Snorkie vs Black Russian Terrier - Breed Comparison

Black Russian Terrier is originated from Russia but Snorkie is originated from United States. Black Russian Terrier may grow 46 cm / 19 inches higher than Snorkie. Black Russian Terrier may weigh 54 kg / 120 pounds more than Snorkie. Both Black Russian Terrier and Snorkie has almost same life span. Black Russian Terrier may have more litter size than Snorkie. Black Russian Terrier requires High Maintenance. But Snorkie requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
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Russia
United States
Height Male:
72 - 76 cm
28 - 30 inches
14 - 30 cm
5 - 12 inches
Height Female:
68 - 72 cm
26 - 29 inches
14 - 30 cm
5 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
50 - 60 kg
110 - 133 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
3 - 6 kg
6 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
9 - 14 Years
10 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 12
3 - 8
Size:
Large
Toy
Other Names:
BRT Russian Black Terrier • Russkiy Tchiorny Terrier • Chornyi • Terrier Noir Russe • Russian Bear Schnauzer • Black Terrier • Tchiorny Terrier
Schnerrier
Colors Available:
black only
silver, Grey, black., tan
Coat:
Rough and thick, slightly waved
Short, medium or long - silky or crisp
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Protective, Responsive, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
High Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

black russian terrierDuring 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.

The Snorkie is not a purebred dog. It is a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

The exact origins of this dog are unknown, but it is believed that it is a designer dog from the United States. Known also as the Schnerrier, this toy breed is a popular pet as he can slot into life in the city or the countryside, in small homes or large.

The Snorkie’s history is short and unknown but both the parent breeds each have a long history.

Description

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.

Coming from two small dog breeds, the Snorkie will be small too, and will measure anything from 14 to 30cm and weigh anything from 3 to 6kg.

The Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer are fairly similar to look at and you will no doubt get high set erect ears, a small, compact body and a medium length tail which will be thickly furred.

The coat of the dog will be longish and could end up being the silky hair of the Yorkie or being the crisp coat of the Schnauzer. Colors of the coat can be grey, tan, silver, black. Shedding will be minimal.

Temperament:

When you get two purebred dog breeds being used to bring about a new dog breed, you cant really say what the temperament of the dog will be – because it could actually be a mix of characteristics from either breed. Either way your little pet will be social, playful, loving, loyal and companionable and make a great little watchdog.

Characteristics

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.

Your Snorkie will be a sociable little dog who loves hanging out with his human family. He is loyal and loving towards them. He gets on well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

Small he may be, but he makes a great watchdog and will alert you to suspect behavior with his constant yapping.

Suitable for life in the city or the countryside and also a great choice for first time dog owners, the Snorkie promises to make you an awesome family pet.

Health Problems

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.

Because a Snorkie is a mixed breed, they can inherit any one of the health issues from each of the parent breeds – the Yorkshire Terrier and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Because this is a small dog, you can probably expect dental problems - overcrowded teeth and pancreatitis. The idea is to make sure you feed your little pet excellent food to minimize health issues.

Pancreatitis:

The pancreas has many functions, one of which is the production of digestive enzymes which are critical for food digestion.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and then digestive enzymes, normally inactive until they reach the small intestine, become active in the pancreas instead. This brings about swelling and pain. Obesity, medications, high-fat diets and a disease such as hypothyroidism can cause pancreatitis.

Your dog will lose his appetite, be lethargic and restless and be vomiting too. He will have to get to the vet.

Caring The Pet

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.

Being a small dog, the Snorkie will be fairly easy to care for, and for anyone on a low budget who badly wants to own a dog, he won’t cost you a whole lot of money in food.

Let’s look at how to care for your Snorkie -

♦Give him exercise – walks, ball games and indoor games.

◆Brush the coat twice a week to rid the coat of loose hairs. The Snorkie isn’t a heavy shedder but he loves the grooming session. His coat may need to be professionally trimmed.

◆When you brush him, check for fleas and ticks. Check inside the ears for redness and make sure the eyes are bright and alert.

◆The Snorkie is small but will be a handful if left untrained. He is intelligent and will make a superb pet if he is trained and socialized.

◆ Provide your Snorkie with his own quiet, comfortable place to sleep.

◆Keep his vaccines up to date to eliminate killer canine diseases and get him to the vet if he appears to be ill.

◆Have your Snorkie spayed or neutered to avoid unwanted puppies.

◆Feed your Snorkie the best food there is. The commercially manufactured dog foods can be a good, convenient choice. Read the labels and buy the food appropriate to your pets size, age and energy levels.

Try and give him some home-made food. You can add a little bit of home-made food to the dry kibble to enhance it. You can do this twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a tasty healthy choice for your little pet. Just chop it all up for him.

Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.

Comparison with other breeds

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  5. Black Russian Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  8. Black Russian Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Black Russian Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Black Russian Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  26. Snorkie vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Snorkie vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Snorkie vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Snorkie vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Snorkie vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Snorkie vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Snorkie vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Snorkie vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Snorkie vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Snorkie vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Snorkie vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Snorkie vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Snorkie vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Snorkie vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Snorkie vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Snorkie vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Snorkie vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Snorkie vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Snorkie vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Snorkie vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Snorkie vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Snorkie vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Snorkie vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Snorkie vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Snorkie vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison