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Explore the origins and evolution of the Black Russian Terrier, a versatile military breed developed for harsh climates.
Irena Polonsky & Jean Brown
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In 1949, the Red Star State Kennel near Moscow, part of the Central State School of Military Service Dog Breeding and Training, received a government directive to create a domestic breed of military guard dogs capable of serving in all climatic conditions across the USSR. Prior to this, the Red Army primarily utilized European breeds—medium-sized dogs that were not adequately coated for the extreme weather variations of regions like the hot desert sands of Kyrgyzstan or the deep snow and very cold winters of Siberia. The new mandate called for a large, strong dog with great endurance, the ability to adapt to harsh climates, and suitability for guarding, patrolling, and protecting. The envisioned Russian “universal military dog” needed to be versatile, healthy, ferocious, yet trainable, resilient, and highly fertile. This strategic breeding effort led to the creation of the Black Russian Terrier (BRT).
To understand the Black Russian Terrier, one must delve into its rich heritage. The breed was developed by fusing desirable characteristics from several ancestor breeds, each contributing unique traits to form the formidable BRT. While it is commonly acknowledged that the Giant Schnauzer, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, and Airedale Terrier were the primary breeds involved, in reality, over twenty breeds played a role in creating the BRT. This extensive genetic pool ensured the development of a robust and versatile dog.
Within Red Star Kennel, four cross-bred groups of dogs were established as the foundation for the “Black Terrier” breed group:
The first-generation “Black Terriers” exhibited extreme diversity, making it impossible to standardize them as a single breed at that time. Additionally, there were several “blind spots” in the breed’s early history, including the use of non-purebred specimens and inferior quality material. For example, Giant Schnauzer Roy had a straight or level bite, and another Giant Schnauzer, Lasso F. Drachtenslucht, was a cryptorchid (a condition where one or both testicles fail to descend). These oversights were necessary compromises due to post-war Europe’s limited canine population.
By the fourth generation, the majority of the produced dogs could be classified as Black Russian Terriers. These dogs were large, covered with a coarse, somewhat shaggy black coat, and featured developed furnishing hair forming whiskers and beards on the head. They had ears that hung on cartilage, dark eyes, powerful jaws adorned with large teeth, strong limbs, and sturdy bodies. The dogs were ferocious, had a strong, stable nervous system, excellent hearing and sense of smell, and were highly trainable.
According to the original design and Standard of the Black Russian Terrier (BRT), the breed’s tail was traditionally docked. This practice was based on two key, but often undocumented, reasons.
First, docking was considered a safety measure. The BRT was bred to guard military installations, prisons, and labor camps, where it was crucial for the dog to be protected from potential attacks. An intact tail could easily be grabbed and broken by an assailant, making it a vulnerability in high-risk situations.
The second reason relates to the uniformity of the breed. The BRT’s ancestor breeds had tails that varied widely in shape and size, leading to inconsistencies in the appearance of the BRT’s tail. Rather than selectively breeding for a specific tail type, which could be a lengthy and complex process, docking provided a straightforward solution to achieve a consistent look across the breed.
In 1955, the breed group “Black Terriers” was exhibited at the State Agricultural Exhibition, where the Red Star State Kennel was awarded the Gold Medal for its groundbreaking work. The following year, in 1956, the Red Star State Kennel published the very first Standard for the breed group in the exhibition catalog, solidifying the Black Russian Terrier’s place in canine history.
Since the 1950s, the Red Star State Kennel established an efficient fostering and breeding collaboration program with various civilian canine training clubs. BRT puppies were placed only in the expert hands of the most experienced breeders and trainers, helping to manage the growing population and advance the breeding program more rapidly.
By the end of the 1970s, over 800 litters of Black Russian Terriers had been bred, with more than four thousand puppies conforming to the Breed Standard. In 1981, the Black Russian Terrier was officially recognized as a breed by the USSR Ministry of Agriculture. This recognition was followed by the breed’s acceptance into the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1984.
The export of Black Russian Terriers abroad and their participation in international dog shows began in the 1980s. The breed’s presence on the global stage continued to grow, and in 2001, the Black Russian Terrier was admitted to the Miscellaneous Class of the American Kennel Club (AKC). The breed was then accepted into the AKC Working Group on July 1, 2004. The Black Russian Terrier was fully recognized in Canada in 2020, although it had been successfully shown as a Miscellaneous breed since 2004.
These milestones in recognition and standardization reflect the breed’s journey from a purpose-bred military dog to a respected and celebrated breed worldwide.
The Black Russian Terrier stands as a testament to meticulous breeding and dedication, resulting in a versatile and formidable Working dog. Originally bred to meet the demanding needs of the Soviet Union’s military, the BRT has evolved into a beloved companion and versatile performer in various disciplines. Understanding its rich heritage and the challenges overcome during its development provides a deeper appreciation for the breed’s unique characteristics and enduring legacy.
FCI BRT Standard:
https://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/327g02-en.pdf
AKC BRT Standard:
https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/BlackRussianTerrier.pdf
OCT, M.F.A., B.Sc., B.Ed.
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