Russian Black Terrier

Black Russian TerrierBlack Russian Terrier

Uniquely, the Russian Black Terrier was secretly bred behind the Iron Curtain to become the "ultimate four-legged soldier". Beginning around the mid-1900s, Russian dictator Joseph Stalin founded the 'Red Star' kennel which aimed to create a large, high-spirited military dog with a stable temperament. This dog would always be willing and able to work whilst withstanding the dramatic climatic variations experienced within Russia.

Today the Russian Black Terrier is a dignified, confident handsome dog which is amiable, undemanding, smart and friendly yet not particularly dominant. Once this dog came into the Western world, it has been extremely successful when trained to participate in a variety of modern disciplines including obedience, agility, tracking and a host of other modern activities that require intensive training.

History of the Russian Black Terrier

Russian Black TerrierRussian Black Terrier

Historically, the Iron Curtain was a wall that divided Communist countries like Russia economically and politically from other countries. After it was created, the Russian Black Terrier we know today was developed for the 'Red Army' under the orders of the Soviet Union's leader, Joseph Stalin.

One day in 1950, General Medvevdev, who was head of the central school of military, visited Stalin and presented him with a plan to genetically create a dog that would be 'the ultimate fighting companion'. He recommended that it would be:

  • Black so it would not be detected
  • Have a coat that would protect the dog in all weathers,
  • Have eye coverings that protected the eyes against now blindness,
  • Have legs sufficiently strong to propel the dog through snow drifts
  • Have webbed feet like snow-shoes sufficiently strong to dig out victims of a disaster.

Russian Black Terrier with childRussian Black Terrier with childSoon after Stalin considered the plan, he ordered funds for the immediate development of the idea. Medvevdev then began to work with a group of scientists. Consequently interbreeding began by mixing wolf-like dogs from Siberia with the following breeds selected because they displayed desired characteristics. These were:

  1. The Schnauzer (Giant) selected because of its agility and working ability
  2. The Rottweiler selected for its courage, temperament and again its working ability
  3. The Newfoundland selected for its loyalty, size and coat
  4. The Airedale Terrier selected for its spirit and ability to hunt
  5. Local breeds like the Livestock Guardian dog, the Caucasian Ovcharka and the excellent swimmer, the 'Moscow Diving Dog' for more specialized traits..

Over the next two years, more than 800 different litters were produced. By the 1970s scientists had sufficient numbers of dogs from which to establish the powerful dog we know today. It weighed around 50 kilos, was hard working and reliable, was extremely loyal and had a thick double coat which enabled it to work in all terrains. Consequently, it was suitable to join the Red Army.

The Russian Black Terrier Becomes a Pure Breed

A young Black Russian Terrier A young Black Russian Terrier

In May 1984, the 'Black Russian Terrier' was recognized by the FCI with Breed Standard #327 and released to the general public. In 1986, these dogs were decorated for their bravery when used to dig out victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Despite their 'secret' status as time went by, a number of puppies were given away and became favourites of some of the Russian households.

In 1991, the Iron Curtain came down, opening the door for the Russian Black Terrier to be exported. Englishwoman, Violet Slade brought the first pair into Britain, she described them as:'

the most ruthlessly and cleverly bred dog ever known and yet its very existence has been shrouded in secrecy for half a century'

Because of this, it took until October, 1997 for Violet Slade's dream of owning a Russian Black Terrier from Soviet Russia in England to finally came true! This is her story:

The Black Russian Terrier in the UK

Violet with one of her Black Russian Terriers Violet with one of her Black Russian Terriers

A teacher Violet had befriended when she was in Russia, arranged to purchase two Russian Black Terrier pups on her behalf. These were 8-week-old 'Ludwic' and 12-week-old 'Nina'. He put them into a large wooden box labelled 'Moscow State Circus' and took them to one of the Russian Airports. Violet also arranged for her vet to meet the plane when it arrived at Heathrow Airport in London. When the officials demanded the box be opened, he convinced them that the pups were Poodle showdogs. The vet then successfully oversaw the difficult job of supervising humongous amount of paperwork, and gave the pups a clean bill of health.

After four days, the English authorities allowed the pups to proceed with the normal six-months quarantine. Two years later, in 1999, the original two Russian Black Terriers had a litter of eleven pups from which 'Cleyra', Violet's first Russian Black Terrier was selected to found the breed in UK[1]. 

History of the Russian Black Terrier in Australia

Russian Black Terrrier "Zaya'Russian Black Terrrier "Zaya'

In 2001, the Russian Black Terrier was founded in Queensland, Australia by passionate dog trainers, Dot and Ross Sweeney. With no intention to bring in showdogs, they selected dogs based on their temperament and working lines. Because of the stigma of bringing in dogs from Russia, the dogs Dot and Ross purchased were domiciled in Finland which of course shares a border with Russia. Additionally, because Australia was (and still is) a rabies-free country, in order to satisfy Australia's requirements, a humongous amount of paperwork plus a six-months quarantine period was required in order to import dogs.

Consequently, arrangements were made with a kennel in Finland to import a Russian bitch called 'Best Guard Deniza' ("Zaya") into Australia. She was able to do her 6-months quarantine in Finland. Conveniently, whilst doing this quarantine, she came into season. Consequently, arrangements were made to mate her to a suitable Russian Dog 'Zornoi Buran' who lived in Finland. The result was that "Zaya" arrived pregnant and produced a beautiful litter of eleven pups soon after arrival in Queensland, bred under the Australian prefix 'Cimarron".

Russian Black Terrier 'Stryka'Russian Black Terrier 'Stryka'

The following year, 2002 'Zornoi James Bond ("Stryka") came here also directly from Finland. By December 2002 a third litter Russian Black Terriers had been born. Next, in January 2003, in partnership with Rod Maruff, Dot and Ross brought in a Polish bred female called 'Zornoi Leonora'. She was followed by semen from the USA of Russian bred 'Chapay iz Russkoi Dinastii'. These dogs provided sufficient blood lines to established the breed here in Australia[2]. The FCI Standard was recognized by the ANKC on 1/1/2001 as the 'Black Russian Terrier'.

However, in the early 2,000's in line with the world's other controlling bodies like FCI, AKC, and the KC (UK), the name was changed from the 'Black Russian Terrier' to the 'Russian Black Terrier'. The reason was probably to so the country of origin would come first. However, it could also have been to avoid confusion with the Black Russian cocktail drink made of vodka and coffee liqueur.

The Russian Black Terrier Today

The Russian Black Terrier is a large, robust athletically built dog with a body slightly longer than its height at withers. Always be black in colour, it is permissible for grey hair to intermingle with the black as long as it does not cover more one third of the body.

It is a large dog. The males stand 72 - 76 cms (28 - 30 ins) tall but not less than 70 cm (27 ins) and not more then 78 cm (31 ins). Their weight should be 50 - 60 kg (110 - 132 lbs). The bitches should stand 68 - 72 cms (68 - 28ins). They should be less than 66 cms (26 ins.) but not more than 74 cms (29 ins). Their weight should be 45 - 50 kgs ( 99- 110 lbs).

Russian Black Terrier HeadRussian Black Terrier Head

The large head should be massive and strong. The skull should be moderately broad and flat with parallel head planes. The arches over the eyes are moderately pronounced, making the eyes look deep set. The occipital bone is moderately pronounced, the cheeks rounded but not pronounced and the stop moderate. The nose is large and black and the broad, strong should be slightly shorter than the skull. The voluminous hair that forms the moustache and beard accentuates the volume of the muzzle and gives it a rectangular, blunt appearance.

The thick, pigmented lips are dark. The oval shaped dark eyes are of medium size and are set wide apart. The dropped triangular shaped ears are set close to the cheek, and have dense leathers, without folds. The large, strong teeth form a normal scissors bite with full dentition.

General Appearance

Russian Black TerrierRussian Black Terrier

The length of the neck should be equal to the length of the head. The forelegs should be straight and parallel and equal to he dog's height at withers. The shoulders should long, broad and well laid back, with the upper arm no shorter than the shoulder blade and the elbows should be close to the body.The forelegs should be vertical and straight, muscular and thick with round bone. The pasterns should be short and slightly sloping when viewed from the side. The front feet should be large, compact and round in shape with black nails and pads.

The chest should be long, deeo, broad with slightly sprung ribs of an oval shape. Because of the high withers, the topline slopes very slightly from withers to the root of the tail, with forechest that ends in an evident breast bone. The back, should be should be strong and straight, ending in broad, slightly sloping arched loins of moderate length.The underline begins level or slightly below the elbow and belly is moderately tucked up.

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References and Further Reading

[1] Material by James Moore 'How One Woman Uncovered the Secret of Satlin's Killer Dog' published in the International Express (Britain) on Tuesday March 6, 2001 Page 31.

[2] Material supplied by Dorothy Sweeney


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