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Black Russian Terrier

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1. General Description of the Black Russian Terrier

   Large and powerful, the Black Russian Terrier is known for its courage and strength. Its blocky head is basically two parallel planes made of the skull and the muzzle, giving an impression of strength. The small, triangular ears and set high, and lay close to the cheek. The black rimmed, dark oval eyes are medium sized. Its lips and nose are black. The thick and powerful neck is approximately as long as the length of the head. A deep, wide chest arches upward to a well tucked up abdomen. The back is level and docked tail set high. Its large muscular shoulders are supported by straight, strong forelegs and large, round feet with thick pads. The hind legs are straight and set a bit wider than the forelegs, with muscular thighs. The black, tousled coat is composed of a soft, thick undercoat and coarse topcoat.

2. Black Russian Terrier Temperament

   The brave, observant and highly affectionate Black Russian Terrier wants and needs close human contact. The dog has a strong protective instinct, and is suspicious of strangers and quick to protect its owner. Even as an adult, this dog loves children, though females are more likely to play with them. While males cannot live with other dominant dogs, the breed gets along very well with other non-dominant and small pets. These dogs should be trained while young, with a firm but loving hand. The Black Russian Terrier is very curious and intelligent and will learn quickly. Housebreaking is usually easy, and the dog does not need to be trained to walk with a leash. Bear in mind, however, that the superb memory of the breed makes it nearly impossible to retrain. Socialize while it is young as well, as it is by nature a protector and does not like strangers. A mellow breed, it will only bark when it deems it necessary. Do not share your bed with a Black Russian Terrier puppy, unless you also want to share it with a large, powerful adult.

3. Caring for a Black Russian Terrier

   The large Black Russian Terrier appears more at home in large open spaces, but it can actually get along equally well in an apartment provided it gets proper exercise. In fact, even with a yard, this dog will likely spend most of its time at the door waiting to be let in. The Black Russian Terrier’s great need for human contact means that this dog really should live inside, as doing otherwise will stunt its mental development. Though this dog may prefer the couch, it should have about a half an hour of exercise each day. It should be brushed regularly and professionally groomed every six weeks. With proper grooming, the dog will shed very little. The Black Russian Terrier is vulnerable to canine hip and elbow dysplasia.

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We include the following list of misspellings so our internal search tools can send you to the right place. People often misspell Black Russian Terrier as Black Russian Terier, Black Rusian Terrier, Black Russien Terrier, or Black Russen Terrier.