The Black Russian Terrier (Russian: Чёрный терьерWink (or simply BRT) is a breed of dog developed originally as a guard dog and police dog. It is rare outside its native country and is just starting to be recognised elsewhere; for example, it is one of the AKC’s most-recently recognised breeds, gaining full status in July 2004. This breed is the largest of all terriers.

Appearance

The Black Russian Terrier gives the impression of great strength, athleticism, and courage. It should be rustic (but not coarse) in appearance, and should not look as though its coat is sculpted or trimmed. It should never appear to lack substance or be weak in any way. Males should be noticeably more masculine than females.

Coat

The coat is hard and dense, never soft, woolly, silky or frizzy. It should be between 4-10 cm (1.4-4 inches) in length. It should form a beard and eyebrows on the face, and a slight mane around the withers and neck that is more pronounced in males. The coat is low-shedding and the colour is black or black with some grey hairs.

Size

According to the FCI standard (1983), the male stands 27-28.3 inches (66-72 cm) at the withers compared to the female’s 25.2-27.6 inches (64-70 cm) with a tolerance of 0.4 inches (1 cm) less or 0.8 inches (2 cm) more. The breed weighs 77 to 154 pounds (35-70 kg). Larger individuals are not uncommon in Russia, since the RKF standard (1996) adds 0.8 to the standard values, with a tolerance of 0.8 inches (2 cm) less or 1.2 inches (3 cm) more. Nowadays, even larger individual are tolerated if the dog is well proportioned and retains correct movements. The AKC standard recommends 27-30 inches for males and 26-29 inches for females, any dog or bitch under 26 inches being a disqualification. In proportions, a Black Russian Terrier should be slightly longer than tall, 9 ½ to 10 being ideal (FCI standard recommends 100-105).

Temperament

Black Russian Terriers are confident, calm, highly intelligent, brave and loyal. It should never be timid. The Black Russian Terrier may seem aloof, but needs human companionship and bonds deeply to its family.

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The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It’s a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black And Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent. The courage of the Coonhound also make it proficient on the hunt for deer, bear, cougar and other big game, although many US states are restricting the hunting of antlered animals with dogs. The general impression is that of power, agility and alertness, with the ability to cover ground swiftly with powerful rhythmic strides. Each hound has its own distinctive voice which is often recognisable to its owners from great distance.The Black and Tan Coonhound is a breed of dog used principally for trailing and treeing raccoon. It’s a cross between the Bloodhound, and the Black And Tan Virginia Foxhound. The Black and Tan Coonhound runs its game entirely by scent. The courage of the Coonhound also make it proficient on the hunt for deer, bear, cougar and other big game, although many US states are restricting the hunting of antlered animals with dogs. The general impression is that of power, agility and alertness, with the ability to cover ground swiftly with powerful rhythmic strides. Each hound has its own distinctive voice which is often recognisable to its owners from great distance.

Appearance

The breed standard for Black and Tan Coonhounds is as follows:

Eyes are hazel to brown

Ears are extremely long, wide, and thin, set low and far back on the dog’s head, hanging well down the neck.
Their black and tan markings are similar to the Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler but have key distinguishing differences from these breeds. The most prominent are the long tails and ears, and their loud, baying bark.
Legs are long in proportion to the body length, muscular and finely modelled.
The tail is set slightly below the natural line of the back, strongly tapered, and carried at a right angle, when the dog is alert or excited.
23 to 27 inches (58 to 69 cm) at the shoulder
8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) head (back of skull to tip of nose)
65 to 130 pounds (29 to 59 kg)
Males are typically larger and heavier boned than females.

Health

Generally healthy, but there is some risk of hip dysplasia, ear cancer and other ear infections, and eye problems.

Temperament

The Black and Tan Coonhound is a gentle, adaptable, and lovable dog. Many are easy-going and people-friendly, and the Black and Tan Coonhound is happiest when performing the work it has been bred for. Easily distracted by their incredible sense of smell, these dogs require patient handling and encouragement. Though most are trusting and sweet-natured, Black and Tan puppies require a fair amount of encouragement to boost their confidence, especially when living indoors as pets. Black and Tan Coonhounds are happy to be couch-potatoes when given plenty of exercise, and they enjoy the company of their human family. Black and Tans may seem cautious or nervous around strangers or unfamiliar dogs, but will socialise well with time, as they are bred to hunt and work in packs. They don’t become senior citizens until about ten years old, and will be active, fun-loving buddies for their first decade.

The Black and Tan is best known as a raccoon hunter, the breed has also been used very successfully to hunt other types of game such as bear, stag, oppossum, deer and mountain lion – even on difficult terrain. It withstands well the rigours of winter as well as intense heat. Some of the Black and Tan Coonhound talents include hunting, tracking, watchdogging, and agility. Black and Tan Coonhounds are the only breed officially recognised as Coonhounds by the American Kennel Club.

This breed drools and slobbers, a trait that can be troublesome. This breed is not well-suited for someone who is looking for a quiet dog; Black and Tan Coonhounds, like all Coonhounds, are quite vocal and will bark and howl often.

Black and Tan Coonhounds are effective at warning their owners when a stranger enters the yard. Their bark sounds threatening to strangers, but they are unlikely to actually bite unless they sense danger or they or their pack are threatened.

Though not seen frequently in urban areas, they enjoy popularity in rural areas. It is said that Coonhounds are found on the porch of more rural homes in the United States than any other breed. While that is not a statistical fact, their place on the AKC registered breeds list ranks them as one of the more popular breeds.

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A Bichon Frise (French, literally meaning curly lap dog) is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese. They are a non-shedding breed that requires daily grooming.

Appearance

The Bichon Frise is a small cute but sturdy dog that weighs approx. 7-15 lbs and stands 23–30 cm/9-15in at the withers, but slightly larger dogs are not uncommon. It has a black nose and dark round eyes, and its white hair consists of a curly outer coat and a silky undercoat, although many of the breed do tend to have less curly hair than others. A small amount of buff, cream, or apricot colour may be seen around its ears, snout, paws or body, but normally these colours do not exceed 10% of its body. The head and legs are proportionate in size to the body, and ears and tail are natural (not docked or cropped). Often the coat is trimmed to make the hair seem of even length. Bichon Frise’s can be medium-high intelligence.

Temperament

The AKC refers to the Bichon Frise as “merry” and “cheerful”, and the breed standard calls for a dog that is “gentle mannered, sensitive, playful and affectionate”. Bred to be companion dogs, the Bichon Frise tends to get along well with both children and other animals.

Bichon Frises are very obedient if training is started early and continued consistently.

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The Bernese Mountain Dog, called in Swiss German the Berner Sennenhund, is a large breed of dog, one of the four breeds of Sennenhund-type dogs from the Swiss Alps. The name Sennenhund is derived from the German “Senne” (alpine pasture) and “hund” (dog), as they accompanied the alpine herders and dairymen called Senn. Berner (or Bernese in English) refers to the area of the breed’s origin, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. Originally kept as general farm dogs, large Sennenhunds in the past were also used as draft animals, pulling carts.

Appearance

Like the other Sennenhunds, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a large, heavy dog with a distinctive tricoloured coat, black with white chest and or rust coloured markings above eyes, sides of mouth, front of legs, and a small amount around the white chest. An ideal of a perfectly-marked individual gives the impression of a white horse shoe shape around the nose and a white “Swiss cross” on the chest, when viewed from the front. A Swiss Kiss is a white mark located typically behind the neck, but may be a part of the neck. A full ring would not meet type standard. Both males and females have a broad head with smallish, v-shaped drooping ears. Height at the withers is 23–27.5 in (58–70 cm) and weight is 65–120 lb (29–54 kg). Females are slightly smaller than males. The breed standard lists, as disqualifications, a distinctly curly coat, along with wry mouth and wall eye. Exact colour and pattern of the coat are also described as important. The Bernese got voted “most beautiful dog breed” by Americans on TV.

Temperament

The breed standard for the Bernese Mountain Dog states that dogs should not be “aggressive, anxious or distinctly shy,” but rather should be “good natured,” “self-assured,” “placid towards strangers,” and “docile.” Temperament of individual dogs may vary, and not all examples of the breed have been carefully bred to follow the Standard. All large dogs should be well socialised when young, and given regular training and activities throughout their lives.

Bernese are outdoor dogs at heart, though well-behaved in the house; they need activity and exercise, but do not have a great deal of endurance. They can move with amazing bursts of speed for their size when motivated. If they are sound (no problems with their hips, elbows, or other joints) they enjoy hiking and generally stick close to their people.

The Bernese temperament is a strong point of the breed. They are affectionate, loyal, faithful, stable, intelligent, but sometimes shy. The majority of Bernese are friendly to people, and other dogs. They often get along well with other pets such as cats, horses, etc. They are trainable provided the owner is patient and consistent in training; Bernese need time to think things through. They do not respond well to harsh treatment, however Berners are willing and eager to please their master. Bernese love to be encouraged with praise and treats. The breed is sweet and good with children, despite their great size. Overall, they are stable in temperament, patient, and loving.

Bernese Mountain Dogs are slow to mature, and can display puppy-like tendencies up to 2 1/2 years of age.

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The Tervuren, is a member of the Belgian Shepherd Dog family of dog breeds. Its classification varies, being classified under some breed standards as a breed in its own right, and in others as one of several acceptable variations of the Belgian. It is usually listed within breed standards under one or other, or a combination, of these names.

In the United States, since 1960, the AKC recognises it under the name Belgian Tervuren. Prior to that date, all recognised varieties of the Belgians were called Belgian Sheepdog.

In Canada, the Canadian Kennel Club recognises the Tervuren as a variety of the Belgian Shepherd Dog (prior to 2005, Belgian Shepherd Dogs were called Belgian Sheepdogs).

Appearance

Like all Belgian Shepherds, the Tervuren is a medium-sized, square-proportioned dog in the sheepdog family. Males stand between 24 and 26 inches, and weigh approximately 65 lb. Females are finer and smaller. It is recognised by its thick double coat, generally mahogany with varying degrees of black overlay (completely missing overlay on males is a serious fault), including a black mask. A small patch of white on the chest is permissible, as well as white tips on toes. The Tervuren may also be sable or grey, but this may be penalised in the show ring in some countries according to the standard of the registering body.

Temperament

Tervurens are highly energetic, intelligent dogs who require a job to keep them occupied. This can be herding, obedience, agility, flyball, tracking, or protection work. They are also found working as Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs, finding missing persons and avalanche victims. Tervurens that are not kept sufficiently busy can become hyperactive or destructive.

As companion animals, Tervurens are loyal and form strong bonds with their family, leading some to be shy around strangers. They are good watch dogs, being very observant and attentive to the slightest change in their environment. Some can be nervous, depending on breeding and early experiences, so care must be taken to adequately socialise Tervuren puppies to a wide variety of people and situations.

As with all the Belgian Shepherd Dogs, Tervurens are not generally recommended to first-time dog owners due to their high maintenance level.

Adult males are distinctly masculine and females are likewise feminine. Their appearance projects alertness and elegance. The breed is known for its loyalty and versatility. Those who own them, report being charmed by their intelligence, trainability, and, perhaps most of all, their sense of humour. They excel in many kinds of activities. Today the breed is still relatively rare in the United States, but it is well-established.

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