Black Russian Terrier puppies

About the Black Russian Terrier

The Black Russian Terrier was assembled in the mid twentieth century at a Soviet military kennel, combining Giant Schnauzer, Airedale, Rottweiler and other breeds into a large working guard dog that could cope with severe cold. This is a giant breed of 66 to 76cm and 36.3 to 59kg, entirely black, with a coarse double coat, a heavy beard and moustache. The character is confident, calm and territorial, deeply loyal to their household and naturally suspicious of people they have not met.

Plan on 30 or 40 minutes of real exercise every day, walking, running, swimming or bike work, plus training, because a bored BRT becomes destructive and one kept apart from their family can turn aggressive. The coat needs a thorough brush once or twice a week, scissoring around the face and a clip every few months. Rated mid scale with children and other pets, they need early socialisation and consistent handling. Most of the trouble with this breed comes from underestimating the guarding instinct, so take that instinct seriously.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Black Russian Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Progressive retinal atrophy, which causes vision loss and blindness, found on an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Juvenile laryngeal paralysis and polyneuropathy, detectable by DNA test on both parents
• Urinary tract stones, found on urinalysis and imaging
• Skin allergies, diagnosed once parasites and infection have been ruled out

Your Black Russian Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Black Russian Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 36.3 to 59 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 59 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Black Russian Terrier

Previous: Black Mouth Cur · Next: Bloodhound

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Black Russian Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/black-russian-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Ltshears, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.