Black Russian Terrier pros and cons
Owning a Black Russian Terrier breed has many pros and cons. Some of the pros of Black Russian Terrier breed include the dog's strong instinct to protect his family and territory. Black Russian Terriers make excellent guard dogs because of their alert temperament and black coat that makes this dog almost impossible to see at night. Black Russian Terriers are suspicious of unfamiliar people and take their time before accepting a stranger into their circle of people that the dog can trust. Black Russian Terriers are large and intimidating in appearance, which is another reason this breed is an effective guard dog. Besides being a good watchdog, Black Russian Terriers are very loyal to their owners. Potential Black Russian Terrier owners need to have experience with large and strong minded breeds. A seasoned owner who is capable of providing guidance and leadership to a strong minded and at times dominant dog. Black Russian Terriers can be trained to a high standard. Although trainining a Black Russian Terrier can be a challenge for a novice dog owner, Black Russian Terriers are essentially working dogs that can turn into well behaved family dogs in the right hands.
What are the cons of owning a Black Russian Terrier? The challenges of owning a Black Russian Terrier include the extensive grooming needs. The thick, double coat needs daily brushing. Monthly trimming is also important to keep the coat looking neat. Some owners choose to groom a Black Russian Terrier at home. With professional grooming tools and some practice it is possible to achieve great grooming results without having to spend a lot of money at dog grooming salons that can be expensive.
Black Russian Terriers are active dogs that need an energetic owner who can provide the dog with long daily walks as well as physical and mental exercise. Black Russian Terriers are large and powerful dogs that need continuous obedience training, otherwise this dog breed can be difficult to manage, which can be a disadvantage and also a liability.
Although Black Russian Terriers have the potential to be good family dogs, this is not the ideal breed for families with small children or for the elderly. Owning a Black Russian Terrier requires a lot of time and dedication. This demanding breed has high grooming needs and extensive training. KGB dog is not ideal for a novice dog owner as the dog can be challenging to manage due to the large size and independent, dominant temperament.
As a family pet, Black Russian Terriers are not recommended for families with babies or small children who have a limited time for caring for a demanding dog such as the Black Russian Terrier. Black Russian Terrier owners need to enjoy grooming a pet because grooming will have to become a daily ritual that can easily take 30 minutes out of the day. Long walks are a must with this active breed. Owners also need to provide the dog with a high quality training and socialize the pet. In other words only people who can dedicate lots of time every day on the family pet should consider this breed.
Black Russian Terrier size
Black Russian Terrier weight
Black Russian Terrier male weight: 50 to 60 kg (110 to 132 lb)
Black Russian Terrier female weight: 45 to 50 kg (99 to 110 lb)
Black Russian Terrier size
Black Russian Terrier male height: 69 to 74 cm (27 to 29 in)
Black Russian Terrier female height: 66 to 71 cm (25 to 27 in)
Black Russian Terrier coat: double coat, waterproof, coarse, slightly waved
Black Russian Terrier colors: black with some scattered gray hairs
How many puppies do Russian prison dogs have on average?
Black Russian Terrier litter size: 6 to 12 puppies
How long do Russian prison dogs live?
Black Russian Terrier life span: 10 to 14 years
Black Russian Terrier other breed names: Russian Prison dogs, Russian Guard dog, Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier, Chornyi Terrier, Noir Russe, Russian Bear Schnauzer, Black Terrier, Chernish, Tchiorny Terrier, the KGB dog, sobaka KGB, Stalin's dog, sobaka Stalina, Russian Prison dog
How much do Black Russian Terrier puppies cost?
A Black Russian Terrier price starts at around $1,000 and up, depending on many factors
Black Russian Terrier temperament
Russian dog breeds include the Black Russian Terrier. This working guardian dog is easy to recognize by it's completely black coat, large size and a signature beard that covers the whole muzzle and even forms eyebrows. Black Russian Terrier is a self-assured dog that has a calm, confident and courageous temperament. Instinctively protective, the Russian Bear Schnauzer treats strangers with aloofness, which is a desirable trait in a guardian dog. Shyness in Black Terrier is considered a serious temperament flaw.
Can Black Russian Terriers live in an apartment? The Russian dog breed is not a couch dog who will be content in an apartment all day with nothing to do. Quite the opposite - a Black Russian Terrier is the kind of dog that needs plenty of space to exercise and a job to do. An impressive work ethic and alert, responsive temperament allow Russian prison dogs to excel at Obedience competitions, and perform well at Agility and Schutzhund dog sports. This high energy breed needs plenty of daily exercise, otherwise the dog may get bored and destructive behavior may start to appear due to all that energy that needs to be released. If you have a large yard that needs to be protected - the Black Russian Terrier will do the job right. The black coat of the Black Russian Terrier makes the giant russian dog practically invisible in the dark which gives him an advantage in guarding a territory at night. That is another reason why Russian prison dogs were popular guard dogs that were originally used to keep jails safe. The giant Russian dog should not live outdoors - this is an indoor breed that needs plenty of communication with the human family. Black Russian Terrier has a loyal temperament and he needs constant contact with the owner to be happy.
The large Russian guard dog requires at least basic training in order for the owner to be able to control the big dog. Here are some tips to keep in mind in case you notice aggression tendencies in your Black Russian Terrier towards other dogs. This breed needs to see the owner as a leader that the dog respects, otherwise the dog may start imposing his own leadership and in a family situation a dominant behavior in a dog is not acceptable. This breed does best with an experienced owner and is not recommended for a first time dog owner. Early socialization is very important especially with a large breed such as the Black Russian Terrier. Are Black Russian Terriers good with kids? This large guard dog is not recommended for families with young kids.
Black Russian Terrier is also known by the following names: Russian Prison dog, Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier, Chornyi Terrier, Noir Russe, Russian Bear Schnauzer, Black Terrier, Russian Army dogs, Chernish and Tchiorny Terrier. The dog breed earned other names, including: the KGB dog (sobaka KGB) and Stalin's dog (sobaka Stalina) as this giant Russian dog was originally created and employed by the Russian military government forces to raid various anti-government activists and to maintain order in jails.
The KGB dog (another name for the Black Russian Terrier) was created in the former Soviet Union as a working/military dog. Russian military kennel known as "The Red Star kennel" developed the Black Russian Terrier dog breed. The following breeds were used in order to create the Black Russian Terrier: Giant Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and other breeds for a total of seventeen different breeds. Most of these breeds came from the countries liberated by Soviet Union during the World War II. The Black Russian Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2004.
What should a potential owner know about the Black Russian Terrier breed? The important part for the future owner of this working dog breed is to learn as much as possible about Russian Prison dogs and to know exactly the purpose for the new puppy. The Black Russian Terrier is not for every owner and because it is a working breed, this dog needs an owner who is able to keep him busy with something to do - whether it is guarding the territory, performing for Obedience competitions or for any other dog sports such as Agility or Schutzhund. If you do not have any specific purpose for the Russian Bear Schnauzer, it is best to select a different breed.
Black Russian Terrier grooming
Black Russian Terrier have a completely black coat with some scattered gray hairs showing through here and there. The thick, waterproof double coat needs to be properly groomed. Do Russian Terriers shed? Black Russian Terriers have minimal shedding but require high coat maintenance. The low shedding coat requires daily brushing and monthly trimming. Brush the dog's hair at least three times every week to avoid hot spots forming. The abundant coat may cause overheating during hot summer days. Be sure to keep your dog in a cooler area, preferably with air conditioning.
The abundant coat of Black Russian Terrier requires frequent brushing and coat trimming to keep the coat neat and tangle-free.
If you are planning to groom a Black Russian Terrier at home, you will need the right dog grooming tools to achieve good results. Best brushes for Black Russian Terrier coat maintenance include a large pin brush and a slicker brush. To keep the dog's coat neat and tangle free, brush the dog regularly.
For bathing the dog, use a mild dog shampoo.
Trim the dog's nails once every six weeks to prevent cracked nails. Overgrown nails may cause pain when the dog is walking. Keep in mind that it is much easier to get a puppy used to having the nails trimmed than it is to accustom a large, fully grown dog such as the Black Russian Terrier to having the nails trimmed.
The dog's teeth also need regular cleaning. Keep the dog's teeth healthy by regular brushing, starting when the dog is still a young puppy. Healthy teeth help the rest of the dog to stay healthy. Be sure to provide your Chornyi Terrier with rawhide bones to chew on. Chewing on rawhide helps to keep the dog's teeth clean and at the same time the dog gets entertained. Providing your dog with a rawhide bone when you are away for some time will also keep the dog busy doing something non-destructive while you're away.
After each feeding, the beard and facial hair on the dog will need to be cleaned to avoid any bacterial infections. The Russian Prison dog features long eyebrows that may be falling into the dog's eyes. Secure the section of the hair above his eyes to avoid eye irritations and other issues with the eyes. To avoid ear infections, be sure to keep the ears clean and wipe the ears with soft, clean towel after swimming and bathing. Dog ear wipes provide an easy way to keep your pet's ears clean.
Black Russian Terrier obedience training
Start training Black Russian Terrier puppies early. This highly intelligent breed responds well to positive reinforcement training. Use treats, toys and play as a form of motivation. When you are working with the dog, you will notice which motivator works best with your specific dog. At the very minimum your Black Russian Terrier needs to know all of the basic commands. As an owner of a large dog you need to have full control over the Chornyi Terrier when outdoors, surrounded by other people and animals that your dog may react to. You are responsible for keeping the dog well behaved in public areas and that's where the knowledge of basic commands will be very helpful.
Crate training makes traveling with the large Black Russian Terrier much easier as the dog is traveling in a familiar environment, thus decreasing the stress associated with traveling. Transporting a crated dog in a car is the safest way for the dog to travel. Dog crates also serve as a dog's sleeping area at home. Many crate trained dogs enjoy sleeping in their crate and often bring their chewable toys to chew on in the peaceful environment. A crate should be the dog's safe area where he can rest and relax. If a Black Russian Terrier gets destructive while you are not around, a crate can keep the dog out of trouble. Never leave a dog in the crate for more than two hours. Arrange for someone to walk the dog, give him water and food if you are at work. Keeping the dog in the crate for hours on end is not a healthy way to keep your dog. Crates should never be used as a way to punish the dog as the dog will be reluctant to use the crate in the future.
Some owners choose to hire a professional dog trainer. Learn how to select the right dog trainer for your Black Russian Terrier. Housetraining should begin as soon as you bring the puppy home. Set the rules and stay consistent to establish a mutually respectful relationship with your Noir Russe. Start socializing your Black Russian Terrier puppy from a young age as this large breed has strong guarding instinct and may be very suspicious towards strangers. The more time you invest in socializing your Black Russian Terrier early on, the more stable and confident the mature dog will be.
Black Russian Terrier can get along fine with other pets in the household provided that you socialized the dog to other pets early on.
Black Russian Terrier health issues
Black Russian Terrier is a big dog with deep and narrow chest. These factors predispose a Black Russian Terrier breed for being susceptible to bloat. To decrease the possibility of developing Bloat do not overfeed your dog. Some specialists recommend feeding a dog twice a day reasonable amount of dog food rather than once a day a large amount. Use slow feeder dog bowls to prevent the dog from swallowing too much air along with dog food.
Russian Prison dogs are predisposed to hip and elbow Dysplasia. Arthritis is also common for large dog breeds, including the Black Russian Terrier. Avoid high impact exercises that involve jumping while the dog is still a puppy. Walking and swimming are good exercises for a Black Russian Terrier puppy and will not put too much pressure on the growing bones. Provide the dog with a comfortable and supportive dog bed that will allow him to get a good rest. Orthopedic dog beds that have a removable cover are easy to keep clean and fresh.
Other potential health issues for this breed are eye problems, bladder or kidney stones, heart disease, thyroid problems and knee problems.
Do not overfeed your Russian Bear Schnauzer. Obesity in dogs leads to all kinds of health issues. Human food is not recommended for Black Russian Terriers as human food does not include all the necessary nutrients to keep your dog healthy and in good weight. Feed your Noir Russe age-appropriate high quality dog food formulated for large breeds. Clean, fresh water should be always available for your dog to drink.
Compare Black Russian Terrier to other breeds
Black Russian Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer
Cons and pros of other large dog breeds
Afghan Hound pros and challenges
Akita pros and challenges
Alaskan Malamute pros and challenges
American Foxhound pros and challenges
Anatolian Shepherd pros and challenges
Azawakh pros and challenges
Belgian Malinois pros and challenges
Bernese Mountain Dog pros and challenges
Bloodhound pros and challenges
Borzoi pros and challenges
Bouvier des Flandres pros and challenges
Doberman Pinscher pros and challenges
German Shepherd pros and challenges
Golden Retriever pros and challenges
Great Dane pros and challenges
Labrador Retriever pros and challenges
Rottweiler pros and challenges
Large breeds with pictures
|
