Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed ComparisonSmooth Haired Weimaraner is originated from Germany but Black Russian Terrier is originated from Russia. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may grow 6 cm / 2 inches shorter than Black Russian Terrier. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may weigh 20 kg / 44 pounds lesser than Black Russian Terrier. Both Smooth Haired Weimaraner and Black Russian Terrier has same life span. Smooth Haired Weimaraner may have less litter size than Black Russian Terrier. Smooth Haired Weimaraner requires Low maintenance. But Black Russian Terrier requires High maintenance

History

smooth haired weimaraner - historyThe Smooth Haired Weimaraner is a beautiful silvery-grey dog that was once bred for hunting way back in the 19th century.

He has always been described as an all-purpose gun dog bred from crossing different German and French hunting dogs with the Bloodhound.

History of this dog dates back to 1897. This is when a club was formed in Germany for the breed.

black russian terrier - historyDuring the cold war, the Soviet Union developed the Black Russian Terrier as a working military dog. During the early 1950’s, the Red Star Kennel developed this breed and in 2004 by the American Kennel Club. The Black Russian Terrier is not really a terrier at all, but a mid-sized working dog used for hunting and guarding or as a pet. The Red Star Kennel is thought to have developed the BRT using a wide variety of breeds – as many as seventeen – including breeds like the Newfoundland, the Rottweiler, the Caucasian Shepard Dog and a Giant Shepard and an Airedale. So, you can see the wide variety and several more breeds were added. The Red Star Kennel in Moscow was owned by the state and they developed the BRT for specific working conditions and not for appearance. They did not really care how it looked except that it had to be black. In 1957 the state allowed a few puppies to be sold to non-military breeders. These breeders began to breed the Black Russian Terrier for appearance as well as function.

As these breeders worked with the dogs, they spread the breed throughout Russia and into Finland, Poland, Hungary, Germany, Czechoslovakia and Germany. From there they spread to Australia, Canada and the United States. The breed standard was developed in 1958 and by 1996 an updated version of the standard was developed to reflect the dog we see today. In 1996 the United Kingdom also got their first introduction to the breed. They are still rare outside of Russian or previous Soviet Union states.

Description

smooth haired weimaraner puppy - descriptionThe lean, well muscled Smooth Haired Weimaraner is athletic to look at, brimming with energy and vitality. The coat is smooth and short and is a magnificent steel grey to silver coat which even tends to be a blue-grey color.

The short coat makes the dog low maintenance. He is also a low shedding dog. He is a medium to large sized dog standing at between 57 and 70cm in height and weighing in the region of 25 to 40kg.

The tail has always been docked, giving him that distinctive, dignified appearance. The tail then measures about 6 inches in length.

These dogs are also excellent water dogs with their webbed paws. The ears of the dog are medium length and floppy and the eyes are light amber or a blue-grey color.

Temperament:

You just have to look at the Smooth Haired Weimaraner and you can see how he just loves being with his human owner all the time, so much so that he is known for separation anxiety. Sometimes he can become so distraught separated from his owner that he can even injure himself trying to reach his owner. Being separated for too long can cause him anxiety issues.

Certainly this dog is going to need the right kind of training and socialization to calm him. They’re also full of energy too and are going to require a good amount of exercise.

black russian terrier puppy - descriptionA little larger than a mid-sized dog, the Black Russian Terrier is strong, powerful, stable and alert. His head is block shaped and has a broad skull. The muzzle is square with a beard and mustache. A black, large nose and full black lips are matched with powerful and large jaws. He has a scissor bite and his ears should be triangles with rounded apexes. They have very large paws that are bear-like in appearance with thick black pads. They are also covered with hair. Their legs are muscular, powerful and strong. They have a cropped tail.

Characteristics

smooth haired weimaraner dog - characteristicsYour distinctive silvery-grey Weimaraner with his velvety ears and striking eyes is such a loving dog, desiring to be with his human family as much as possible.

They are also good with children. Their loving nature and eagerness to please will ensure that you have a fully integrated 4 legged family member in your home who wants to be involved with everything you're busy with.

black russian terrier dog - characteristicsThe Black Russian Terrier is a working dog and he is confident, calm, self-assured and confident. He is responsive and intelligent, protective and fearless, loyal and aloof. He is not welcoming to strangers. If socialized well, he is enough of an independent thinker to be able to decide on his own who or what poses a threat to his family and what doesn’t. They get bored quickly because they are so smart. Keep him stimulated. These are strong, athletic dogs who will love to run with you, jog along side your bike, hike the mountain or just walk with you. Whatever your form of exercise is, the Black Russian Terrier can adapt to it. They also have a strong prey drive so don’t trust them with animals they do not know. They are ok with cats and dogs that they grow up with. They love to play with kids but be careful they don’t unintentionally knock the little ones down.

The Black Russian Terrier matures later than other dogs. Treat the puppy the way you want the adult dog to be. If you don’t want a large dog on your bed don’t let the puppy sleep on the bed. He will soon be a large, powerful and strong dog with a mind of his own and you will not be able to keep him off the bed.

Health Problems

smooth haired weimaraner puppies - health problemsThere are some common dog illnesses that most dog owners fear, and hip dysplasia is one. Fortunately the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals tells us that Weimaraners aren’t prone to this dysplasia the way some dogs are.

One cause for concern however is bloat, and as a deep chested dog breed, the Short Haired Weimaraner can be prone to this life threatening illness.

Known also as gastric torsion, the stomach swells up and the dog becomes lethargic and restless. Immediate veterinary intervention is required. One way to diminish your dog’s chances of getting bloat is to rather feed him two smaller meals a day as opposed to one large meal.

Also, skin allergies are fairly common with these dogs. If redness appears on the skin or the skin is dry and itchy with a rash and he is losing his hair, you may well need to get your pet to the vet. It is why we always recommend giving your pet some raw meat added to the diet and this can help to prevent skin allergies.

black russian terrier puppies - health problemsThis is a healthy breed who faces some of the same issues other large dogs face such as dysplasia in the elbows and hips. Then they also face their own hereditary diseases such as Juvenile laryngeal paralysis, hyperuricosuria and polyneuropathy. They are also susceptible to heart disease, eye diseases, allergies, Panosteitis and hypertropic osteodystrophy. Let’s look at the major hereditary disease that are not so common.

Juvenile Laryngeal Paralysis

This occurs when the larynx arytenoid cartilages stop working and don’t operate so then the adjoining muscles don’t work either and the dog cannot swallow without the possible damage to the airway and the cannot breathe properly during exercise or while panting.

Hyperuricosuria

This is a condition that can occur in people and animals. This condition can lead to kidney or bladder stones as there is too much uric acid in their urine.

Polyneuropathy

Like any form of neuropathy, in this disease many different nerves are damaged, and this can cause weak reflexes and tremors. There are effective treatments however.

Caring The Pet

Training:

smooth haired weimaraner dogs - caringEvery dog, especially the Smooth Haired Weimaraner with his anxiety issues, should be trained and socialized, and these dogs are easy to train because they’re intelligent and they want to please.

Grooming:

The short silvery coat simply requires a good brush-down twice a week to remove the few loose hairs there are. Even if you don’t need to brush him, just do it because of the type of dog the Weimaraner is.

He loves the closeness of owner and dog. It’s a good time to check him over for ticks and fleas, to feel for unusual lumps, to look inside his ears for signs of infection, to check his eyes too, that they’re bright and clear.

Diet:

If you feed your Smooth Haired Weimaraner commercially manufactured dog food, it needs to be one of the best ones with fairly high protein content. If feeding kibble, you can enhance the food by adding in some tasty home-made food. The Weimaraner’s stomach is easily upset so you want to add in easily digestible home-made food free of exotic spices and richness.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Your Weimaraner will love such simple, good food and you can add a little to his dry kibble twice a week.

Also important is to add in some raw meat as this ensures a healthy skin. Make sure he has a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

Feeding

black russian terrier dogs - caringThis is a large, working dog that needs healthy nutrition. Feed once or twice a day but do not overfeed. Don’t let your Black Russian Terrier get overweight. Proper nutrition for puppies is critical given the nutrionally based diseases discussed below.

Health issues

  1. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) – Watch out for this in your puppy. Like other large, puppies that grow fast the Black Russian Terrier is susceptible to this bone disease.
  2. Panosteitis (Wandering Lameness) – Again an issue for puppies of larger breeds as a nutritional issue causes an abrupt lameness at 6-8 months of age.
  3. Heart Disease – Cardiomyopathy, Mitral Valve Dysplasia and Aortic Stenosis
  4. Eye Diseases – Conjunctivitis, entropion and ectropion.
  5. Allergies – Food, contact and inhalant. Hot spots and fungal infections of the beard and ears.

Exercise and games

This is a high energy dog that needs to work. He doesn’t just want to work, he needs to work. So, find him a job and one that includes a lot of exercise. He needs consistent and firm training but will respond well and excel in Obedience Trials. They are good at Schutzhund and agility. They need plenty of exercise and will be unhappy and destructive without enough and a job. He needs to burn off that energy.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Working dog
Origin:
Germany
Russia
Height Male:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
72 - 76 cm
28 - 30 inches
Height Female:
57 - 70 cm
22 - 28 inches
68 - 72 cm
26 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 40 kg
55 - 89 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
9 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
6 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Weim, Grey Ghost
BRT Russian Black Terrier • Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier • Chornyi • Terrier Noir Russe • Russian Bear Schnauzer • Black Terrier • Tchiorny Terrier
Colors Available:
Silvery Grey
black only
Coat:
Short, sleek and smooth
Rough and thick, slightly waved
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  14. Spanish Pointer vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  16. Talbot vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  19. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. Samoyed vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Bullmastiff vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Great Pyrenees vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Presa Canario vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Labrador Husky vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Argentine Dogo vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Giant Schnauzer vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Goldador vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Dogo Cubano vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Dogo Sardesco vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Central Asian Shepherd vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Mackenzie River Husky vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Black Russian Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  38. Black Russian Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  39. Black Russian Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  40. Black Russian Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  41. Black Russian Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  42. Black Russian Terrier vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  43. Black Russian Terrier vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  44. Black Russian Terrier vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  45. Black Russian Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  46. Black Russian Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  47. Black Russian Terrier vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  48. Black Russian Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  49. Black Russian Terrier vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds