Black Russian Terrier - Origin, Characteristics, Temperament & Behavior

The Black Russian Terrier (BRT) is a rare breed from Russia, with a large appearance, jet-black curly fur, strong temperament, and loyalty.

Black Russian Terrier - a large, brave and extremely loyal dog breed from Russia. With thick curly black fur, majestic body and high protective instinct, this breed is not only used in the army and police but is increasingly popular all over the world.

In today's article, let's explore dog breed the characteristics, origin, habits, behavior and notes when raising a Black Russian Terrier .

Origin of the Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier has been around since the former Soviet Union.

The Black Russian Terrier, abbreviated as BRT, is a breed of dog intentionally developed by the Soviet Red Army in the early 1950s for military and security purposes in the country.

The goal of breeding the BRT was to create a breed that had:

• Large, strong body
• Well adapted to the harsh climate in Russia
• Guard, patrol, attack on command
• Be loyal and control your behavior.

There have been about 20 different breeds of dogs used in the breeding process of the Black Russian Terrier, but mainly some breeds such as: Giant Schnauzer, Rottweiler, Caucasian Shepherd Dog. Russian Water Dog,...

Initially, the Black Russian Terrier was only used in the military, but after about 1980, this breed was popularly bred as a family dog.

In 1981, the Black Russian Terrier was recognized as an official breed by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI), and by the AKC in 2004.

What does a Black Russian Terrier look like?

The Black Russian Terrier has a large, curly black coat.

Let's see what the Black Russian Terrier looks like, having been bred from more than 20 different dog breeds!

Overall :

• Appearance: Large, muscular, well-proportioned, majestic
• Height: Male from 66 - 72 cm, female from 64 - 70 cm
• Weight: Average from 45 - 60 kg.

Head :

• Head: Large, strong, in proportion to the body
• Muzzle: Large, straight, not pointed
• Nose: Black, nostrils large and wide open
• Eyes: Medium in size, oval in shape, usually dark black or dark brown in color, very sharp looking.
• Ears: Triangular, medium size, hanging down and close to the head.

Neck & body :

• Neck: Slightly arched, muscular
• Chest: Deep, wide
• Back: Straight, well-muscled
• Waist: Short, wide hips

Legs & Tail:

• Straight, big, strong legs, round, tight feet
• Tail: Previously often cut short, now kept natural tail

Fur :

• Double coat: The outer coat is coarse, slightly curly, 4 - 10 cm long, the inner coat is soft, thick, and has good heat retention.
• Hair in beard, mustache, thick eyebrows, creating a serious look
• Coat color: Jet black

Black Russian Terrier Temperament & Behavior

Black Russian Terriers are quite friendly and gentle.

Because the original purpose of the Black Russian Terrier was bred to serve the military and police, they have many special habits and behaviors, very different from ordinary pet dogs. Specifically, please find out below.

High protective instinct

Black Russian Terriers were purposely bred as guard and military dogs, so they have a very high alert and protective instinct, always monitoring their surroundings.

BRTs never bark inappropriately, but when they feel threatened, they react very quickly and decisively, ready to protect their owners and territories in all situations.

Absolutely loyal

Black Russian Terriers tend to be extremely loyal to one main owner - who regularly trains and cares for them. Besides, they are also deeply attached to their family and always want to be close to their loved ones. Especially, they will not be easily seduced by strangers.

Calm, not easily agitated

Although a guard dog, the Black Russian Terrier is not unreasonably aggressive, but has a calm temperament, is difficult to provoke, and can distinguish between familiar people, harmless strangers, and intentional intruders - an extremely rare quality of this breed.

Intelligent, easy to train

The Black Russian Terrier is a very intelligent breed of dog, they can learn commands very quickly and remember complex commands well.

They also enjoy working and serious training activities, but need a trainer who is firm, not too soft.

Like to exercise

As a working dog, the Black Russian Terrier is extremely active and enjoys daily exercise. They need long walks and endurance runs combined with protection and service training to strengthen their instincts.

Family friendly & gentle

If introduced early, Black Russian Terriers are very friendly with family and children, they are always gentle, mild and patient in playing with everyone.

Despite their large size, these dogs know how to control their behavior so as not to endanger people. However, they also need to be socialized early to avoid overprotection.

Notes when raising Black Russian Terriers

Important notes to know when raising a Black Russian Terrier.

Here are some important notes when raising a Black Russian Terrier, please take note to own a healthy, friendly and intelligent dog.

Large space, suitable living environment

The Black Russian Terrier is a large and very active dog breed so they need a large space such as a house with a large yard to be able to run around every day. Absolutely not suitable for a small apartment.

If you live indoors, you need to take your dog for a walk and play with it every day to help it release some energy.

Early training & socialization

This is one of the almost mandatory factors because Black Russian Terrier is an intelligent but very independent dog breed, if not trained from a young age, they will easily show excessive protective behavior. The golden time to conduct training is from 2 - 3 months old, during the training process, it is necessary to maintain a steadfast, consistent attitude and not unreasonably indulgent.

In addition, you need to socialize this breed early with frequent, safe contact with people to avoid them being aggressive towards strangers and other pets.

It takes a lot of time to care for the hair.

The Black Russian Terrier has a thick, naturally curly and dense double coat that is prone to tangles and clumping if not cared for regularly. Please note the following points:

• Brush at least 2 - 3 times/week.
• Bathe regularly 1 - 2 times/month
• Professional hair trimming every 2-3 months to keep the shape beautiful and neat
• Mustache and eyebrow areas need to be taken care of to avoid dirt and odor.

Balanced, appropriate diet

Black Russian Terriers are large dogs so they have high nutritional needs, specifically as follows:

• Dog food for adults rich in protein, calcium and low in fat.
• Divide into 2 meals/day, do not overfeed
• Supplement glucosamine and omega 3 regularly.
• Avoid feeding foods that are too sweet, salty, spicy, chocolate, sharp bones,...

Regular health check-up

One important thing to keep your Black Russian Terrier healthy and thriving is regular checkups.

Recommended frequency :

• Puppies under 1 year old: Check every 3 - 4 months
• Adult dogs (1 - 7 years old): Check-up 1 - 2 times/year
• Dogs over 7 years old: Check 2-3 times/year, screen for chronic diseases.

Health check content :

• Check bones, joints, cardiovascular, respiratory, dental,...
• Basic blood test, parasite check
• Track weight index, development index,...
• Screening for common genetic diseases such as: Hip and elbow dysplasia; congenital heart disease, immune disorders or eye problems.

How much does a Black Russian Terrier cost?

Currently, the Black Russian Terrier is a rare and unpopular dog breed in Vietnam because its price is quite high, usually ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of VND, depending on appearance and origin. Specifically as follows:

• BRT puppies without papers: 25 - 40 million VND/puppy
• BRT dog with VKA certificate: 40 - 65 million VND/dog
• BRT dogs imported from Russia, Europe: 90 - over 150 million VND/dog
• BRT dog breed: Over 200 million VND/dog, very rare.

Beautiful black Russian terrier pictures

Let's admire the daily moments of Black Russian Terriers to better visualize this rare Russian dog breed!

A super cute family of black Russian terriers.

A Black Russian Terrier is resting on the grass.

The Black Russian Terrier has a super thick, jet black coat.

The BRT (Black Russian Terrier) dogs are sitting on the doorstep super cute.

A black Russian terrier puppy is running around on the grass.

The Black Russian Terrier is being well trained.

The Black Russian Terrier is not only a large, powerful dog breed but also a loyal, perfect and brave friend. Hopefully, through the article that dogbreed.wiki shared above, it will help you better understand the Black Russian Terrier - a rare dog breed from Russia. If you want to find a reliable "four-legged bodyguard", the Black Russian Terrier is a perfect choice.

Don't forget to visit our Blog section to learn more about many other dog breeds in the world, goodbye and see you soon.