Plate 113 · Continental Europe
Black Russian Terrier
俄罗斯黑㹴
“A Soviet army dog built from about seventeen breeds.”
- Origin
- Russia
- Red Star Kennel, Moscow
- Town or city of origin
- Bred at the state-run Red Star kennel in Moscow; the marker is Moscow's city point.
- The point marks the town the breed is linked to.
- Era
- Late 1940s to 1950s
- Today
- Guard dog · Working dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Red Star Kennel, Moscow
A large, powerful black working dog created by the Soviet army's Red Star kennel; despite its name, not a true terrier.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Guarding and patrol work for the military and state.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
The Red Star kennel crossed about seventeen breeds, among them the Giant Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier, Rottweiler and Newfoundland, using breeding stock brought to Russia after the war, especially from Germany. Civilian breeders received puppies from 1957 and bred for looks as well as work; a standard was published in 1958.
04 · Today
Guard dog · Working dog
A guard, working-sport and companion dog for experienced owners.
Personality
- Intelligent
- Calm
- Powerful
- Protective
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- At least 30–40 minutes of brisk exercise a day.
- Grooming
- Brush once or twice a week; the face and beard need scissoring.
- Training
- Powerful and wilful: lifelong socialization and early obedience training are essential.
Living with one
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Tousled, coarse black double coat with a beard and eyebrows
Field note
Its only accepted colour is black.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Working Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (as Russian Black Terrier, Group 2, standard 327), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Working Group, recognized 2004.
AKC registrations: ranked 154 among breeds in 2025.
Sources3 references
- Black Russian Terrier — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/black-russian-terrier/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Black Russian Terrier — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Russian_Terrier
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Red Star kennel in Moscow, the breeds used, sales to civilian breeders from 1957, the 1958 standard, FCI recognition.
- Russian Black Terrier — FCI breed nomenclature — Fédération Cynologique Internationale
https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/RUSSIAN-BLACK-TERRIER-327.html
Kennel club · accessed 2026-10-14 · Country of origin Russia; Group 2, section "Pinscher and Schnauzer type".
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Bred at the state-run Red Star kennel in Moscow; the marker is Moscow's city point.
