Meet Princess Zariah
The Black Russian Terrier
Door-KNOB Expert and Current Chaos Creator
Confident from day one, curious about everything, and always one step ahead of us.
Zariah has given us a run for our money since the moment she entered our home. She approached handling classes with confidence, throws herself into life with bright enthusiasm, and seems determined to understand how absolutely everything works.
Zariah at a Glance
Registered Name: NASHUA GORDOST IZTEREMKA
Call Names: Zariah, Zar Bar, BEAST
Date of Birth: November 13, 2025
Sex: Female
Color: Black
Height: Still Growing
Weight: Still Growing
Bloodlines: Iz Teremka lines
Registration: AKC and CKC Registered
Pedigree: Click Here
Meet Zariah
Living with Zariah means constantly discovering what she has figured out next.
For weeks, we blamed our children for leaving the back door open during the winter. We reminded them, questioned them, and could not understand why it kept happening. Then one day, we saw the truth for ourselves: Zariah had learned how to open the door.
That moment told us so much about her. She watches closely, experiments quietly, and keeps working at something until it makes sense. Her cleverness is not limited to formal training. It shows up in daily life, in the way she studies people, solves problems, and turns ordinary household objects into personal research projects.
As a young Black Russian Terrier, Zariah is still growing into herself. We are continuing to develop her through handling classes, training, new experiences, and life within our busy family. She keeps us alert, keeps us laughing, and gives us plenty to look forward to as she matures at Color Splash Kennel.
How We Chose Zariah
Zariah came into our lives only after we had already made some important mistakes.
When we purchased our first two Black Russian Terriers, we knew very little about pedigrees, structure, health testing, or what it truly meant to build a responsible breeding program. We simply knew that we loved the breed.
As that love grew, so did our desire to understand it more deeply. We began researching Black Russian Terrier pedigrees, studying structure, learning about health testing, and asking experienced breeders what we should be looking for.
One longtime breeder gave me advice that changed the direction of our program: study as many Black Russian Terriers as possible, find the dog you would want to recreate, and use that vision to define your breeding goals.
That search led me to a male named Obi.
I believed he was one of the most beautiful Black Russian Terriers I had ever seen, and I still feel that way today. His breed type, presence, and overall look became part of the vision I wanted to work toward. He helped me put a picture to the kind of Black Russian Terrier I hoped to produce someday.
At the same time, I had spent years admiring the dogs from Iz Teremka in Canada. What stood out to me was the consistency within the dam lines. From litter to litter, the females were producing beautiful, recognizable Black Russian Terriers with qualities I deeply admired.
I knew I did not simply want a beautiful female. I wanted a female from a line known for producing well.
Then a friend sent me a message that changed everything.
Kira, one of the females from those lines, was going to be bred to Gordey. Their puppies would also be grandchildren of Obi. Suddenly, the qualities I had been studying and hoping to bring together were appearing in one carefully planned litter.
I reached out to the breeder immediately and asked whether she would consider placing a female puppy with me as a potential foundation for our future breeding program.
She said yes.
Zariah was not an impulsive choice. She was the result of years of learning, studying pedigrees, refining our goals, and understanding what we wanted Color Splash Kennel to become.
Zariah’s Structure, Movement, and Breed Type
Balance From the Beginning
Zariah’s balance was easy to see from the time she was just eight weeks old. Even as a young puppy, she carried herself with an impressive sense of proportion and coordination, and those early qualities have only become more pronounced as she has grown.
Substance Beyond Her Age
At eight months old, Zariah has already developed remarkable substance. Her bone is heavier than both Trigger’s and Zhanna’s, giving her a powerful foundation while still allowing her to remain feminine and balanced.
A Strong, Feminine Head
Her head is one of her most striking features. She has broad, level planes, a beautiful expression, and the strength we want to see in a Black Russian Terrier without losing femininity.
Chest and Forechest Development
Her depth of chest and forechest are developing exceptionally well for her age, contributing to the strong, substantial outline we hoped to find in a future breeding prospect.
Smooth, Ground-Covering Movement
In motion, Zariah glides. She covers ground smoothly and efficiently, with the same effortless quality we admire in her mother. Her movement feels purposeful rather than heavy, combining power with balance in a way that is especially exciting to watch as she matures.
A Coat Still in Development
Zariah is still carrying her puppy coat, so we are continuing to evaluate its final texture, density, and overall quality as her adult coat develops.
Confidence With Quick Recovery
Temperamentally, Zariah brings an abundance of confidence. She is bold in the show ring, recovers quickly when something startles her, and approaches unfamiliar situations with determination rather than hesitation.
What We Hope to Preserve
We hope to preserve Zariah’s balance, substance, broad feminine head, chest development, smooth movement, and confident temperament in future generations.
What We Are Still Watching
Like every young Black Russian Terrier, Zariah still has growing to do. We will continue watching how her proportions, coat, structure, movement, and overall maturity come together over time.
Zariah is everything we hoped to find in a Black Russian Terrier, with just a little extra spice sprinkled in.
Zariah's All Star Family
