Komondor vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Komondor vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed ComparisonKomondor is originated from Hungary but Black Russian Terrier is originated from Russia. Both Komondor and Black Russian Terrier are of same height. Both Komondor and Black Russian Terrier are of same weight. Both Komondor and Black Russian Terrier has almost same life span. Both Komondor and Black Russian Terrier has almost same litter size. Both Komondor and Black Russian Terrier requires High maintenance.

History

komondor - historyLooking like a giant mop, and sometimes being referred to as 'mop dogs' the Komondor, known also as the Hungarian sheepdog, hails from Hungary.

The dog was brought to Europe centuries ago so he is a well established breed. It has been declared as one of the country's national treasures.

He is a dog related to many other dogs such as the Pulim the Ovcharka, the Bearded Collie, Old English Sheepdog and others.

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

komondor puppy - descriptionKnown for his unique long corded, singular white coat, the Komondor, a molosser dog, is large. Females start at 64cm in height and both males and females can reach up to 76cm in height.

This unusual coat of theirs is wavy and actually forms cords or dreadlocks as the dog matures. You can't easily see the dog's face because of all the hair.You also can't see the tail easily, in fact you might think he hasn't got a tail as it is obscured by the hair. The tail is medium length and held low.

He has a large head, dark brown eyes, and floppy ears. The coat is certainly going to require grooming even though the dog doesn't shed much. His body is robust and well muscled with the body being slightly longer than the height of the dog.

Temperament:

The Komondor has been a dog used for guarding livestock, and while his character is calm and balanced, when the livestock is threatened, he can show another side – more aggressive – as he defends his flock. He makes an excellent watchdog.

He is an affectionate dog with his human family, being a gentle playmate of children. He is slightly reserved and wary of strangers, and is willing to guard and protect his human family from them.

He is also good with other family pets. When you look at him you might think of him as not being very energetic, but he is an athletic dog, fast and powerful. Because of his size and speed, it is best to have him trained and socialized as he can be obstinate. Training him makes him obedient.

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

komondor dog - characteristicsThe Komondor is known for his strong guardian characteristics, especially with his human family. He is loving and loyal towards them while being wary of strangers.

True, his coat can make people think twice before making this dog a pet, but if you're game and ready to attend to his coat, he can make an excellent family pet. They're fine with other pets too, and he is also an intelligent dog, capable of being easily trained.

He needs a good deal of exercise and can become noisy and destructive without the right amount of stimulation. If you do your part with the Komondor and provide him with a loving, caring home, he will be an awesome pet and guard you with his life.

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

komondor puppies - health problemsThe Komondor is a healthy dog breed who can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years if you look after him well. There aren't any known genetic disorders prominent with the dog, but it pays to know about some of those that could strike -

Entropion:

This is an irritating eye problem where the eyelash rubs up against the eyes.The result can be scratching of the cornea and eye infections. It is an eye problem which can be corrected with surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a serious genetically inherited disorder and common in large dog breeds. It is caused by a malformation of the hip joint. It can cause problems for the dog, weakening the hip and making it incapable of supporting the weight of the dog.

It also leads to pain for the dog, difficulty with moving and even total lameness. Weight, size of dog, age and genetics are all factors which can increase the dog's likelihood of developing hip dysplasia.

Whimpering, lethargy and refusing to put weight on the leg are common signs of hip dysplasia and your vet will go ahead with ways to relieve the pain and symptoms of your Komondor.

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

Grooming:

komondor dogs - caringThe Komondor is most certainly not a low maintenance dog with that extraordinary coat.Before the dog turns 1, the coat begins to form its cords. These cords can become discolored and matted, In fact the cords will need to be separated to keep the dog clean and free of matted hair.

For those who keep the dog as a pet and who don't want him to be a show dog, he can be trimmed, otherwise the coat and its maintenance could turn out to be a real issue.

Of course once the distinctive coat has been sheared, he loses that typical and recognizable Komondor look.

Check his ears on a regular basis for wax- and dirt buildup so as to prevent ear infection.

Teeth need to be checked regularly to prevent tartar buildup and if you don't have the time or the knowledge to keep his teeth clean and maintained, take him to the vet as the teeth-treatments they do there will promote healthy teeth and gums.

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:
Working dog
Working dog
Origin:
Hungary
Russia
Height Male:
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
72 - 76 cm
28 - 30 inches
Height Female:
64 - 76 cm
25 - 30 inches
68 - 72 cm
26 - 29 inches
Weight Male:
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 60 kg
88 - 133 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 12 Years
9 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
6 - 12
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Hungarian sheepdog, Mop dogs
BRT Russian Black Terrier • Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier • Chornyi • Terrier Noir Russe • Russian Bear Schnauzer • Black Terrier • Tchiorny Terrier
Colors Available:
White
black only
Coat:
Long, thick, corded or dreadlocks
Rough and thick, slightly waved
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
High maintenance
High maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

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. Samoyed vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  27. Presa Canario vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  28. Labrador Husky vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  29. Mackenzie River Husky vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  30. Pyredoodle vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  31. Lurcher vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  32. Maremma Sheepdog vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  33. Sarplaninac vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  34. Mountain View Cur vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  35. Native American Indian Dog vs Komondor - Breed Comparison
  36. Komondor vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  37. Komondor vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  38. Komondor vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  39. Komondor vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  40. Komondor vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  41. Komondor vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  42. Komondor vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  43. Komondor vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  44. Komondor vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  45. Komondor vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  46. Komondor vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  47. Komondor vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  48. Komondor vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Komondor vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  50. Komondor vs Goldador - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds