The Obereg Tradition
The Russian "Obereg"
By: Christine Robinson - Black Beards Kennel - USA
You may have seen one of these striking black dogs wearing a beautiful red collar with a tassel around his neck and wondered “what kind of collar is that” and “why is that dog wearing such a thing?”. These beautiful tasseled cllars are traditional Russian amulets called Oberegs.
The Obereg is a symbol of love and protection for these beloved Russian Treasures and ae unique to the Black Russian Terrier. The History of blessing cords is centuries old and can be found in many different cultures and religions, Judaism, Buddhism, and Catholicism have a long history of blessing cords, beautiful red cords tied either around a person’s wait or around the wrist.
The practice of wearing a blessing cord is done in Kabbalah today in the form of a bracelet that is made up of red strands tied on the writs by “someone who loves you.” It is this history of love and protection associated with blessing cords that led to the use of these Oberegs on the Black Russian Terrier.
To understand the history of Oberegs is to understand the history of the Black Russian Terrier Breed. Without a long porloque to the breed’s development, the Black Russian Terrier was developed as a national treasure to a very proud and strong country who lost the mojority of its working dog stock in decade’s long wars and wanted a breed that would meet their needs and be unique to native Russia. The Red Star Army created and perfected a very capable working dog. As many of these dogs worked independently patrolling miles of borders and guarding facilities alone, their handlers tied protection amultes made of red yarn around their necks to ensure a safe return home.
Over time, “Stalin’s Dog” was released to private breeders in Russia and eventually outside of Russian and finally to faraway places like the United States. To protect these beloved dogs on their long journeys away from Mother Russia, Oberegs were tied around their necks to protect them from the “evil eye” and watch over themas they journeyed to new places, away from the love and protection of their home Country.
Today, the Obereg is a symbol of history, tradition, pride, protection and love. Black Russian Terriers all over world display this stunning contrast of red against their jet black coats signifying to all the world that they are cherished and protected. They do, after all protect their owners from “evil” so why not continue the tridaition and let their owners protect them as well.
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