Breeds / Giant
Black Russian Terrier puppies
A giant Russian working guard breed, confident, calm and territorial. It is devoted to its own family, suspicious of strangers, and needs experienced handling with early socialisation.
The facts
- Size class Giant
- Country of origin Russia
- Adult weight 36.3 to 59 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 80 to 130 lb
- Adult height 66 to 76 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming High
- Coat type Medium to long curly and double
- Typical lifespan 10 to 12 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
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. It 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 its household and naturally suspicious of people it has 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 its 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, it needs early socialisation and consistent handling. Underestimating the guarding instinct is the mistake that causes most trouble.
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 it will need a job to do long before it needs 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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
From Black Russian Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/black-russian-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
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.
Other giant breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.