Black Russian Terriers 101

Name: Black Russian Terrier

Personality: A big-boned terrier with a fascinating history that's only starting to gain attention stateside, the black Russian terrier is a bundle of desirable qualities. The Black Russian Terrier Club of America lists calmness, confidence, courageousness, high intelligence and extreme reliabilit, as common traits -- all cloaked in what sometimes appears to be an aloof demeanor. But that's just the dog's self-assured exterior, says the BRTCA. In fact, aloofness really isn't in their make-up at all: "They want to be close to family members at all times and are very loyal companions."

Grooming: DogTime.com claims that black Russian terriers don't shed much. The recommended grooming regimen includes a weekly brushing of their double coats using three tools in tandem: an undercoat rake, a stripping comb and a slicker brush. This breed also boasts distinct facial hair, including a "beard," a "mustache" and old-man bushy eyebrows, but DogTime.com claims that these needn't be specially trimmed. Some owners take their black Russian terriers for yearly clippings to reduce the size of their long, somewhat bushy coats.

Common Health Issues: Besides the more common canine ailments (dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy), black Russian terriers are not known to suffer from any illnesses or disorders unusually common to the breed.


Training Tips: Dog Breed Info Center warns that black Russian terriers "have a strong protective instinct that will appear at the age of one-and-a-half to two years. Growing puppies should be treated lovingly but firmly, to steer them in the right direction." The site also notes that the breed is easy to housebreak, and these dogs enjoy a good training session, as it provides a time to bond with their owners and perform a job. As with any working dog, some form of training should be incorporated into the dog's life beyond puppyhood.

Best For: People who seek a very close companion. A Black Russian terrier may love the outdoors, says Dog Breed Info Center, but it doesn't want to be left outside to play in a fenced yard on its own It wants to play with its owner right by its side: "They will follow you from one room to the other... and wait for you at the door. They need very close human contact. This breed does not do well living in a kennel; they must have close human contact to be happy." Bonus if you've got a flair for the exotic, as black Russian terriers are still generally considered a rare breed outside of Russia.

What Black Russian Terrier Owners Say: One Black Russian terrier breeder boldly claims that his pet is: "The best family-oriented guard dog I have ever owned."

Tags: black russian terrier, BlackRussianTerrier, Choosing a Dog Breed, ChoosingADogBreed, dog, Dog adoption, Dog Breed 101, DogAdoption, DogBreed101, dogs, Dogs 101, Dogs101, Pet Adoption, PetAdoption