Russian black terrier in
popularity explosion

THE Russian black terrier is at present enjoying a surge of popularity in the United Kingdom (UK) where the most popular dogs for some years have been the English and Staffordshire bull terrier breeds, Jack Russell terriers and West Highland whites.

The Russian black terrier club handed out some very helpful information to all those interested in the breed at their stand at Crufts earlier this year along with contact numbers and emails if more information is required:
patron, Mr Terry Thorn; president, Mr Thomas Huxley; secretary, Mrs Jana E Huxley, Robroyd Kennels, Kerestorth Hill Rd, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 6TY, Tel/Fax 01226-285 822, E-mail tom.huxley@btopenworld.com. Website, www.rbtclub.co.uk.

Interim breed standard
General appearance large, imposing dog, above average size, strongly built with massive bone. Well-proportioned general appearance, sturdy and robust frame. Well-developed muscles. Body almost square. A harsh and thick coat, well furnished on head and limbs. Trimmed.

Characteristics, natural guarding instincts. Easily trained. Very adaptable. Temperament alert, lively and even-tempered, wary of strangers. Resilient, brave and self-confident. Head and skull well-proportioned with moderately broad skull and rounded cheekbones. Eyebrows slightly pronounced. Skull flat. Medium stop, not too accentuated. Top line of muzzle parallel to the top line of the skull. Muzzle solid with slight tapering towards the tip and length a little shorter than skull. Whiskers and beard give muzzle a squared-off shape. Lips thick and black in colour, tightly fining. Large black nose.

Eyes medium, oval in appearance and dark, set obliquely and wide apart. Eyelids dark and fitting tightly. Ears high set, pendant, not too big, triangular in shape with the inner edge lying tightly against the cheekbone. Mouth: jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full, strong dentition desirable.

Neck reasonably long, powerful, muscular and clean-cut. Flows into the top line at an approximate 45° angle. Forequarters: shoulders well laid back. Seen from the front, legs straight and parallel, pasterns short and straight. Elbows carried close to the body.

Body: high withers clearly marked above top line, back level and muscular. Depth of chest level with elbows or slightly below. Chest deep with well-sprung ribs. Moderate tuck-up. Loin short, wide, muscular and slightly arched. Rump large and muscular with a barely visible slope towards the tail which is set high on the croup.

Hindquarters: seen from behind, legs straight and parallel, set wider than the front legs. Thighs muscular and well developed. Stifles well bent and hocks set low. Feet large, well arched and rounded with thick pads. Black nails. Tail: tail set is more important than carriage. Set high and thick. Docked: customarily docked leaving three to four vertebrae. Undocked: may curl over the back, not gay. Length and thickness in balance with body.

Gait/movement: at the trot legs move in a straight line, with forelegs converging slightly. Fairly elastic movement. Ground-covering movement with good reach in the forequarters and good driving power in the hindquarters. Coat: medium texture weatherproof coat, with dense undercoat. Not wiry or soft. When brushed the hair is broken-coated and slightly waved. Furnishings well developed.on eyebrows, beard and legs. The ears (from fold to tip), skull, cheeks throat to sternum, underside of the tail, buttocks and rear of stifle are closely trimmed.

Colour: Black or black with grey hairs. Size: Height at the withers - dogs 68-77cm (27-30.5ins), bitches 66-72cm (26-28.5ins). Faults: any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note: male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

In July 2000 the general committee of The Kennel Club approved the interim breed standard for the Russian black terrier, effective from September 1, 2000. Tail clause amended and effective from July 2001. Just remember that the black terrier is a trimmed breed - it does not moult and as such it must be correctly trimmed for show purposes. This is a job for an expert, not for the novice.

The standard for the tail does still list a docked tail as an equal choice - this is because those dogs with tails docked before the new legislation should not lose any points. However, dogs born after the docking laws in 2007 should have intact tails.