10 Things You Didn’t Know about the Black Russian Terrier
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People who are interested in a guard dog might want to consider the Black Russian Terrier. Despite its name, said dog isn’t a hunter so much as a guard who combines outstanding capabilities with the cool confidence needed to make the best use of them. Unfortunately, Black Russian Terriers can be rare, meaning that interested individuals might need to put in some serious effort to find the right option when searching for one to take home. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about the Black Russian Terrier:
1. Sometimes Called Tchiorny Terrier
Sometimes, the Black Russian Terrier is called the Tchiorny Terrier. However, interested individuals should know that “Tchiorny” isn’t the name of either some person, some place, or something else that is important to the existence of the Black Russian Terrier. Instead, it is Russian for “black.”
2. Recent Creation
There are some dog breeds that have existed for centuries and centuries. In contrast, the existence of the Black Russian Terrier is measured in decades. After all, it came into existence through the efforts of the Soviet Union’s Red Star Kennel, which took place in the late 1940s and the early 1950s.
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3. Not a True Terrier
Considering the look of the Black Russian Terrier, it is no wonder that it is named thus. However, it is interesting to note that it isn’t a true terrier, not least because it wasn’t meant to remove foxes and other burrowing animals from their holes.
4. Believed to Have Been Bred from 17 Dog Breeds
On the whole, the Black Russian Terrier is believed to have come into existence by breeding 17 different dog breeds. Some examples include but are not limited to the Rottweiler, the Giant Schnauzer, and the Caucasian Shepherd Dog.
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5. Wasn’t Bred for Looks Until Later
There are some significant differences between the looks of modern Black Russian Terriers and the looks of their earliest predecessors. For example, the earliest examples were much plainer in appearance, which is perhaps unsurprising considering that the Red Star Kennel was much more interested in their ability to work rather than their appearance. It wasn’t until Black Russian Terriers were sold to civilians that they started being bred for looks as well as working ability.
6. Either Black or Black with Grey Mixed In
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Black Russian Terrier has a black coat, which consists of the coarser outer hair serving as protection for the finer inner hair. However, there are some examples that have black coats with grey hairs mixed into them for a noticeably different appearance.
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7. Calm and Confident
Generally speaking, the Black Russian Terrier is a calm and confident dog that possesses a fair amount of intelligence, which is very useful for making it capable of performing a wide range of tasks for its human master. However, there are Black Russian Terriers that are shy as well as those that are excitable in a way that their counterparts are not, neither of which are good characteristics for the kind of jobs that the members of the dog breed were intended to be trusted with.
8. Not Fond of Strangers
Primarily, the Black Russian Terrier was created to be a guard dog. As a result, it gets along quite well with its family members. Unfortunately, the protective instinct of Black Russian Terrier can be seen in their coldness towards strangers, meaning that said individuals might want to avoid making said dogs uncomfortable by getting too close.
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9. Needs Plenty of Exercise
Naturally, the Black Russian Terrier needs plenty of exercise. In part, this is because a lack of exercise can leave them with too much energy to burn, which can lead them to some rather destructive habits. However, it should also be noted that the Black Russian Terrier needs something to do because that is its nature as a working dog.
10. Needs Regular Grooming
Black Russian Terriers do their best when they are getting the regular grooming that they need to look their best. This means multiple grooming sessions on a weekly basis, which should be in addition to regular teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and nail clipping. Otherwise, the consequences can be unpleasant, as shown by how the dog breed is susceptible to cracked nails.
