Irish Russian Spanterrier -- Irish Water Spaniel X Russian Black Terrier

		Irish Russian Spanterrier
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Ireland <> Russia -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

The Irish Russian Spanterrier is a very rare hybrid, partly because the two parent breeds, the Irish Water Spaniel and the Russian Black Terrier, are themselves rather rare. The Irish Water Spaniel is an ancient breed, described in literature as early as 1607 and first painted in 1841. The Russian Black Terrier is a brand-new breed, less than a hundred years old since Russian military breeders began developing this dog and just over sixty years since they began breeding true. The two breeds are quite different in physical appearance, temperament and initial purpose, so the Irish Russian Spanterrier can vary in many ways from dog to dog, even within the same litter. However, there are certain similarities between the two, such as their intelligence, versatility and dark coloring.

History of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

The Irish Russian Spanterrier is a specific cross between the Irish Water Spaniel, a medium-sized waterfowl retriever that was developed in Ireland sometime before the 1600s, and the Russian Black Terrier, a giant breed that began its development as part of Russia's national security force in the 1930s.

	A little of the Irish Water Spaniel
	The Irish Water Spaniel is the largest of the Spaniels, an energetic dog that has been around long enough to be mentioned in literature from the 1600s. The true heritage of this ancient dog breed is lost to history, although many have speculated that breeds such as the Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Setter and Curly-haired Retriever may have contributed to the breed at some point in their history. They are both wonderful family dogs and excellent all-round hunting dogs that can handle most aspects of flushing and retrieving game birds, but excel at nose work and have a strong desire to locate targets. These traits made them very popular in early America and by 1875, the Irish Water Spaniel had become the 3rd most popular sporting dog in the USA and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1884. Although the Golden Retriever has taken its place in the popularity rankings and the Irish Water Spaniel has dropped to 150th place in popularity, this breed still has a small but devoted fan base.

	Standard of the Irish Water Spaniel
	A little of the Russian Black Terrier
	The Russian Black Terrier is a completely new breed compared to the Irish Water Spaniel. Developed in military kennels outside Moscow, this dog was conceived as a breed of indigenous Russian dog that was to be employed as a large animal that could be both highly trainable and reliable, while also being able to think and act independently when needed. In all, seventeen different breeds were used to develop this huge guard dog, but the four dogs that most influenced the breed were the Giant Schnauzer, the Rottweiler, the Airedale and the Newfoundland. This large, confident and independent animal began breeding in 1956 and was internationally accepted by the FCI in 1984, but not in the AKC until 2004.

	Standard of the Russian Black Terrier

Appearance of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

The Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog, while the Black Russian Terrier is a giant breed, and their offspring will generally be large to very large. They are slightly longer than they are tall, giving them a rectangular shape, and will have strong, straight legs, although they may sport the thick, sickle-shaped tail of the Russian Black Terrier or the distinctive "rat tail" of the Irish Water Spaniel. Dogs that favor their Irish Water Spaniel heritage will have a chiseled head with a long, deep muzzle covered in fine, short hair, while those favoring the Black Russian Terrier will have a large, brick-shaped head with a broad but slightly tapering muzzle that has copious furnishings of hair that falls over the eyes and forms a mustache and beard. The eyes of this hybrid can range from dark brown to amber and can be oval or almond-shaped, and the ears can be set high or low on the skull, with those set high usually folding forward, while those set low most often hang over the side of the head, often exceeding the chin. The Irish Russian Spanterrier will have a double-layered coat consisting of a soft, dense undercoat covered by a water-repellent layer of outer hair that can be straight like the Russian Black Terrier, curly like the Irish Water Spaniel, or anything in between.

Temperament of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

The temperament of the Irish Russian Spanterrier can vary somewhat from individual to individual in terms of energy levels, tolerance and suitability for children, as well as territorial or protective behavior. Although Irish Water Spaniels and Russian Black Terriers are generally very tolerant of children, they can be a little too exuberant for younger dogs, especially in their teens. However, some negative traits can sometimes appear on both sides of the family tree, as the Irish Water Spaniel tends to be combative with other dogs and has a strong prey drive, and in rare cases, overprotective or territorial behaviors can appear with the Black Russian Terrier due to its guard dog nature. Early positive socialization can help mitigate many of these negative behavioral traits and encourage good behavior with strangers. This hybrid is at its best when it is able to spend as much time as possible with its family, and is prone to separation anxiety if left alone for too long. He's an extremely trainable dog who can usually master new commands quickly and consistently, but can become willful or distracted if bored. Try to vary your training routines regularly to avoid boredom and bring out the best in your dog.

Needs and activities of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

While the Black Russian Terrier may tend to be somewhat quiet, the Irish Water Spaniel is a very active dog, so the Irish Russian Spanterrier needs at least 60 to 90 minutes of vigorous exercise throughout the day every day to keep them happiest and healthiest. This crossbreed can develop skeletal disorders if it is allowed to play too rough or put too much strain on its joints by walking or jogging too far at a time during its teenage years. In addition to walking and jogging, this dog can also excel and enjoy activities such as obedience training, swimming, agility training and rallies. They'll appreciate a large yard to stretch out and explore, or regular visits to the dog park if space outside the home is limited.

Maintenance of the Irish Russian Spanterrier

Grooming requirements for this particular crossbreed are another area that can vary a little from dog to dog. Although it requires some effort, the coat of the Irish Water Spaniel parent is fairly simple to maintain, with bathing only required when necessary, particularly as thorough brushing and combing of the coat often removes much of the dust, dirt and grime that is stuck to the fur itself, and shedding is rare enough that this breed of dog is considered hypoallergenic. The coat of the parent Black Russian Terrier is a different story; they only require weekly brushing, but it takes some time to ensure that the coat is well detangled as their fur is very thick and dense, and their non-hypoallergenic coats require trimming or trimming at least twice a year. Your Irish Russian Spanterrier will have a dense, long coat, although the texture and tendency to tangle depend on the dominant genes. Your hybrid's ears should be checked often for excess moisture or dirt. A routine for teeth cleaning and nail trimming is also recommended.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 16 April 2024; Hits: 264

Irish Russian Spanterrier -- Irish Water Spaniel X Russian Black Terrier