Black Russian Terrier Dog Names

The Black Russian Terrier was specifically designed by the Soviet Army and under Stalin's command - hence the term 'Stalin's Dogs'. Understanding the importance of the canine soldier, the Soviet Union had lost many of its native dogs due to starvation and the war. Faced with a lack of trainable dogs available, they decided to create a breed that would fulfill all their requirements. The Army needed a dog that was highly trainable, courageous, confident, and imposing, and one that could survive the harsh conditions in the Soviet Union. They needed a dog that would provide protection and guard heroically, and they achieved this through careful breeding by the former USSR's Red Star Kennels. By utilizing several breeds (up to 17 different breeds it has been noted), they could refine the results of the breeding program to obtain the characteristics that the army desired. These breeds included the Airedale Terrier, Caucasian Ovcharka, the Giant Schnauzer, the Newfoundland, the Rottweiler and the Moscow Water Dog. The army imported these breeds from countries that the Soviet Union had liberated, and they set out to achieve the task set to them. 

The Black Russian Terrier became a treasured and quite rare dog, their size was imposing, and their jet black coats and well trained behavior enamored them to the dog handlers. In 1957, the Moscow state owned kennel began to allow the sale of some of the puppies and civilian breeders pursued the development of the breed aimed at refining their looks while maintaining their excellent working ethic. The breed slowly spread to other countries, although because of their size and energy, they were not a dog for everyone, so numbers of dogs available were low. The tasks set for this dog by the army included detecting land mines, locating wounded soldiers, conveying supplies, and performing guard duty at borders and control posts. Today they are still used by the military and for guarding the borders. You can imagine how intimidating they look standing up to 30 inches high, and weighing in at around 132 pounds for a male, plus the impact of the solid black color against the white snow - who would be foolish enough to aggravate them? But they also have a soft side, with some working at medical and therapy centers. The Black Russian Terrier is a dog that bonds fully with their human; they like people and despite their size they are calm in temperament. These dogs deserve mention because of their unique conception and their heroic past. They have survived extreme conditions and a harsh climate as well as the horrors of war to become the jewel of the Soviet Union - the Black Pearl. 

Although not well known on the silver screen other areas of pop culture here in North America, the Black Russian Terrier is becoming a hit in the international show ring doing well at venues such as the Westminster Kennel Show and Crufts. Tasha, a Black Russian Terrier with hip dysplasia who lives in Mendon, New York is now making the nursing home circuit part of her week. She has titles in therapy, good citizenship and temperament, proving that this breed has much to offer.