Army to guard military installations etc. They required a dog able to work independently and to withstand various climatic conditions. The basic breeds used were the Airedale, Giant Schnauzer and the Rottweiler. The Giant Schnauzer for its intelligence and quick reactions; the Airedale for its leadership, temperament and stamina; the Rottweiler for its firm stature and fearlessness. The Giant Schnauzer contributed the most to its appearance.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
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.

Physical Appearance:
Sturdy and robust. Faults - Light frame, poorly developed muscle tone. Serious Faults - Very light bone structure, weak muscle tone, frail and weak constitution.

Index of Format (Important Proportions):
The proportion of the length of the body to the height at the withers is between 100-105% of the height at the withers. [i.e. Square to slightly longer in body] Fault - The length of the body is slightly too long if it is between 106-108% of the height. Serious Fault - The length of the body is clearly too long if it is in excess of 108% of the height.

CHARACTERISTICS:
Related to Sex:
Should be clearly expressed, depending on the sex. Male dogs are of greater size [more imposing size], more masculine and more massive [stronger] than bitches. Faults - Minor reversal of the required sexual characteristics. Serious Faults - Marked reversal of sexual characteristics. Bitchy dogs.

Temperament:
Extremely energetic [vigorous], strong, stable temperament but very lively, with strong defence reactions. Faults - Shyness, excessive excitability, passiveness [laziness].Serious Faults - Fearful, extremely excitable, extremely passive.

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]. Faults - Head too small, forehead rounded, stop hardly marked or excessively pronounced, protruding cheekbones, soft lips. Major Faults - Coarse head, too light or too heavy, rounded head; muzzle short, pointed or turned up.

Eyes:
Small, oval shaped, slanted, dark in colour. Faults - Large eyes or eye colour not sufficiently dark. Visible third eyelid. Major Faults - Light eye, cross eyed.

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. Faults - Ears set too low; long ears, flying ears, ears held apart from the cheekbones. Major Faults - Ears standing up from the base, semi-erect ears.

Mouth:
Teeth strong and white in colour, closely positioned. The incisors are positioned in one line; scissor bite. Faults - Poorly developed teeth, teeth not corresponding with age, damaged teeth which do not interfere with the proper occlusion of the bite. Absence of up to two of the first premolars or absence of one of the first premolars and one of the second premolars. Light tartar build-up. Major Faults - Very small teeth, missing teeth; incisors not aligned; any deviation from a scissors bite; absence of an incisor or a canine; absence of a third or fourth premolar or any molar. Teeth with severely damaged enamel.

Neck:
Long, powerful, lean, set at a 40-45 degree angle to the topline. Faults - Short neck, blocky neck, showing a dewlap or held low.

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. Faults - Shoulders slightly too straight, elbows turned slightly in or out; Weak pasterns, turned in or out. Major Faults - Upright shoulders; strong deviation of the elbows in or out; forearm not straight, knuckling over, down on pasterns.

Body:
Chest:
Roomy, deep, with well sprung ribs, reaching to the level of the elbows or slightly below. Faults - Chest not sufficiently wide, chest not reaching the elbows, ribcage slightly flat. Major Faults - Barrel shaped ribcage, too wide, not enough let down, flat or narrow.

Withers:
High, clearly marked above the topline. Faults - Low, poorly developed withers.

Back:
Straight, wide and muscular. Faults - Weak, narrow or insufficiently muscled.

Loins:
Short, wide, muscular and slightly arched. Faults - Long, insufficiently arched. Major Faults - Badly coupled, narrow or too arched.

Rump:
Wide, muscular, with a barely visible slope towards the tail. Faults - Horizontal or slightly sloping rump, insufficiently muscled. Major Faults - Clearly sloping or narrow rump.

Abdomen:
Rising above the lower line of the chest. Faults - Strongly tucked-up or whippet-like abdomen.

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. Faults - Weak muscle tone, short thighs, slightly cow or bow hocked. Angulation of the hock joint too slight or too strong. Major Faults - The same as above but more pronounced. Rump too high. Hock joint angulation decidedly straight or over angulated.

Feet:
Fore and Hind Thick, with well arched pads, rounded in shape. Faults - Hare feet. Feet pointing in or out. Major Faults - Splayed or very turned out feet.

Tail:
Set high, thick and preferably docked. If docked short, leaving 3 to 4 vertebrae. Faults - Tail set low, incorrectly docked.

Gait / Movement:
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. Faults - Legs not moving in a straight line. Insufficient extension of the front or hind legs. Major Faults - Restricted or clumsy movement. Sideways movement of the hindlegs (crab-like), marked swinging of the croup (rolling movement of the hindquarters), pacing.

Coat:
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. Faults - Straight hair, not broken. Wavy hair, soft hair, hair longer than 10 cm [3.9 in] Insufficient formation of moustache, beard or eyebrows. Frizzy hair. Major Faults - Hair too long (in excess of 15 cm [5.9 in], soft hair, falling hair, short hair, smooth hair; absence of furnishings on head or legs.

Colour:
Black or black with grey hairs. Faults - Brown or grey shadings. Small white spot on chest. Major Faults - Brown or grey coat, reddish patches; white spots on chin, head, neck or legs.

Size:
Height at the withers:
Dogs 66 - 72 cm [25.7- 28.1 in] Bitches 64 - 70 cm [25- 27.3 ins]
Faults - Slightly leggy or short on the legs. Height at withers of dogs below 66 cm [25.7 in] or above 72 cm [28.1 in]Height at withers of bitches below 64 cm [25 in]or above 70 cm [27.3 in]
Major Faults - Rump set too high or withers too low. Dogs - Height at withers below 65 cm [25.4 in] or above 74 cm [28.9 in]. Bitches - Height at withers below 63 cm [24.6 in] or above 72 cm [28.1 in]

FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Serious Faults:
Any deviation from the scissor bite.
Parti-coloured coat.
White markings on feet.
Red patches.
Grey coat.
Absence of an incisor or a canine tooth.
Absence of any PM3 or PM4.
Absence of any molar.

Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.