Cao da Serra de Aires vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Cao da Serra de Aires vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed ComparisonCao da Serra de Aires is originated from Portugal but Black Russian Terrier is originated from Russia. Cao da Serra de Aires may grow 21 cm / 8 inches shorter than Black Russian Terrier. Cao da Serra de Aires may weigh 33 kg / 72 pounds lesser than Black Russian Terrier. Both Cao da Serra de Aires and Black Russian Terrier has same life span. Cao da Serra de Aires may have less litter size than Black Russian Terrier. Cao da Serra de Aires requires Moderate maintenance. But Black Russian Terrier requires High maintenance

History

cao da serra de aires - historyAncestors of the Cao da Sera de Aires were used for herding livestock in the Serra de Aires and Alentejo, Portugal. This herding dog is native to Portugal and throughout the 20th Century he was kept as a working dog.

Known also as the Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog or Serra de Aires Mountain Dog, there are some questions surrounding the breed's ancestry as there are few records of dogs before 1900. The dog is thought to be related to the Pyrenean and Catalan Sheepdogs and that it has descended from Briards which were imported into Portugal and crossed with the Pyrenean Sheepdog.

The Cão da Serra de Aires breed standard was accepted by the Portuguese Kennel Club, and the breed was recognized internationally in 1996. The dog was also recognized by the United Kennel Club in the Herding Group in 2006.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Working dog
Origin:
Portugal
Russia
Height Male:
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
72 - 76 cm
28 - 30 inches
Height Female:
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
68 - 72 cm
26 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 27 kg
37 - 60 pounds
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 27 kg
33 - 60 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 14 Years
9 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 6
6 - 12
Size:
Medium dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Portuguese Sheepdog, Portuguese Shepherd Dog
BRT Russian Black Terrier • Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier • Chornyi • Terrier Noir Russe • Russian Bear Schnauzer • Black Terrier • Tchiorny Terrier
Colors Available:
Fawn, gray, yellow and black
black only
Coat:
Long, shaggy, single-layer coat,
Rough and thick, slightly waved
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

cao da serra de aires puppy - descriptionThe beautiful Cão da Serra de Aires is a medium-sized dog. He stands at 45 to 55 cm at the withers and weighs about 17 to 27 kg. He is recognizable by the long, shaggy, single-layer coat, of straight or slightly wavy hair. Don’t be deceived by the coat as below, the dog has a muscular, athletic body.

The coat comes in different shades such as fawn, gray, yellow and black. The dog has a long tail which is held straight out or down and he has medium-length, floppy ears. You’ve got to look hard, as the facial features of the dog are hidden by its shaggy coat. He has a lot of facial hair that sometimes you have to wonder if he can see out of his eyes.

Temperament:

The Cao da Serra de Aires is a wonderful canine companion and is devoted and loyal, forming strong bonds with their human family. He is a playful, amicable dog and gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

He is intelligent and trainable, and when properly trained and socialized,he becomes an even nicer pet to have around and is obedient to his master’s voice. He is territorial, strong willed and dominant and makes a good watchdog too.

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

cao da serra de aires dog - characteristicsThe Cão da Serra de Aires is such a loyal dog to his human family that he makes a splendid pet. He is active, having worked historically at herding and guarding.

Socialization and obedience training ensure that he becomes an exceptional pet and he has a host of positive attributes to his name – he is intelligent, energetic, loyal and loving. He may have been used long ago to guard livestock, but today he is selected as a pet specifically for his excellent companionship and for his protective nature.

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

cao da serra de aires puppies - health problemsAs with most dogs that are looked after well, their health can be good. The Cao da Serra de Aires isn’t likely to keep you at the vet often. Just like with any good dog, there are some health disorders that can benefit you to know about.

Being forewarned , you can get your pet to the vet quickly before the illness gets out of hand.

There are some pet owners who want to have their pets tested by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as well as the Canine Eye Registration Foundation to rule out health defects such as hip dysplasia and cataracts before they manifest themselves in their pets. This is of particular importance to breeders so as to prevent the parent dogs passing bad genetic conditions to the puppies.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a common skeletal disease where the dog’s hip joints don’t develop properly. It can be terribly painful for your pet to get around. It’s a genetic condition and while it is more prevalent in big dogs, any breeds are susceptible.

Your dog will battle along with painful joints and sometimes his hind-end will be lame. You’ll notice that once lying down, he battles to get up again. Fortunately vets are well acquainted with this ailment and they have different options to treat and manage it.

Cataracts:

Cataracts in your dog come about from a disease process which affects the lens of the eye. The eye loses its transparency and impairs vision. There are some instances where cataracts can cause blindness. You’ll see a whitish gray area in your pets eye. The most common cause of cataracts is genetics. Get your pet to the vet who will do certain tests to evaluate the eyes and make a recommendation.

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

cao da serra de aires dogs - caringAs a working dog used to long hours of action, the Cao da Serra de Aires will need lots of activity. He’ll need you taking him for long walks and playing ball games with him. He can become frustrated and destructive when left without any physical stimulation.

Grooming

The Cao da Serra de Aires may have long hair but he isn’t high maintenance. He won’t require professional grooming, but will require a good brush a least twice a week. This is because the long coat can tangle.

To keep him looking his best, you’ll want to be trimming the hair around his paws. Another important grooming task is checking his ears and cleaning them. You have to be careful about cleaning your pet ears if you don’t know how, as it could damage the ears. Your vet can always advise you on how this is done.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Samoyed vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Bullmastiff vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Great Pyrenees vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Presa Canario vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Labrador Husky vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Argentine Dogo vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Giant Schnauzer vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  8. Goldador vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Dogo Cubano vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. Dogo Sardesco vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Central Asian Shepherd vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Mackenzie River Husky vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Black Russian Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Black Russian Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  15. Black Russian Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  16. Black Russian Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  17. Black Russian Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Black Russian Terrier vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  19. Black Russian Terrier vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  20. Black Russian Terrier vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  21. Black Russian Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  22. Black Russian Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  23. Black Russian Terrier vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  24. Black Russian Terrier vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  25. Black Russian Terrier vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  26. Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  27. Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  28. Dutch Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  29. English Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  30. Catahoula Cur vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  31. Catalan Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  32. Pyrenean Shepherd vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  33. Appenzell Mountain Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  34. Queensland Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  35. German Coolie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  36. Croatian Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  37. Red Heeler vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  38. New Zealand Huntaway vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  39. Norwegian Buhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  40. Polish Lowland Sheepdog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  41. Mudi vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  42. Schapendoes vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  43. Nenets Herding Laika vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  44. Scotch Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  45. Smithfield vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  46. Smooth Collie vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  47. Spanish Water Dog vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  48. Swedish Lapphund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  49. Swedish Vallhund vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison
  50. Thai Bangkaew vs Cao da Serra de Aires - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds