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THE HISTORY OF THE BREED
At the end of WWII, Russia, like the majority of European countries, had to face the problem of re-building.
This was necessary in order to favour social and economic re-growth following the disastrous results of those terrible war years.
The damages were sustained not only by the population, although undoubtedly the people were those most affected (as regards number of victims and inhumane conditions), but many animal species were also affected, and foremost among these, were dogs.
The re-building that followed had to deal with many problems.
One of the most important was that the population was forced to plunder in order to survive.
The people had been brought to their knees by an inhumane war, they had experienced horrendous massacres, and were deeply wounded by the conflict which involved the entire Soviet productive system.
The view offered to the governors of the time was bleak.
Re-building had to overcome enormous social and economic problems, penalising the human aspect. It was the people that continued to experience hardship and deprivation.
The results were the same in many countries, plunder and theft by a devastated population going hungry.
At the same time there was the need to select dogs able to effectively guard budding agricultural and industrial premises, as well as military bases undergoing re-construction, which were to defend the national territory.
It was the same Soviet Central Government that established the "Red Star" National Breeding Centre for the creation of a dog having those types of characteristics, and capable of being hardy, easily adaptable, and therefore easy to train.
This dog had to be of a specific mass and size, suitable for guard work in the widest range of environmental and weather conditions present in Russia.
Various attempts were made at cross-breeding various species, initially without achieving satisfactory results that fulfilled the necessary requirements.
Different breeds were used at the beginning, using the few examples that had survived the war, breeds such as Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Giant Schnauzers (mostly imported from occupied territories), as well as a few native, non recognised breeds such as Alsatian wolfhounds and Moscow Great Danes.
As already mentioned the first examples were not as successful as was hoped, nonetheless this path was followed and cross-breeding techniques were refined along the way.
Division General Miedvied was a perpetrator of this research, and is today rightly considered to be the father of the Breed.
At the time he headed a group of Biologists at the Central Breeding School for Police dogs.
Various attempts were made, and it was discovered that a Giant Schnauzer named Roj mated to females of various breeds such as southern Russian Sheep dogs, Airedales, Rottweillers and others, always produced descendants with a dark coat, strong, and with an elongated, important head.
The way had been shown.
Roj and his descendants continued to be used, choosing from among the strongest and the best puppies, and ever present was the requirement that at that time what was important was not the creation of beautiful dogs, but rather working dogs that were able to guard and defend, and dogs suitable for Police work.
They had to be able to withstand hardships, be strong and above all have a great aptitude to work.
In actual fact we do not know, and nor do the Russians themselves know, which breeds and how many were used in the cross-breeding that contributed to the characteristics of the Russian Black Terrier.
We do know that the dogs contain genes from Airedale Terriers, Rottweilers, Black Riesenschnauzers, Dobermanns, all more or less cross-bred, as well as other native breeds such as the Moscow Newfoundland, some wolfhounds, Laikas and Southern Russian Sheep Dogs.
Obviously, as time went on, the types were scaled down and the best dogs chosen, dogs that were similar and resembled one another, to a point where one "type" was set, which was more or less the one we are currently seeing in the show rings.
The first Russian Black Terriers were presented in 1955, and the results obtained in official events as well as the outcome of the breeding earned the National Centre a gold medal.
This was an extremely prestigious award at the time.
Two years later over 40 Russian Black Terriers were shown at the PanSoviet Show for Police Dogs. They immediately captured the attention of breeders and enthusiasts alike, and a few dogs were even lent from the National Centre to private breeders, beginning, in this way, a collaboration between "state" and "private" enterprise, that immediately led to a positive outcome for the breed.
At the same time the kennels began to expand, breaking out from the confines of Moscow, and moving into the Volga and Urals areas and the northern parts of the country.
The first Breed Clubs were also starting to emerge, that set the breeding criteria and direction.
In 1958 the first Breeding Standard was published together with breeding and use instructions for the Russian Black Terrier.
This led to the establishment of the breed, and refined it, selecting the typical characteristics, overcoming the requirements of simple usefulness set by the Centres and Military Academies, and honing the type, build and coat.
The rest, as they say, is history.
In the '70's there were over 4.000 dogs, this consequently permitted the first exports to Scandinavian countries, with Finland at the forefront.
The first Black Terriers arrived in Finland around 1978, when the breed was still not officially recognised by the International Kennel Federation, and an interesting fact is that the first adult dogs to be imported were paid about 50 dollars each!
It was only in 1981 that the breed was officially recognised in Russia, where the first real official standard was drawn up by the General Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Meanwhile a few of the dogs had also emigrated to countries within the USSR sphere of influence, immediately capturing the attention of many enthusiasts who began breeding them.
Final international acceptance was gained in 1983 with the approval of the Standard by the "F.C.I" (I.K.F.).
The standard bears the number 327 and the breed is included, more for its name, in Group 3, among the other Terrier groups.
Indeed, the Russian Kennel Club, which was established following "perestroika", on numerous occasions requested that the "F.C.I." insert the breed into Group 2.
This justified request was granted, and this placing now favours the dog's characteristics as a work dog, justifying those who 40 years ago created this breed highlighting what were then work characteristics rather than appearance.
Thus we can say that the final outcome has been quite extraordinary.
One can safely say that in no other case in the long history of dog breeds has another breed been wanted, created and established in so short a period of time, and above all with such speedy results concerning quality and popularity, to warrant being called "the black pearl of Russia"!.
Today Russian Black Terriers are widespread in all the continents and interest in this breed continues to grow.
Their quality in their country of origin and abroad has reached such noteworthy levels that they often win not only their own group category, but also the Best of Show categories.
The problem we now face is that of keeping the dogs at the same level as in their homeland, those levels demanded by the Russians.
The levels of development that have been reached and which are continuing could lead to a slide in quality, producing more for the market rather than aiming at a strict adherence and improvement of the type and those natural qualities as set out in the Standard.
This is the price often paid by other breeds that have undergone a development that has been too fast, leading to breeding aimed more at the market than within the regulations set by the Standards.
We hope that this will not be case with the Russian Black Terrier, although we can state that in many countries and on many continents there are a few dogs that exhibit worrying deviations both in type and character.
The admittance of Russia to the International Kennel Federation will offer the best guarantee for safeguarding the breed.
The Black Terrier is judged more and more often by Russian specialist judges in the most important Shows, and this represents an absolute guarantee for a harmonious development under the guidelines set by the Standard.
RUSSIAN STANDARD
Black Russian Terriers are large, strong dogs, standing higher than average.
They are aloof with strangers, strong, brave and sure of themselves.
The body is rather square-shaped.
They are easily adaptable to various weather conditions and are easy to train.
For many years Black Russian Terriers were used as guard-dogs, and this confirms their suitability as work-dogs and their reliability.
Their well-balanced nature and the fact that they are easy to train make them suitable not only as guard-dogs, but also in other areas.
The Black Russian Terrier has a strong bone structure, well-proportioned, hardy, with powerful muscles.
Type of quick movement: balanced and lithe with active defence reactions.
The sexual dimorphism must still be well defined.
Preferred height for males is 68-74 cm, females 66-72 cm.
The minimum height for males is 66 cm, females 64 cm.
The maximum height may be exceeded by 3 cm.
Heights in excess of the maximum height considerably decrease the quality of the dog.
A thick, rough coat covers the body of the Black Russian Terrier.
The decorative coat grows thickly on his head and paws.
Grooming in the set fashion is compulsory.
HEAD
In proportion with the general dimensions of the body, long (equal to or slightly more than 40% of the height at the withers).
Cranial proportion is moderately large, with rounded, not over-pronounced cheekbones.
Eyebrows are rather pronounced.
A flat forehead, the stop should be well defined but not pronounced.
Cranial-facial axes should be parallel.
A large muzzle, tapering slightly towards the nose, is slightly shorter than half the length of the head. The moustache and beard add to the squaring off of the muzzle, The full, meaty, rounded and black lips adhere perfectly to the bone structure.
Large black nose.
The gums are dark.
EARS
The ears are set rather high, pendular on cartilage, not large and triangular in shape.
The front edges are attached to the cheekbones.
The hanging part of the outer ear is flat, without folds.
EYES
The eyes are not large, almond-shaped, straight and set apart.
Eye colour should be dark.
Lids are dry, dark and close.
TEETH
Large, white and close-set.
A complete set of teeth. (42 teeth).
Lower incisors should be in a straight line.
Scissors bite.
NECK
The neck should be thick, muscular and powerful.
Average length (approximately equal to the length of the head.) It forms a 40-45° angle with the line of the back.
TRUNK
In cross-section the chest seems to be oval-shaped.
Long, wide and deep with the ribs protruding slightly.
The front part of the chest protrudes slightly in front of the line linking the scapula-humerus joints.
The lower profile of the chest falls to the elbows or slightly lower.
The chest height makes up 46-47% of the height of the dog at the withers.
The belly reaches to above the lower line of the chest.
The withers is high, long, well developed and rampant.
Height at the withers is 1-2 cm greater than that measured at the top of the rump.
A strong, muscular, straight and wide topline; the length is approximately equal to half of the distance between top of the withers and the base of the tail.
Wide, short kidney (approximately half as long as the topline), muscular and slightly convex.
Wide, muscular rump, slightly sloping towards the tail, which is set high.
TAIL
Set high, thick and cropped (3-5 vertebrae are left).
FOREQUARTERS
Seen from the front these are straight and parallel.
Blades are long, slope at a 45 ° angle, and form an angle of approx.
100° with the humerus.
Muscular shoulders.
Straight, large forelegs, of average length, vertical and parallel.
Elbows strictly outwards.
Short, strong and almost vertical metacarpals.
Height of the forequarters to the elbows make up 53-54% of the height of the dog to the withers.
HINDQUARTERS
Seen from behind, these should be straight and parallel, slightly more set apart than the front ones. Large hocks with well-developed muscles.
Rather long femurs, with a high degree of angulation.
The knee-joint angle is at approximately 120°.
Long, obliquely placed legs.
Shin joints are lean and well-outlined, and form an angle of approximately 120°.
The metatarsals are strong, long and vertical.
FEET
Large, curved and rounded.
Dark nails.
Dewclaws must be removed.
COAT
The coat is coarse, hard, and thick.
The hairs are wavy, 4-10 cm long, and cover the entire body.
Ornamental hair is well developed and shapes the overhanging brows, moustache and beard, while there is a mane on the neck and withers.
The fore and hindquarters are well covered by long, coarse hair.
The undercoat is thick and soft, and is well developed.
Grooming in the set fashion is compulsory.
COLOUR
Black or black with a few grey hairs.
GAIT
Characteristic gait is the brisk trot and the gallop.
At a trot the limbs must move in a straight line, with the front limbs nearing the median line.
Back and kidney have an elastic movement.
Fore and hindquarter joints extend freely.
The dog covers a lot of terrain when in movement, as a result of the strong thrust of the hindquarters and the marked elongation of the forequarters.
FAULTS
A light or rough build.
The dog stands high or low on his limbs.
Elongated shape.
Spent or excessively excitable character.
Short, thick, light or heavy head, out of proportion to the rest of the body.
Convex forehead, wide cheekbones.
Short nasal canal, turning upward or downward or very pointed.
Lack of meatyness in mouth.
Small nose.
Ears that are very folded, semi-erect or very set apart from the head.
Eyes that are round, light-coloured, slanting or set close together.
Loose eyelids, a visible third eyelid or whitish mark on the cornea (leucoma) .
Un-pigmented lips and gums.
Teeth that are small, sparse or very damaged.
Short neck with dewlap or set high.
A chest that is flat, barrel-shaped, small, open or tight.
Collapsing back, or a tight, convex or too long back.
A kidney that is long, curved, kyphotic or tight.
A rump that is horizontal, sloping or thin.
Hooked tail.
Dragging, straight shoulders.
Limbs too close.
Short femur and tibia, loose joints.
Straight hindquarters or positioned underneath.
Flat or deviated feet, light-coloured nails or dewclaws.
Too many grey hairs (more than one third of the colour).
Straight hair, very close to the body, or hair that merges with the decorative hair on the head and limbs.
Tied and heavy movements, lifted hindquarters during movement.
Oscillation of the back or a strong vertical movement of the back.
Side or ambling gait.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
Build out of proportion.
Deviation from standard.
Cowardlyness, excitability, uncontrolled aggressiveness.
Monorchidism, criptorchidism or non-development of a testicle.
Nose not black.
Any bite other than scissors; absence of teeth or incisors not in a straight line.
Uncropped tail.
Soft, short, silky or curly coat.
Absence of decorative hair on head or limbs.
Presence of white markings.
Clear demarcation of areas with many grey hairs.
Colour not corresponding to standard.
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