It is a special breed of the Russian breeder “Red Star” (red army) that used the dog for guarding the barracks and the jails.

Even before the revolution in 1917 different breeds were known and bred by unprofessional and professional breeders, but none of them was really under control of the country. Known were: Central-Asian Sheepdog, Kaukasian Sheepdog, Russian Alsatian dog and South-Russian Sheepdog.

In 1924 the revolutionary military counsel gave out a document which said that dogs should be used for military purposes.

After the war the number of military dogs sank. The breeder “Red Star” got the order from the government to breed and train watchdogs. These dogs should be used in all parts and climates of the country.

In the former UDSSR there was no universal breed except the East-German Sheepdog, which could also be used in the harsh climate.

During the war dogs were caught – for instance: Newfoundland dogs, Rottweiler dogs large breed schnauzers. From these dogs a special, large, aggressive and clever dog should be bred which should also be easy to handle.

At the beginning some new breeding groups were made. Some are still existing: “The Moscow watchdog” and the BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER.

The black terrier developed from purposeful breeding. This dog connects the braveness and the uncomplicated character of the Kaukasian sheepdog, the cleverness and inventiveness of the schnauzer, the energy and fighting strength of the Rottweiler, the dignity and self-control of the Newfoundland dog and the agility of the airedale terrier.


 

• The “Red Star” interbreeded  the following dogs:
  
   

• EAST EUROPEAN SHEEPDOG + NEWFOUNDLAND DOG
  
   

• SAINT BERNARD + KAUKASIAN SHEEPDOG
  
   

• “GERMAN DOG” + EAST EUROPEAN SHEEPDOG
  
   

• NEWFOUNDLAND DOG + KAUKASIAN SHEEPDOG
  
   

• LARGE SCHNAUZER + AIREDALE TERRIER
  
   

• LARGE SCHNAUZER + ROTTWEILER
  
   

A special attention was put on SCHNAUZER, ROTTWEILER and AIREDALE TERRIER because of their special qualifications, which the breeders wanted to connect in one dog.

The Russian army soon stopped the breeding of the black terrier. They were all-round dogs, strong and brave BUT they needed a lot of care and it lasted 3 years to have a dog which can be fully put into action. The training was too expensive and too much work!

 First the black terrier was too aggressive for “normal” people.

In the fifties puppies and adult dogs were sold to private “dog lovers”. Soon they could be found in several Russian cities. People were proud getting a dog from the “Red Star”. Some time later these dogs came to Finland, Poland and Hungary, where they are still bred.

The typical features of the black terrier today are beauty, fur, etc. but those things were not important in former times when the dogs were working for the army.

The breeding standard changed. Today the black terriers have got an unspoilt character. They are lovable, reliable and friendly dogs which admire their families!

It is the youngest Russian breed. It was accepted 13^th May 1981 by the Russian Ministry of Agriculture.

The black terrier got the official valid standard 29^th September 1983. The characteristic marks of this breed can be read in: FCI-STANDARD Nr. 327

FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 2, pinscher and schnauzer – mollosser and    “Schweizer Sennenhunde”(from Switzerland)
Section: 1.4 Tchiorny Terrier (black terrier

The latest breeding standard was authorized in 1992 by the “Red Star” and the Central Club of Service Dogs. The new standard is a bit different to the FCI-standard. (height)

It’s interesting how many names this terrier has got: BLACK TERRIER (FCI), BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER (Germany), but it is also called BLACK RUSSIAN or RUSSIAN PEARL:

The name doesn’t matter. What counts are the qualities and they are nearly perfect!

It’s a fact that the black terrier doesn’t lose hair and it doesn’t need a hair cut. This is very comfortable for the owner.

The black terrier loves its family but it prefers one member as “the master” or “the chief”. If the dog has to choose between playing with other dogs or with the family, it will always prefer the family! A terrier will always defend the family members in any moments of danger and it will always risk its own life for them.
Its behaviour tells everyone: leave me and my family alone – then I will leave you alone too!

The black terriers are calm and well-balanced. People mostly notice them because of their impressive appearance but never because of their bad behaviour.
Playing and jumping around with the family are the greatest things to do for a black terrier.

The black terriers are very intelligent and like learning and so they must have some work to do, they must be busy. They need much love but also consequence during their training. They never need unnecessary severity! They are not kennel dogs! They must be with their family as much as possible. If you bear these things in mind your new family member will be able to develop perfectly.

 Writer: Elfriede Kammerer-Himmetsberger using literature written by Tatjana Demchuk (Kiev) and FCI standard