Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain dog breed · 927 on Animalso
Moscow Water Dog: The Extinct Russian Working Breed
- Animal
- Dog
- Origin
- Russia
The Moscow Water Dog, also called the Moscow Diver, Moscow Retriever or Moskovsky Vodolaz, was a little-known Russian breed. Red Star Kennels created it from Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd lines for Soviet armed services. The program ended after the dogs attacked drowning victims instead of rescuing them. The breed is now extinct.
What the breed was for
The Moscow Water Dog was a working dog developed in Russia for the Soviet Union’s armed services.
Its breeding program aimed at water rescue work, but the dogs attacked drowning victims rather than saving them.
Origins and development
Red Star Kennels, a state-operated Soviet organization, produced this breed. Its foundation breeds were the Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd.
The program was discontinued, and the Moscow Water Dog is now extinct.
What stands out
The breed formed part of a state working-dog program and was later used in developing the Black Russian Terrier.
The Russian breeding project used the Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd.
Important limits
This breed is extinct, so it is not an available choice for a new owner.
The planned rescue role did not work as intended: the dogs attacked people they were meant to save.
Availability
There is no current availability or price for the Moscow Water Dog because the breed is extinct.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone seeking a living companion or working dog should consider another breed. Browse dog breeds from Russia or the wider dog breed list.
Verdict
The Moscow Water Dog is a historical Russian working-dog project, not a breed available today.
Its main modern significance is its role in the development of the Black Russian Terrier and its unusual, discontinued rescue-dog history.
What stands out
- Contributed to the development of the Black Russian Terrier
- Created for work with Soviet armed services
- Combined Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd lines
Worth knowing
- The breed is extinct
- Dogs attacked drowning victims instead of rescuing them
- The breeding program was discontinued
Suits
- Readers studying Russian working-dog history
- People researching the origins of the Black Russian Terrier
Think twice if
- You want a dog you can own today
- You need a current breed for rescue or service work
In short
The Moscow Water Dog belongs in a history lesson rather than a current breed shortlist. It was created in Russia under a Soviet state program, using Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd stock. The intended water-rescue work failed because the dogs attacked drowning victims. The breed later contributed to the Black Russian Terrier, but the Moscow Water Dog itself disappeared. Readers choosing a dog should use a living breed reference instead, while those studying Russian working dogs may find its development worth exploring.
Questions
Where did the Moscow Water Dog come from?
It originated in Russia and was produced by Red Star Kennels, a Soviet state-run working-dog organization.
What breeds were used to create it?
The Moscow Water Dog was derived from the Newfoundland, Caucasian Shepherd Dog and East European Shepherd.
What was the Moscow Water Dog bred to do?
It was developed for working duties with the Soviet Union’s armed services, including water-rescue work.
Why did the Moscow Water Dog disappear?
The program ended after the dogs attacked drowning victims instead of saving them. The breed is now extinct.
Did it influence another breed?
Yes. The Moscow Water Dog was used in developing the Black Russian Terrier.
Can I get a Moscow Water Dog today?
No. The breed is extinct, so it is not available as a current dog choice.
More dog breeds from Russia
Bakhmull Russia Photo: Radobark · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Chukotka sled dog Russia Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
East Siberian Laika Russia Height 53 cm Photo: PrzemekL · Public domain 
Russian Hound Russia Photo: Steve369 · CC BY-SA 3.0 
Russkiy Toy Russia Height 25 cmWeight 2.3 kg Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain 
Photo credits9 photographs on this page
- Moscow Water Dog — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- Bakhmull — Radobark · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Borzoi — Taru T Torpström · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Chukotka sled dog — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- East Siberian Laika — PrzemekL · Public domain · file page
- Russian Hound — Steve369 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Russkaya tsvetnaya bolonka — Grebdnil · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
- Russkiy Toy — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
- Tuvinskaya ovcharka — Ardan2018 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.