INTERESTING FACTS IN THE FORMATION OF THE BREED
The first generations were crossed with a large schnauzer Roy (born 1947, 62 cm tall, 10 cm fist, 65 cm chest) - the "father" of the breed, with three sisters of the Airedale Terrier, three sisters of a Rottweiler and a few other bitches. To select dogs from the first generation for further breeding, their character traits were tested.
Among all the hybrids, the characteristics of the schnauzer were stable - black, fringed, thick hair and hairiness of the head. The third phase was a cross between the great schnauzer Roy and the bitches of the Moscow diver, who mostly has the blood of a Newfoundland, in smaller parts a Caucasian Shepherd, a Central European Shepherd and a Great Dane. The influence of other breeds is negligible, as it soon proved inappropriate.
146 pups were born, 104 of them reached mating age, of which about half were excellent and very well rated, with a good grade of 29 and a sufficient 8.
Because the breed was intended for military purposes, the required characteristics of the dog were might, strength, adaptability, usability, and a coat that did not require much maintenance. Therefore, they bred BT with fringed hair. But offspring with more decorative, long, softer hair also appeared regularly and, as unsuitable for official purposes, remained in the hands of lovers who had a desire to breed them. Thus, for some time, two types of dogs, long-haired and fringed, were bred in parallel, which are practically no longer bred. However, because genetics likes to bring surprises, we still encounter the birth of dogs with brown burns or short hair, but otherwise they are "scrap" puppies.
The puppies had serious dental problems, as Roy himself had a pincer bite, and in addition, the breed was formed from dogs of different body types and skull shapes, so these defects were originally expected. To get the desired condition they made an additional selection. Despite the small flaws of the dogs used for breeding, today the young breed with 14-18 generations of offspring impresses fans all over the world.
Within the breed it is necessary to mention two types of BRT. Such division is not mandatory, but nevertheless helps in orientation in the breed.
FIRST TYPE is terrier. These dogs usually have a square shape, a medium-wide elongated head, and a highly set neck. The shoulders are straight, the chest and muscles flat. It is characterized by good angulation and free movement. While their mood is balanced, they can also be quite irritable and hyperactive.
In SECOND TYPE breeds belong to the types of molosses, to which the breed also belongs. They are characterized by strong bones and muscles, a broad and strong chest, and a strong constitution. The nervous threshold of a dog of this type is extremely high. His exterior also expresses incredible calmness and confidence. At first glance, he may seem rather slow or even lazy, but behind his calmness he hides a readiness to react immediately to the slightest aggression of the opponent.
Some experts prefer the first type of dog, but most disagree. This is also the reason for the replacement of the Black Russian Terrier from the FCI III group to the FCI II group, which happened as early as 1994. Gerasimov states to the standard that the Black Russian Terrier should not be a terrier type. Rough type dogs have an advantage, but they also attribute slow reactions, poorer limb stiffness, overdeveloped subcutaneous tissue and less elegance in movement than those with a lighter build.
Even if such a paradox seems, the anatomical structure of a black terrier has very little in common with a typical terrier; for example: the airedale terrier has a completely different shoulder angle.
As far as work qualities are concerned, many black terrier breeders know that they learn extremely fast, remembering essential things for a long time, despite giving up training. But teaching an adult dog a new trick is a waste of time. Precisely because of such behavior, dogs have a bad reputation, as unprofessional breeders soon call them the title of uneducated and vindictive breed due to their own ignorance, which does not happen to cynologists and owners who know the breed.
So what is hidden behind the success story of a black Russian terrier? Why is she so young a breed recognized in addition to famous breeds with centuries of history? The main reason is the greatest virtue of this dog - a thin social sense of people and animals and a great need for companionship and care that closely unites the owner with the dog. Incredibly sacrificial and dramatic stories have been mentioned many times, for which only a loving heart is capable. Attachment to the owner was one of the reasons that black Russian terriers did not keep themselves as working dogs in state institutions, as they found it very difficult to tolerate a change of handler (boys served in the army after 2 years). The property of a "guardian" is also pronounced, which is conditioned by the guarding of one's neighbor. His mighty, strong and elegant body, expressive working abilities, trustworthiness and pleasant attitude towards children ensure that the popularity of the breed is not only temporary, but will only increase.
