Work commenced in the early 1950's to develop a guarding and protection dog for the Russian Army. Many of the "traditional' breeds used by the armed forces including Rottweilers and Dobermans had had their numbers decimated as a result of the war. The state-owned Red Star kennels in Russia aimed to create a large, high-spirited universal military dog with a stable temperament, always willing to work and able to withstand the dramatic climate changes in Europe.

The breeds used to develop the BRT were primarily the Newfoundland (for size and coat), Rottweiler and Giant Schnauzer (for temperament and working ability) and Airedale terrier (for “spirit”). Several other breeds (Great Dane, Caucasian Ovcharka and east European Shepherd) were also used in the early days including several breeds of terrier no longer in existence.

By the 1970’s the foundation dogs of what have become the BRT’s of today were established.

The first BRT’s imported into arrived in 2001 – Best Guard Deniza (“Zaya”) from Russia via Finland and Aus Ch Zornoi James Bond (“Stryka” - pictured above) from Finland. Dot and Ross Sweeney of Cimarron Kennels selected these particular dogs for their temperament and working lines.

They and their subsequent progeny have proved to be successful in a variety of roles including obedience, tracking, agility, conformation showing and at least two are earmarked for future work as therapy dogs. 

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