Black Russian Terrier breed guide

The brawny guard dog of the Siberian steppes moves well for a big guy, AKC says. Its calm intelligence goes with a willful streak. An owner not willing or able to train a powerful, willful animal should not get one.

Socialization must start in early life and continue for the dog's lifetime to prevent aggressive behavior and obedience training also needs to start as early as possible.

Black Russian Terriers live 10 to 12 years. Breeders screen for allergies, urinary tract stones, hip and elbow dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy.

The tousled double coat, a thick soft undercoat under a coarse protective outer coat, needs a thorough brushing once or twice a week to prevent mats. Owners must also learn to scissor around the face, especially the beard and mustache.

A BRT needs at least 30 or 40 minutes of exercise daily and likes brisk walks, long runs, bike rides, swims and hikes. One that gets too little becomes unhappy and destructive.

The Soviet government set up the Red Star Kennel at a secret location near Moscow in the 1930s, where scientists and breeders worked to create a superdog for the Russian army. The Revolution, wars and economic disasters had decimated Russia's best stock and importing quality dogs was nearly impossible.

AKC says the project overcame steep challenges to produce the breed.