STANDARD
RUSSKIY TCHIORNY TERRIER
(Russian Black Terrier)
10.01.2011/EN
FCI-Standard N° 327
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The Russian Black Terrier was created in Russia during the late 1940s and the early 1950s by selective interbreeding of breeds like the Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Airedale Terrier and Newfoundland Dog. The Giant Schnauzer is considered to be the main ancestor of the breed. The initial breeding was supervised by the military cynological school outside Moscow and the dogs were based in their kennels named “Red Star”. The aim of the creators of the breed was the development of a large, brave, strong and manageable working dog with pronounced guarding instinct; a dog which could be useful for many services and adapts well to various climate conditions. The breed was recognized by the FCI in 1984.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION: Head should be in proportion to body, although
large, massive and long.
Skull: Moderately broad with flat forehead. Topline of skull is parallel with topline of muzzle. The superciliary arches and occipital bone are moderately pronounced. Stop: Noticeable but not sharp.
FACIAL REGION: Nose: Large and black.
Muzzle: Strong, broad and slightly shorter than skull. Muzzle is wide at base and narrowing slightly to the tip of the nose. Moustache and beard accentuated volume and give the muzzle a rectangular, blunt appearance.
Lips: Thick, well pigmented and tight. Lip rims dark.
Jaws/Teeth: Large, white teeth that are tightly adjacent to each other, the lower incisors positioned in a line. Full dentition (42 teeth). Scissors bite.
Cheeks: Dry cheek bones with rounded but not pronounced cheeks.
Skull: Moderately broad with flat forehead. Topline of skull is parallel with topline of muzzle. The superciliary arches and occipital bone are moderately pronounced. Stop: Noticeable but not sharp.
FACIAL REGION: Nose: Large and black.
Muzzle: Strong, broad and slightly shorter than skull. Muzzle is wide at base and narrowing slightly to the tip of the nose. Moustache and beard accentuated volume and give the muzzle a rectangular, blunt appearance.
Lips: Thick, well pigmented and tight. Lip rims dark.
Jaws/Teeth: Large, white teeth that are tightly adjacent to each other, the lower incisors positioned in a line. Full dentition (42 teeth). Scissors bite.
Cheeks: Dry cheek bones with rounded but not pronounced cheeks.
EYES
Medium size, oval shaped, set straight and wide apart, dark colour.
Eye rims dry, tight and black
EARS
Hanging. Set high and symmetrical, medium sized, triangular
shaped. Front edge close to cheek. Ear leather is dense, without folds.
NECK
Strong, dry and muscular. The length of the neck is
approximately equal to the length of head and set at an angle of 45-50
degree to the horizon. The nape is strong and well developed.
BODY
Solid, deep and voluminous, well balanced.
Topline: Slightly sloping from the withers to the root of the tail.
Withers: High and well developed, more pronounced in males than in
females.
Back: Strong, straight and muscular. The length of the actual back is equal
to ½ the length measured from the withers to the base of the tail.
Loin: Wide, short, muscular and slightly arched. The length is equal to ½
the length of the actual back.
Croup: Broad, muscular, slightly sloping and of moderate length.
Chest: Deep, long and broad with slightly sprung ribs. The shape of the
thorax (in cross section) is oval. The breast bone is long and the fore chest
slightly extends the shoulder joint and is well muscled.
Underline and belly: On the same line as the elbow joint or slightly below.
Belly moderately tucked up. Flanks only slightly developed.
TAIL
Thick at root and set high. In movement the tail is carried jauntily
but the root of the tail does not incline over the back (squirrel tail).
Tail traditionally docked in country of origin. An undocked tails length or
shape has no influence on the evaluation of the dog. Preferable shape of
the undocked tail is sabre or sickle.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
General appearance: Forelegs when viewed from the front are straight and
parallel. The distance from the elbow ulna to the ground is equal to 50-
52% of the dogs’ height at the withers.
Shoulder: Long, broad and well-laid back. The angle between shoulder
blade and upper arm is approximately 100 degrees.
Upper arm: Muscular and no shorter than the shoulder-blades.
Elbow: Close to body.
Forearm: Straight, thick, round bone. Vertical when viewed from the front
and side.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Short, massive and slightly sloping when viewed
from the side.
Forefeet: Large, compact and round in shape. Nails and pads are black.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: When viewed from behind straight and parallel,
set wider than the forelegs. When viewed from the side placed
slightly behind the dog.
Thigh: Moderately long, slightly inclined, wide with well developed,
voluminous muscles.
Stifle: Well bent.
Lower thigh: No shorter than thighs.
Metatarsus (Rear Pastern): Strong, low and vertically positioned. No
dewclaws.
Hind feet: Slightly smaller than front feet and tending oval shape.
Nails and pads are black.
GAIT / MOVEMENT
Free and well balanced with smoothly bent
joints. The typical gait is an energetic trot with long strides which
comes from the powerful rear drive and significant reach in the
forequarters. Topline to remain firm.
SKIN
Tight, well fitted without folds or loose skin, still elastic.
Evenly pigmented.
COAT
Hair: Rough and thick double coat. Composed of a coarse, thick,
slightly waved outer coat and a soft, short and dense undercoat. The
outer coat covers the whole body. The natural and untrimmed coat
length is between 5 – 15 cms. The head furnishing is very well
developed and forms abundant eyebrows, moustaches and beard.
Legs are covered in long, dens furnishing coat. Grooming in the
correct form is required.
The clipped coat should emphasise the character of a strong and
assured dog and by no means be excessively decorative. The coat is
left longest on legs and around the muzzle.
The clipping should accentuate the massive head with flat forehead,
well lying ears, strong neck and well constructed, strong body.
Colour: Black, black with insignificant intermingling grey hair is
permissible. (Grey intermingling hair not to cover more than a 1/3 of
the whole body).
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Desired height at the withers:
Males: 72 - 76 cms. but no less than 70 cms. and not more than
78 cms.
Females: 68 - 72 cms. but no less than 66 cms. and not more than
74 cms.
Slightly taller specimens are tolerated providing they are
proportionate and of excellent breed type.
Weight:
Males: 50 – 60 kgs. Females: 45 – 50 kgs.
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 and on its ability to perform
its traditional work.
• Skull rounded.
• Partial lack of pigmentation on lips.
• Incisors not in line in lower jaw. Small incisors.
• Eyes round; slightly light coloured; oblique or narrow set.
• Neck too short and not muscular enough.
• Withers not pronounced.
• Swayback, or narrow back.
• Loin too long; narrow; not muscular enough.
• Shoulders too straight.
• Forearms too short.
• Elbows turned in or turned out.
• Feet turning in or turning out.
• Hocks turned in, out or sickle.
• Pacing interspersed when trotting.
• Guardcoat soft or smooth.
• Rusty shading in guard coat.
• No undercoat.
SEVERE FAULTS
• Deviation from sex type.
• Timid or overexcited behaviour.
• Head short or light.
• Visible third eyelid, light coloured eyes.
• Croup horizontal or too steep.
• Chest shallow or short.
• Squirrel tail.
• Bowed forearms.
• Movement restricted; sluggish or heavy.
• Guardcoat silky.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Deviation towards the ancestry breeds.
• Nose other than black.
• Wall eye or different coloured eyes.
• Deviation from scissor bite or missing teeth.
• Guardcoat smooth and lack of head, chest and leg furnishing.
• Any other colour than the ones described.
• White spots or markings.
• Clearly defined patches of grey hair.
N.B.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical
conformation should be used for breeding.
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