THE BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER
BREED DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY
HISTORY OF THE BREED
I do not claim to be a historian of the breed or have access to firsthand, or otherwise confirmed information. There is a general story, however, that I will retell as well as provide some additional sources along with some of my opinion.
Like many aspects of historical events, much can be lost or interpreted, embellished or fabricated. In the case of the BRT, all accounts state the early breed creation was done under secrecy of the former Soviet Union. Because of this, a full accounting of the actual process has never been published or if it has, it hasn't been translated into English, or otherwise made available.
Developed by the USSR as a working dog for the military, the BRT today, is a strong, versatile worker, loyal to his family.
Photo credit: Starry Night Black Russian Terriers
Photo credit: AKC.org
It seems most of our information has come from Russian fanciers who have read some records, possibly from the early private breeders, but not likely from the USSR records. There is a group of fanciers who maintain a detailed database in Russian (with an English translation option) of pedigrees complete with many photographs of dogs back to the 1940s. (brtinfo.ru) This database is self-reported and is not compulsory, so not every BRT is in it. There are enough, however, that most BRT owners can trace their BRT back to the early foundation dogs of the 1940s. For most current-day dogs, that is approximately 17 + generations. Ancestors in common are set to a maximum of 10 generations. Most BRTs in the database have significant inbreeding around the 10th generation mark, with the same ancestor showing up 20 or more times. Current DNA testing confirms that this self-reported database is overall accurate, at least in the level of inbreeding done within the last 20 generations or so to create the breed. (Betterbred)
The basic history is that the former Soviet Union desired a specific type of dog that did not exist. The criteria is said to have been: large, powerful, fearless, all terrain/water able, trainable and hearty in severe weather conditions. WWII had depleted much of the working dog population which compounded the problem of securing a dog to fit their needs.
Photo credit: BRTCC.com
The task to develop this new breed was directed and funded by the state and carried out at the Red Star Kennel by military scientists and cynologists. The breeds originally used and later infused have never been fully agreed upon, but DNA testing does seem to confirm the heavy influence of the Giant Schnauzer. (Betterbred) The Rottweiler is thought to have been heavily used as well and some common genetic predispositions are shared between the BRT and the Rottweiler. (bone cancer and Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis and Polyneuropathy [JLPP]) (Embark) Both of these breeds are listed in the BRT database in pedigrees in the late 1940s and early 1950s. (link to Roy, Giant Schnauzer, "father" of the breed) Other breeds commonly mentioned are the Airedale Terrier, the Caucasian Ovcharka, and the Newfoundland. (also seen in the database early on) Up to 10 other breeds, including some now extinct breeds, have been speculated about but never confirmed. Consensus, however, is that this breed development occurred with no expense spared and with top cynologists. One can imagine how this concentrated effort and singular goal, could result in a new breed in a relatively short time. (roughly 20 years from hybrid refinement to breeding true) (Anderson, p. 66 [see resources]) Without diversion of different interpretations among civilian breeders or solely the choosing of breeding stock based on how well a dog could perform a singular task, as is the history of many breeds, a closed, concentrated effort, created the early BRT.
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The military used the BRT as a military, police, and working dog. It is thought they were used to transport munitions, supplies, injured personnel, and in guarding, patrolling, and controlling prisoners. There is some discrepancy, in the end, as to how much the BRT was actually used for these duties it was developed for. Today, it is difficult to find accounts of BRTs working in these capacities in any other than negligible numbers. Most BRT fanciers agree, however, even if the BRT was never truly a military or police dog success that matched the effort that went into creating the breed, the BRT as a breed, is certainly a success and one of Russia's most proud canine creations.
Once no longer under development by the USSR, and fully in the hands of private, civilian breeders, the breed underwent some additional changes, primarily the softening of the temperament and the move away from the harsh, rough, and scruffy coat. Because of its development as a large working dog, and considering the breeds that went into its creation, the BRT is not considered an actual terrier although it remains in its name.
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Today we have primarily a confident and fearless dog that loves his family. The BRT should have a stable, predictable temperament and can discriminate between friend and foe. This is not a breed for everyone. The BRT requires firm, consistent guidance from a handler they trust as fair. BRTs are very smart and will instinctively make their own decisions which may or may not be good or the right ones. They have a tendency toward guarding so lifetime socialization in a variety of environments and situations is necessary. Their coats are labor intensive, especially the more dense, wooly types. The trade off is less hair on your clothes and in your house, but a commitment to grooming is required. The BRT is often referred to as a Velcro dog. They bond with one person and do not like to be far from that person. Some of them have a strong prey drive and will chase small animals so a rock-solid recall is necessary when off lease. Unlike some breeds bred specifically for game hunting (such as hounds), or vermin control, BRTs traditionally will obey a recall when encountering prey, if trained well.
They will not tolerate being left in a yard or a kennel. They live in the house with their person. They require a fair amount of exercise daily as well as daily mental stimulation. They like to have a job or variety of tasks or things to figure out or do each day. This can be chores you teach them, games you play with them, training sessions, tricks, etc.
Considering their history, for as much as we know of it, the traits they exhibit do seem to fit with their reason for being developed in the first place.
There is also some “lore” as I call it to explain the modern-day show coat. Mostly, I think these stories came about after the fact. I base this opinion on the surviving early photographs from the USSR era. Here is a dog whelped in 1966 called Dzhim. (photo taken from the BRT database brtinfo.ru)
THE BRT TODAY
The modern show groom, with its glorious furnishings does not appear in photographs until about the 2000s, however, longer furnishings start to show up in the late eighties. Stories circulate that the fall over the eyes was to protect the eyes from Siberian winters, or, it was to hide the eyes from reflecting light in the dark in order to sneak up on prisoners or enemies. Other fanciful stories circulate about the long leg furnishings and how they might confuse a prisoner, or minimize injury in a scuffle, etc. While these stories could be based in some truths, the early photographs just don't support it.
The BRT is a working dog first but is heavily groomed for the show ring to enhance its formidable presence. I believe these stories are a way to reconcile the fancy show groom with the original purpose of this working dog. The truth, if admitted by a BRT owner, is the full coat is not practical for the tasks a BRT would have had to do as a military dog. It is actually not practical for most performance sports. Harnesses cause matting; a full coat is too hot for agility, not to mention it can brush a bar off a jump, etc. A simple summer hike can leave a dog in full coat overheated, even though they were bred to travel miles in their work. The long coat attracts and holds an impressive amount of snowballs in certain snow conditions, etc.
A BRT in a groomed, full coat, is sight to behold. Its purpose to show off this gorgeous breed is clear. But, it is very likely a modern-day creation, and not what was developed or prized at the Soviet-era Red Star Kennel.