We never share your e-mail address with anyone.
|
|
|
The Black Russian Terrier (BRT) is a relatively young breed and is considered a RARE BREED IN CANADA.
It was developed after World War II by the State owned Military kennel RED STAR in Russia as a versatile working dog for the
national security force. The ground work on the breed started in the 1930s by reproductive crossing of proven and well compatible
working breeds: Giant Schnauzer, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, and the Airedale Terrier. Then as the breeding progressed, more breeds
added and used. It is thought that all together about 17 breeds went into the development of the Blackie.
BRTs were designed to protect people and guard places as well as to help with other tasks in combat situations. The goal was to
develop a large, strong, versatile working dog with a stable temperament that is able to withstand the diverse weather conditions
of Russia. Read more about breed development and working qualities at
http://www.black-russian-terrier.ca/about_breed.htm
The 1st standard for the BRT was published in 1958. The breed slowly over a number of years was released into the general public.
The Black Russian Terrier received breed status in 1981 and in May 1984 was recognized by the FCI with Standard # 327
"Black Russian Terrier".
The CKC accepted BRTs in the Miscellaneous Class in 2002. This allows them to compete in working dog events, but not the
confirmation shows until the full recognition of the breed takes place.
In 2004 the AKC recognized the BRT in the working group. For the 1st time 12 BRTs were shown at the Westminster Kennel
Club Show 2005.
Hopefully, the CKC will recognize BRTs in the working group in the near future. There is an enormous job to be done in
promoting the breed, educating breeders, judges and the public. Your support and feedback would be greatly appreciated.
The Blackie is a loyal, intelligent, disciplined dog and if the need arises can and will do the job of protecting his family.
Most BRTs are bred now either as show dogs or working dogs; they make wonderful family dogs, get along perfectly well with kids
and other animals. Some BRTs in Russia continue to work with their owners guarding stores, warehouses and private properties.
The contemporary Black Russian Terrier is considered to be the BLACK PERL of Russian Canine Science. The Breed, being a Russian
prize possession so to speak, wasn’t allowed to be exported from former USSR for a long time. In the last 15 years or so many
Russian breeders have started to compete in Europe with their dogs, which has led to great exposure and an extensive export of
BRTs. Many new kennels have emerged in different European countries and North America. You can find more about International
BRT History, temperament, standard, training tips and much more in a Kennel Club Book BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER written by Emily Bates.
The first Canadian BRT kennel Kalinka was founded in Montreal in 1995 by a Russian breeder Rita Golskaya. Canadian breeding
stock came from the best bloodlines of Moscow and Ural, which trace back to the beginnings of the breed. The best bitches were
kept and bread to the most suitable studs to create a genetic pool of the structural qualities that the BRT standard demands.
Pronounced breed type, desirable profuse harsh coat, impressive large heads, powerful build, good stature and working temperament
were achieved and fixed in Kalinka's BRTs. There are now many other breeders available in Canada who are working with Kalinka’s
and imported bloodlines.
Our Rusah’s Dam Kalinka Harmonic Zirochka is from Kalinka. Rusah’s Sire Multi Champion OKD, ZKS Edward William Dale is imported.
He came to Canada with his owner all the way from Siberia. He has many conformation and working titles. Please check
OUR DOGS page for more information on our dogs.
Temperament and working qualities:
The Black Russian Terrier is a relatively young breed with a steady temperament, and a virtually non-shedding coat, easily
trainable, with very few health concerns.
Black Russian Terrier’s are large versatile working dogs – they love to have a job to do. They are very loyal, extremely
intelligent and quite independent, protective without undue aggression. You don’t have to be a dog expert to appreciate this
breed’s superior intelligence and balanced temperament.
There is no limit to what you can do with the Blackie - they excel in competitive obedience, agility, schutzhund, will track,
guard livestock, home, business, some even herd, some make good therapy dogs, they will pull a wagon to cart your groceries
or give rides to the kids. Black Russian Terriers love swimming, pulling sleds in winter, running with your bike or hiking with
the family.
The energy of a Blackie is in direct proportion to the task at hand, we like to think of them as energy efficient partners.
They are perfectly obedient and well socialized couch potatoes at home until something is required of them, then become
instantly alert and ready to work.
BRTs make awesome companions and become irreplaceable family members; they love kids and gets on well with other animals.
The working dog group includes some of the most intelligent breeds of dogs. You'll be amazed at how quickly your BRT learns,
and at the number of things you can teach him. But this intelligence carries an obligation with it. This breed must be socialized
early and extensively. A BRT won't be happy left alone in a pen or in your house all day. A working dog enjoys life the most when
it is given responsibility and a job to do. The Black Russian Terrier is a dog who must be regularly trained and worked with.
Working with your dog doesn't have to mean formal obedience work. But, he has to know basic obedience and once you get hooked
in obedience, you'll probably want to go all the way, including trial competition. However, teaching him tricks or games,
letting him help you by carrying things or finding something for you --- these activities allow him to use his mind, and
gives him a feeling of being important to you.
BRTs are big muscular dogs and need a moderate amount of exercise to build and maintain healthy muscle mass to be and look
their best. Like many larger breeds BRT are a bit slow to mature, it takes about 2-3 years.
How to read a Russian pedigree
All working dogs in former USSR were required to fulfill the Kennel Club requirements in order to breed. The dog was considered
breedable only after rated Excellent or Very Good at a Conformation Show. It is supposed to be a no-fault dog for Excellent rating;
a very few faults made it Very Good. For example, 1 missing tooth was a reason for disqualification. Below is an approximate
translation of requirements for these tests.
The dog had to pass an obedience /OKD/ examination and after 18 months a protection /ZKS/ examination in order to validate the
Show rating. The highest rate is "1", for a score over 90 out of 100, then "2"- 80 to 90; "3"- 60 to 80. Also a temperament test
/T/ rate 1 for perfect response and 2 for slight uncertainty in reactions.
The first was OKD.
It included Heeling, Sit, Stay, Down, Come, Return, Retrieve,- OFF leash, verbal OR signal by judge's choice /not verbal &
signal/ at 30 ft distance /or more/; food refusal from strangers; the dog must accept Muzzle On; No reaction on shooting;
Agility – the dog had to clear 1 m fence jump with no touch; vertical bridge app. 20 f long 10 " wide; 6 ' wood wall. Scoring
under 50 % at any command dismisses the dog. OKD passed dog is allowed advanced training.
ZKS is advanced protection. Includes: Pick an object by scent /a person by a thing or opposite/; Property Search; Catch & Release;
Patrolling, on Stay & on Move, including the Handler Protection; Property protection; No reaction on shooting.
PC (RS) is an advanced ZKS + Tracking; Advanced Search.
KC /KS/ is the most common seen training in Russian Native's pedigrees. The dog does not have to pass OKD with a scoring result,
but must have a basic knowledge. At the test the dog is left alone at a tie-out. The dog must bark at agitators passing within
40 m from the tie-out /loudness and continuation is evaluated/, attack as soon as she can reach /aggressiveness and hardness
evaluated/; reject the food; no reaction at shooting.
"Elite" class is Russian equivalent to Sire of Merit or Dam of Merit titles.
Health Concerns
The Black Russian Terrier is a relatively new breed and has very few health problems. Hip and elbow dysplasia is the main
concern, though is not nearly as common as in other large working breeds such as German Shepherds and Rottweilers.
We live in an age of very advanced veterinary care and there is no reason for not having the hipand/or elbow x-rays done.
Before you make your final choice on a BRT pup, talk to the breeder. Ask to see copies of certificates if dogs had been
evaluated recently, or preliminary results for dogs evaluated just under two years of age or verify information yourself
on the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website www.offa.org/search.html
The OFA keeps a data-base of all BRTs tested and makes it easier for breeders and new BRT owners and fanciers to keep track of
joint health in particular litters and blood lines.
As of February 2005, only 62 BRTs were OFA tested for hips and 52 for elbows (mostly these are the same dogs).
Of course the testing does not guarantee that puppies will be free of CHD/ED but it decreases their chances of ever
developing it or passing problems on to future generations.
Very few dogs have been X-rayed in Russia till very recently, and for hips only. It is not clear how reliable these results are.
At Midnight Solo we believe in breeding only dogs with hips, and preferably elbows certified.
Even though Eye problems, in our opinion, are not common in the breed, we strive to breed BRTs that have obtained EYE CERF
in our kennel. CERF stands for Canine Eye Registration Foundation. A CERF exam is done by an ophthalmologist and checks for
eye problems. This test is non-invasive, inexpensive and easily obtained. This test insures that the examined dog has no
Cataracts, Glaucoma, eye lid problems as well as PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy- that starts as a night blindness in
adolescent dogs and eventually leads to blindness. There is no cure for PRA). We would like to encourage BRT breeders
to do it to insure good eye health of Canadian BRTs.
Heart conditions such as cardiac myopathy are very rare and very little information exists on it.
There are cases of chondrodysplasia (genetic degenerative changes in elbows) in the breed but very limited information is
available and the health committee of Black Russian Terrier Club of America (BRTCA, Inc.), AKC Parent Club for the breed,
is collecting data about this problem.
Standard
Grooming
|
|
