I`m very lucky to have on-line friends, it makes it such a small world. Just a click away. I`ve always been interested in the European breeds, so very different from ours in the USA. Just in case your interested, here` the history of the Black Russian Terrier.

In the forties the former russian Red Army wanted to create a service-dog that could be used to guard military objects and borders. He should be able to work independently and adapt easily to the topographic and climatological differences in the country. Russian cynologists developed a breeding program that was executed in the state kennel "Red Star".
As basic-breeds were used the Giant Schnautzer, the Rottweiler and the Airedale Terrier. The Giant Schnautzer passed on it's size, it's quick reaction and it's intelligence.The Airedale contributed it's temperament, it's leadership and it's stamina. The Rottweiler gave it's firm stature and the gift to fear nothing or no-one. In the end, the Giant Schnautzer contributed most to the BRT's appearance.
The very first step in the development of the BRT started with mixing a Giant Schnauzer dog with an Airedale bitch. After that, a Giant Schnautzer dog with a Rottweiler bitch, a Rottweiler dog with a Giant Schnauzer bitch and again a Giant Schnauzer dog with an Airedale bitch. The offspring from these combinations were mixed with each other. Later on, other breeds, such as the Moscow Retriever and the Newfoundlander were mixed in. This was done to obtain a broader breeding basis. Not much later, the first 'Russians' were a fact.