Dogs are indeed man’s best friend and one of the most loyal companions you could ever find. As years go by, newer breeds keep on popping out, surprising us with new species of dogs.
Russia is no different from any other country that had tried to uniquely breed dogs over the years. Being the largest country in the world, Russia covers up to roughly 11 different time zones, all with different climates.
You could say that the dog breeds that originated from Russia are tougher than most as they have plenty of experience in surviving the harsh Russian climates. Here are some and possibly the best Russian dog breeds to have existed today.
Black Russian Terrier
A breed that originates back in the 1940s, the black Russian terrier is among the large Russian dog breeds and is known for its all-black coat. They are a product of multiple breeding of imported dog breeds such as Giant Schnauzers and Rottweilers.
They were mainly known as Russian guard dog breeds whose main purpose was to guard and protect. They are immensely powerful and intelligent, but they are naturally aloof when it comes to strangers.
Bolonka
Bolonka also is known as Tsvetnaya Bolonka is a rare toy dog with a small body covered with curly hair that was bred in Russia during the 18th century. The Bolonka is bred from the French Bolonka that was gifted by a French ambassador to the Russian Czar.
This small Russian dog breed is mostly bred as fashionable companions for wealthy women back then. Today, they are the perfect lapdog and companion for kids and families as they have a playful, affectionate, and sweet personality.
Borzoi
The Borzoi or Russian Wolfhound was bred back in the 9th and 10th centuries. It is well known for its majestic beauty and elegant appearance. The Borzoi was originally part of the Russian bear hunting dog breeds and a sighthound for hunting wolves.
Borzois are said to be the perfect package for hunting companions as they exhibit great strength, agility, and speed. They are also known for their calm personality and agreeable temperament.
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog or Caucasian Ovcharka is a Russian dog breed that originally came from the Caucasus mountains. They originated from the Molosser breeds from Greece and Albania.
They are bold, fearless, and self-confident yet also soft, and endearing towards their family members. The Caucasian Shepherd Dog is a crossbred that had spread across the region, making one slightly look different from the other.
They are also known as Russian prison dog breeds which were accepted by the Federation Cynologique Internationale back in 1984.
Central Asian Shepherd Dog
This Russian dog breed is said to be part of the oldest group of dogs that existed over 5000 years ago, according to certain artifacts found from the native lands. They were originally bred as Russian guard dogs who will watch over the livestock and properties.
They were also used for traditional dogfighting back in the days. They are known for being fearless and courageous. They are also quiet, proud, independent, and have one of the highest working capacity among many dog breeds.
Laika
Laika or Yakutian Laikas are a breed of working dogs that are widely known in Russia. The Laikas originally came from the Arctic Seashore of the Republic of Sakha. They were bred and introduced by natives of Yakutia as hunting dogs as well as dogs who can pull sleds.
Over the years, the Laikas have become a valuable companion to all Yakut hunters. They are a breed of versatile dogs who have a good sense of smell, hearing, vision, and endurance as well as a faithful assistant and companion to all men.
Russian Spaniel
Originally bred and introduced in New Zealand back in 1891, the Russian spaniel is the result of cross-breeding several spaniel dogs. The Russian Spaniels were known to be the youngest of the Russian dogs used for hunting.
Most Russian Spaniels were a mixture of the English Cocker Spaniels and English Springer Spaniels and was standardized as a type of Spaniel back in 1951 after the world war II. Today, Russian Spaniels as best well known as one of the Russian police dog breeds.
Russian Toy
The Russian Toy is also known as Russian Toy Terrier which originated from Russia back in 1988. It is a small breed of dog with two types of coats. The smooth coat breed was known as Russian Toy Terrier while the breed with a long coat is known as the Moscow Longhaired Toy Terrier.
The Russian Toy is known for the elegance of its long legs and lean muscles despite being one of the small Russian dog breeds. They possess intelligence along with an active and cheerful personality.
Samoyed
When a group of semi-nomadic people from Asia migrated to Siberia over a thousand years ago, a dog breed was named after them. This Russian dog will, later on, be recognized as Samoyed. Samoyeds are a large Russian dog breed coated in thick all-white fur which is impervious to cold.
They are powerful, perfectly beautiful, highly functional yet tireless breeds of dogs. Their most known feature is the perpetual and delightful smile, making them gain the title, the smiling sled dogs.
The Samoyed is bred for hard work which is perfect for hunting dogs for their early ancestors as well as pulling the sleds during the cold and harsh winter climate.
Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a very well-known dog breed that originated from Northeastern Asia and was bred by the Chukchi people. Siberian Huskies became well-known for winning sled races back in the early 1900s.
They are also known for their compact sizes along with their thick coat and different eye colors making them look attractive. The primary breed of Siberian Huskies is loyal and mischievous. They were used to pull sleds with loads of stuff over a moderate speed across the vast frozen expanses.
Throughout the years, more and more mixed dog breeds have come into life. Siberian Huskies and Caucasian Shepherd dogs, for example, are being mixed in with other dog breeds to produce new ones. Like humans, Russian dog breeds find a way to adapt and evolve throughout the years, so that they would not be left behind by the remnants of time.
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