Yugoslavia is a country that was long known for its dog breeding, producing many of the breeds that we still know and love today. The Belgrade Terrier is one of the breeds that came from this land. Many people believe that the Belgrade Terrier has descended from the small Greek domestic dogs, as well as being very closely related to the Balkan Terrier. They were originally bred for use as hunting dogs, specifically for the hunting of various vermin. This was in the early part of the twentieth century. After that time, the dog began to lose popularity for this intent and purpose and was somewhat "re-invented" to be appreciated more as a family pet, rather than a hunter.
This breed is accepted for registry in the various breeding and kennel organizations, these being the NAKC, the IPDBA, the APRI, and the DRA. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her.
According to breed standards, the Belgrade Terrier should be around the height of 12 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight can vary significantly, but they are typically a solidly built dog that is usually on the heavy side, although they should not be allowed to become obese for health reasons. They should be well-muscled in appearance, with a short and stocky build, and be deep-chested. The legs are very short, like those of the Basset Hound or the Dachschund and the thickly tapered tail is held in the downward position when the dog is at rest. When their interest is captured or they are excited, the tail may go into the upward position. The long, silky ears are held in the flop position, laying down flat against the sides of the head, and positioned somewhat low on the skull. The dark eyes are alert and keen in expression, as well as being sensitive-looking. The nose is black, and the muzzle on the slightly long side of average in length. The upper lips overhang the lower slightly, and the jaws are very strong.
The preferred coat color of the Belgrade Terrier is fawn or tan with a black saddle across the back and white markings on the legs, chest, and stomach. The colors that are also accepted are varied and can be either solid colored or multi-colored. The most common coat is the smooth coat, but there do exist rough-coated and long-coated Belgrade Terriers, as well. Their grooming is fairly easy, but must be maintained regularly. They need a thorough brushing a couple of times per week with a stiff brush to ensure that there is no matting, nothing stuck in the fur, and to remove loose hairs.
They are quite intelligent and willing to acquiesce to the wishes of the owner, as long as their is a good communication and understanding between the two. Training should be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are firm, stable, and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly, especially regarding the natural hunting instincts that they have, but also regarding their position and the expectations of them in the family.
These dogs are kept almost exclusively today by people who want a companion and a household pet. The Belgrade Terrier is a breed that will need a moderate amount of exercise in order to burn off the energy that they have and to keep them from becoming too heavy. A brisk walk daily should suffice and they should be expected to be rather active indoors, as well, playing and running about at some times and being very calm and sedate afterwards. They will enjoy getting out for some time off the leash with the family. They are quite friendly and loving dogs, almost always good with children. They are very people-friendly and loyal to those that they love. If well-socialized, they can be good with other dogs, but often have a preference towards being the only dog in a household.