Personality
Impressive, confident, courageous and self-assured, the Russian Black Terrier, is not actually a terrier at all – they are a working dog and apart from some influence from the Airedale Terrier, the only strong terrier characteristic is the traditional trim leaving the ears, back, buttocks and thighs bare, and the coat on the legs, chest and face shaped and long. The RBT has a strong work ethic, a suspicion of strangers and a calmness that belies their ferocious nature if aroused by a real threat. They need lots of exercise and plenty of training, particularly early socialisation with other people and animals, to reach maturity as a sensible, pleasant adult dog.