Size, Proportion, Substance
Size: Dogs at maturity are between 27 inches and 30
inches. Bitches at maturity are to be between 26 and 29 inches. A
deviation from the ideal height is to be faulted.
Any dog or bitch
under 26 inches is a disqualification. Proportion: The
Black Russian Terrier is slightly longer than tall. The most desired
proportions are 9½ to 10. The length is measured from breastbone to rear
edge of the pelvis.
Head The head must be in proportion to the body. It should give
the appearance of power and strength.
Eyes: The eyes
should be of medium size and dark. Eye rims are to be black without
sagging or prominent haw. The eye is to be oval shaped. Light eyes are a
serious fault.
Ears: The ears are set high and are rather small
and triangular in shape. The front edge of the ear should lay close to
the cheek. The length of the ear should reach the outside corner of the
eye. Ears set low on the skull are to be faulted. Cropped ears are not
acceptable. The head should be powerfully built with a moderately broad
and blocky
skull. Viewed from the side it should appear balanced.
The head is made of two parallel planes. The back skull to muzzle is
measured from the corner of the eye. Occiput should be well developed.
The
muzzle should be slightly shorter than the back skull. The
length of the muzzle to the back skull is approximately a ratio of 4 to
5. The forehead must be flat with a marked but not pronounced stop. The
head of the male is distinctly masculine, and that of the bitch,
distinctly feminine.
Nose: The nose must be large and black.
Disqualification: Nose other than black. Lips: are
full, tight and black. There are to be no flews. The gums have dark
pigmentation. Black mark on the tongue is allowed.
Teeth: The
teeth are large and white. There should be full dentition. The incisors
form a straight line at the base. The bite should be scissors. Any
missing teeth are a serious fault. U
ndershot or Overshot bites are a
disqualification.
Neck, Topline, and Body
Neck: The neck should be thick, muscular and powerful. Length is
not to be excessive. There should be no pendulous or excessive dewlap.
The length of the neck and the length of the head should be
approximately the same. An excessively thick neck is considered a fault.
Body: The whole structure of the body should give the impression
of strength. The
chest is deep and wide. The shape should be oval
and reach to the elbows or a little below. The withers are high,
pronounced and well developed. The topline is level and straight. The
loin is short. The abdomen is well tucked up and firm. Withers are
higher than and sloping into the level back.
Croup is wide,
muscular, moderately long slightly sloping toward the high tail set.
Tail is set high, thick and docked with 3 to 5 vertebrae left. An
undocked tail is not to be penalized.
Forequarters
Shoulders should be large and muscular, well developed with blades broad
and sloping. The shoulders should be well laid back. The angle between
the shoulder blades and the upper arm is at a 100 to 110 degree.
Shoulders are well muscled. The forelegs are straight and well boned.
The elbows must turn neither in nor out while standing or moving. The
forelegs are straight and muscular. Pasterns are short and almost
vertical. Length of the front leg to the elbow should be about 53 to 54
percent of the dog's height.
Feet are large, compact, and rounded
in shape. The pads of the feet are thick and firm. Nails are short and
dark. Rear dewclaws could be removed.
Hindquarters
Viewed from the rear the legs are straight and parallel, set slightly
wider than the forelegs. The hindquarters are well boned and muscular
with good angulations. The stifle is long and sloping. The thighs are
muscular. The hocks are well let down, long and vertical when standing.
Coat
Tousled, double coat. The texture of the outer coat is coarse. The
undercoat is thick and soft. Length of coat should vary from 1½ to 4
inches and cover the entire body. It is a pronounced tousled coat rather
than wiry or curly.
Presentation
Presentation of the breed in the show ring, the dogs outline is clearly
defined. The dogs will be trimmed but should not appear to be sculpted.
Ears: hair should be trimmed inside and outside the ear. The ears will
lay flat to the side of the head. Forehead: Just behind the eyebrows the
hair is to be shaved or cut very short so as to make what appears to be
a platform. The rest of the forehead is trimmed so that the shorter
hairs will blend with the longer hairs of the muzzle. This forms a "cap"
which should help define length of backskull. Looking from the top of
the head it should give the appearance of a "brick". The fringe from the
eyebrows is brushed forward and blends with the beard and muzzle. This
blending of hair should look from the side like a "triangle". Neck: The
front of the neck from the throat to the point of shoulder should be
shaved or scissored short. The hair on the back of the neck should
appear to have a mane down to the withers. Topline: is trimmed from the
withers to the tail so that when viewed from the side it appears level.
The hair from the back should then blend down the sides of the dog. It
is stressed that there should be no distinct lines or scissors marks.
Color
The only acceptable colors for the Black Russian Terrier is black or
black with a few gray hairs.
Any other color is to be considered a
disqualification.
Gait
A Black Russian Terrier should move freely with a smooth easy springy
motion. The motion should be well-balanced and fluid. As the Black
Russian Terrier moves faster the feet will converge toward a centerline.
The topline should remain level.
Temperament
The character and temperament of the Black Russian Terrier is of utmost
importance. The Black Russian Terrier is a calm, confident, and
courageous dog with a self-assurance which sometimes is rather aloof
toward strangers. They are highly intelligent, extremely reliable. They
were bred to guard and protect. The behavior in the show ring should be
controlled, willing, adaptable, and trained to submit to examination.
Disqualifications
Any dog or bitch under 26 inches
Nose other than black
Undershot or overshot bite
Any color other than black.
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