Black Russian Terrier Information

The UKC breed standard does not specify Black And Tans because when a breed is named "Black" and the standard calls for Black, there is no need to mention tan.

BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER BREED STANDARD (UKC)

Background information provided by Wayne Cavanaugh, Past President of the United Kennel Club

I found the previous standard which does not specifically allow for Black and Tans. It doesn't mention them but when a breed is named black, and the standards calls for Black, it was likely assumed there was no need.

COLOR

Black or black, with intermingled grey hairs.  Faults: Brown or grey tinge to black ground hairs. White markings.  Disqualification: Albinism. Parti-colored

…We get lots of emails and calls about standards. I can't swear to it but I have a vague recollection of someone lobbying me to include tan points in BRTs and I declined because they presented no compelling health reason to do so. As for no DQ, I'm not certain but to be fair, it is important to understand that a DQ (disqualification) at UKC is unique - it meant they couldn't be shown AND that UKC rescinded or rejected the registration. So it was typically reserved for the most egregious issues. I don't know what the rule is now.

I had four general criteria for colors in any breed:

1. if the color was linked to genetic disease, it was not allowed. Period.

2. if it was unusual but did occur NATURALLY in the breed, it was allowed. For example, parti-color poodles occur naturally and have since the beginning of the breed being registered so that's ok with me. BUT you cannot genetically get "silver" labs without cheating so they were not allowed.

3. if the color prohibited them from doing their job - a white Chesapeake Bay Retriever can't hide in the marsh - they were not allowed.

4. if the color indicated a modern cross to another breed, they were NOT allowed.

When I say "not allowed" I mean disqualified (DQ) and rescinded registration. The AKC registers off-color dogs every day, but the UKC did not when made aware of a DQ. We always rejected silver labs even though AKC still registers them. Again, I don't know what the new policies are at UKC.

I'm clearly not a BRT expert but my guess is that since they are "relatively newly recognized" the Airedale and Rottweiler color pattern popped up at first but the breeders wanted to select against it while the breed moved forward. It seems to me that by naming them Black Russian Terriers, they wanted to make sure they were just, well, black!

I am a proponent of carefully considering the occasional exception to allow root-breed colors in the gene pool (but NOT in the ring) after consulting with canine geneticists. IF the breed has a small gene pool and IF serious breeders wanted to reserve the option to breed to an off color for health or performance purposes. The only way to explain this is to understand Great Danes: when I was at AKC, mantle or "Boston" marked Danes were a DQ. I wanted to allow them ONLY because you must have them to make proper harlequins. I want to be clear in saying, I know of no compelling reason for Black and Tan Black Russian Terriers to stay in a gene pool unless there is some mysterious health reason I'm not aware of.

Personally, even though I have zero input in these things, I would make them a DQ and reject or rescind black and tan registrations unless they really needed them in the gene pool for health or performance reasons, IF that were the case, I would consider making them an "eliminating fault" which means you can breed from them but not show them.

At the end of the day, I believe the breed founders meant the breed to be black or they would not have made the color a prevailing part of the breed name.