Russian colored lapdog

History of the Russian colored lapdog breed

The clan of Russian colored lapdogs began to form in Leningrad, after the end of the Great Patriotic War. If, after the revolution, decorative breeds aroused hostility among Soviet breeders as a living reminder of the hated aristocracy, by the middle of the XX century, pre-war stereotypes had lost their relevance. In addition, Leningrad residents' interest in miniature dogs had a practical orientation. At that time, most Soviet citizens lived in communal apartments and memories of the blockade were still fresh. And small pets fit perfectly into the conditions of limited space, besides, it was easier to feed them than, for example, a shepherd dog or a Great Dane.

Leningrad breeders presented the first pair of colored lapdogs in 1951. They were individuals of black and brown colors. Formally, it is believed that the ancestors of the RCB were decorative mestizo dogs, which were brought to Leningrad from all over the Soviet Union, and then crossed among themselves. According to the dog breeders of that time, Russian colored lapdogs managed to combine the genes of such breeds as shih tzu , lhasa-apso , maltese . As for the standard of appearance, it was approved in 1966 for colored girls, although the registration of litters in breeding books was carried out in the late 50s.

Until the early 70s of the XX century, the main livestock of the breed lived in Leningrad and only a few Moscow breeders could boast of the content of the Russian colored lapdog. In the 90s, the former and the current capital changed places: while in St. Petersburg the demand for decorative fuzzies fell, they were at the peak of popularity among Muscovites. Taking advantage of the newly flared fashion for mini-pets, Moscow enthusiasts immediately opened several large RCB nurseries, from which more than one generation of healthy and spectacular lapdogs came out.

In 1999, the National Club of Russian Colored Lapdogs began its work at the RKF. And on the eve of the new millennium, the dog breeders of the Northern capital remembered about the breed again. The result of this interest was the registration in St. Petersburg of large monopred kennels, puppies from which were sold not only to domestic buyers, but also abroad. For example, in the late 90s, the RCB began to "emigrate" to the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

Video: Russian colored lapdog

Russian colored Lapdog breed standard

The exterior of the breed representatives is emphatically pretty. Glamorous curly "fur coats", rounded cherry eyes and a compact, slightly stretched body - all together this forms a unique type of image pet. The optimal growth of today's Russian colored lapdog is 26 cm . Moreover, this figure is desirable for both bitches and males, although earlier standards indicated sexual dimorphism as a mandatory requirement for the exterior,.

Deviations from the growth rate are acceptable, but not more than a couple of centimeters – "gullivers" and "dwarfs" in nurseries are not allowed to breed. The exemplary tsvetnushka weighs 3-4 kg . As for the coat, the requirements for it have also changed. If Soviet lapdogs were required to have exclusively curly hair, then for modern individuals, the wavy structure of the hair became an acceptable option.

Head

The cranial box is convex, slightly rounded, with prominent cheekbones-apples, non-prominent brow arches and the same occipital protrusion (bump). The stop is of a shortened type, easily identifiable. The muzzles of Russian colored lapdogs are short, dry, with smooth backs. The base of the muzzle is wide enough, the tip is slightly narrowed.

Teeth, lips and jaws

Representatives of the breed have wide jaws that form a "scissors" bite in the bow, instead of which a dense bite and a tick-like (straight) bite are also allowed. Ideal indicators of dental health are their white color, as well as a dense arrangement in a row. The lack of canines or incisors in the jaw is a serious defect of the exterior. The neat thin lips of the animal are pigmented in black or in the tone of the suit.

Nose

With a fairly miniature size of the lobe, the dog's nostrils are large and wide open. The skin of the nose can be colored to match the coat or have an anthracite-black color.

Eyes

The almost round eyes of Russian colored lapdogs are complemented by a straight delivery and a dark iris. If the animal's coat is brown, a slight lightening of the color of the eyes is allowed. The dense dry skin of the eyelids is pigmented into charcoal black or any other shade according to the suit. The look of the breed is affectionately friendly, radiating positive.

Ears

The shape of the lapdog's ears is triangular, with a smoothed miniature tip. The characteristic position of the ear is hanging down on the cartilage with a moderately high fit.

Neck

Characterized by a high postage, the neck is moderately muscled, has dryish contours and an average length.

Body

Russian colored lapdogs are compact dogs, but with a fairly wide body. The animal's back gives the impression of smooth, elongated and muscular, while a slight slope of the top line is noticeable on the segment between the withers and the root of the tail. The convex short loin ends with the croup part, for which moderate sloping and roundness of contours are typical. Having the shape of a regular oval, the chest has a good length and is lowered almost to the elbows. The belly of the RCB is not too high.

Limbs

The main features of the legs of the Russian colored lapdog are parallelism to each other and a relatively wide delivery. The oblique shoulder blades have the same length as the humerus, creating an angle of articulation of 100-110 °. Straight forearms are held straight, the contours of the wrists fit into the vertical formed by the backbone of the forearms.

The thighs of the breed are not very long, but with fairly prominent muscles. The angles of the knee joints are normally pronounced, the lower legs are normal, not excessive length. Hock joints are strong, dryish type, with clear angular joints. The short metatarsals in the rack are fixed in a vertical position. The lapdog moves at a free, energetic trot.

Tail

Laid on the back or rolled into a ring and thrown on the croup, the tail is pubescent with abundant hair. A prerequisite is that the tip of the tail is always in contact with the body of the dog.

Wool

All individuals have wavy or with a large curl coat. The hair is long, evenly distributed over the body, with a small or sufficient amount of undercoat. Abundant adorning hair grows on the forehead. Russian colored lapdogs are not cut or trimmed. Shortening of the hair is possible only on certain parts of the body for hygienic purposes.

Coat colors

Representatives of the breed can have any color, with the exception of white, marble and spotted colors. At the same time, inconspicuous white marks in the throat, chest, chin and fingertips are acceptable.

Disqualifying defects of appearance and behavior

• Unreasonable shyness and aggressiveness.
• Missing beautifying hair on the forehead.
• Heterochromia of the iris, blue eyes.
• Crooked jaw, undershot.
• Loosely covered lips, visible incisors and canines.
• Non-standard type of coat color.
• Height over 28 cm.
• Dwarf dimensions.
• Short tail.

Character of the Russian colored lapdog

Russian colored lapdogs are tiny keepers of master's secrets and affectionate companions, ready to share any leisure with a person, except for extreme sports. Funny in appearance and in fact, dogs are able to become pocket psychotherapists in cases where the background presence of a living being in the apartment is necessary. In addition, the flowers are just crazy about hugs and affectionate cuddling, which are regarded as well-deserved encouragement. Take a closer look at this breed if you are looking for a contact pet that will be in a state of permanent euphoria from your stroking and scratching behind the ear.

The image of spoiled and passive sofa dogs was initially fixed for the breed. In fact, Russian colored lapdogs are not lazy at all and are ready to "clean up" the house for hours, carrying your socks and slippers to the most unexpected places. On a walk, these tiny curls also do not waste time in vain, trying to establish contacts with small and large relatives, as well as building small adventures to bring any rodents to a stressful state. By their nature, lapdogs are non–conflict creatures, but exactly as long as someone does not encroach on their property and the contents of the bowl. As soon as the cup of patience is overflowing, the four-legged pet begins to bark funny, in the most critical situations using his teeth.

Despite the official status of the companion breed, the color spots are absolutely unobtrusive. These shaggy assistants will willingly join in the process of cooking dinner by the host, but without any tantrums they will leave the kitchen as soon as the owner makes it clear that he does not need anyone's services. In addition, Russian colored lapdogs will definitely gain the trust of your guests and acquaintances, if only because they will not scan them with a suspicious look and try to bite their heels. Animals willingly go "on the handle" to almost everyone who is in the family, thus acquiring their own army of fans.

Despondency, depression, frustration – concepts that the RCB has never encountered. By default, this breed is charged with positivity and fun, which it generously shares with others. Lapdogs also build friendly relationships with children. Even if the kids do not behave quite correctly in relation to the dog, biting their fingers by a disgruntled pet does not threaten them. Animals also do not suffer from the vindictiveness characteristic of some decorative breeds. In addition, Russian colored lapdogs easily get along with large dogs. However, the point here is not so much in the peacefulness of the flowers, as in their size. Small "tails" are not perceived by wolfhounds and burbuls as something competitive, so there is no serious friction between representatives of different weight categories.

Education and training

Due to the funny appearance and compact size, Russian colored lapdogs give the impression of harmless pets that you will not have to deal with. However, you can't do without learning the basics, even in the case of such goodies as tsvetnushki. And the point here is not only that, not being able to control the behavior of a dog, you run a lot of risk on every walk. An ill-mannered "tail" will come up with a way to annoy you, even without leaving the apartment, so do not be lazy to introduce the animal to discipline and etiquette norms.

The training of the breed is based on the classical principle: first adaptation and socialization, then upbringing and the final stage – the actual training. An important component of the process is the establishment of the boundaries of what is permitted and the system of prohibitions. Here everything is exactly the same as in the case of large breeds. If you don't want your pet to turn somersaults on your bed after a walk, then don't let him do it the rest of the time. If you do not want to raise a beggar begging for delicious pieces from the table, do not throw him goodies during lunch. The main commands, with the help of which it is convenient to control the behavior of the RCB, are "Fu!", "Impossible!", "To me!", "Place!", "Walk".

Puppies of the Russian colored lapdog begin to be distributed in two months. This is the optimal age period to help the baby to rebuild for further independent life. It is necessary to adapt to the new habitat smoothly and not only within the household, therefore, as soon as the animal has received age-appropriate vaccinations and has been quarantined, it must be taken outside. However, it is better to take the first walks in quiet, peaceful places, and to postpone hiking along avenues and shops until the dog gets used to new sounds and smells for her.

Initial training of puppies of Russian colored lapdogs is recommended to be carried out at three months. If you bought an older animal, this is not a problem – up to six months the breed absorbs new knowledge quickly and easily. Acquaintance with the leash and collar also begins at the age of three months. Do not forget that the first use of "limiters" should be short. You should not turn the first exit on a leash into a half-hour tour of the neighborhood.

Punishments in the case of Russian colored lapdogs do not work for several reasons, the main of which is the psychological characteristics of the breed, which make it regard harsh penalties as an attempt to suppress the will. Therefore, if the ward does something absurd, do not shout and do not swing. It is better to try to switch the dog's attention to another action or object – in the case of puppies and young individuals, this method works flawlessly.

Sometimes a light slap with a newspaper on the loin parts of the dog is allowed, but a similar "light execution" is used in special cases. For example, when a Russian colored lapdog knows how to use a tray, but for unknown reasons continues to make puddles on a chair or bed. For the rest, it is more expedient to rely on "gingerbread" methods in the training of tsvetnushki – the breed has its own food addictions, for the satisfaction of which its representatives will turn mountains. With prohibitive commands, it is also better not to overdo it: the requirement "No!" should not be used more than 3-4 times a day, otherwise there is a risk of growing a frightened and dependent creature out of a lapdog.

Maintenance and care

The most difficult thing in the maintenance of decorative breeds is the creation of a comfortable and safe habitat for its representatives within a single apartment. Small and inquisitive lapdogs will not miss the opportunity to explore the trash can, crumble last year's cookies that fell behind the sofa and chew the leaves of your ficus. Therefore, when bringing a puppy into the house, try to block his access to dangerous locations: hide the wires of household appliances – this is a temporary measure, when the baby grows up, he will stop being interested in them, remove expensive shoes and indoor plants higher.

Never let Russian colored lapdogs out on an open balcony, from which they can "fly away" after a butterfly or fly has flown out. Jumping from sofas and armchairs is also better not to encourage. This is especially true for puppies whose bones and joints have not yet been formed. Do not forget to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the tray. RCB are smart dogs who quickly comprehend the science of using a room toilet, but they do not like to walk in a wet, bad–smelling filler.

Hygiene

With an emphatically glamorous image, Russian colored lapdogs do not belong to the type of pets near which you will have to constantly fuss with a comb and scissors. Dense curly hair of the breed has the peculiarity of self-cleaning, so it is better to wash it when there is a practical need for it. For example, if an animal was doused with water from a puddle by a passing car. It is not necessary to use conditioning compounds if you do not have an exhibition pet. Instead, it is better to rinse the wool with herbal decoction – nettle or chamomile.

Washed Russian colored lapdog is recommended to dry with a towel, without a hair dryer. If the gadget for drying is still used, do not increase its negative impact by combing at the same time. First, "blow" on the dog with warm air, and then comb through completely dry hair. Simultaneous use of a hair dryer and a comb during the drying process leads to the formation of so-called parting on the wool, which the breed should not have.

Unlike french lapdogs and maltese , the color spots have a denser and silkier structure of the coat, which is a huge plus – the breed's hair is almost not tangled and resistant to dumping. Combing a Russian colored lapdog, of course, is necessary, but it is not necessary to do it daily – a couple of times a week is quite enough. It is also undesirable to work out the dog's hair with metal combs. The ideal tool for this procedure is a bone/plastic comb with sparse teeth.

RCB haircut is contraindicated, but it is better to cut the abundant hair between the toes of the paws and near the anus. In addition, in winter, after walking, the pads of the paws should not just be washed with warm water, but also nourished with creams that minimize the destructive effect of reagents. Examination of the ear funnels should be carried out once a week. It is easy to clean the ears of sulfur with a piece of cloth and hygienic lotions for dogs. In addition, it is important to pluck the hairs growing inside the funnel, which prevent the passage of air inside, causing itching.

The eyes of Russian colored lapdogs can "leak", which is a hereditary feature. But since there are no white-haired individuals among the representatives of the breed, it is easy not to notice streaks on the muzzle. If the adorning hair on the head of a lapdog has reached a length of 8-10 cm, it is desirable to pull it off with an elastic band in tails so as not to irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes and not provoke lacrimal discharge. Treatment of skin folds near the inner corners of the eyelids is mandatory – dirt accumulates quickly in them, which, when it gets on the mucous membrane, causes irritation and leakage. Hygiene of these areas can be carried out with powdered boric acid and a toothbrush, which, like a scraper, cleans out secretions and debris from the folds.

Feeding

Russian colored lapdogs are picky pets with an excellent appetite. Accordingly, you can make a natural menu or pick up dry food for the breed yourself, without consulting a specialist. Most healthy individuals famously sweep everything that gets into their bowl. A special passion of the breed is hard cheese, so if a four-legged ward has distinguished himself in some difficult task, encourage him with a cheese slice – delight and contented rumbling of the dog.

As for "drying", it is important to rely on the naturalness of the ingredients (classes superpremium, holistic). For the presence of dyes in the composition, you can close your eyes: the colors are not snow–white bichons and coloring from the feed does not threaten them. The daily diet of healthy lapdogs includes products that are useful for any dog: lean meat, filleted sea fish, offal. With special care, animals are given chicken, which can provoke allergies.

Buckwheat and rice porridge will help to supplement and slightly diversify the diet of the flowers. The main thing is not to forget that the basis of nutrition should be animal protein, not cereals. Vegetables, greens and fruits are also not prohibited. In addition, once or twice a week, the RCB needs to be pampered with quail egg, low-fat kefir or fermented baked milk (preferably farm-made). It is unacceptable to feed an animal with pickles, smoked meats, delicacies from the master's table, sweets, pastries. There is also a taboo on onions, potatoes, legumes, garlic.

The period of intensive growth of Russian colored lapdogs is from 2 to 4 months. At this time, the puppy needs to be fed at least five times a day. At 5 months, the frequency of feedings can be reduced to three or four times a day, but additionally you will have to enrich the animal's menu with calcium-containing products – cottage cheese, kefir, etc. During this period, babies have a change of baby teeth, so the body needs external support. Another important aspect of natural feeding is vitamins and minerals of industrial production. Periodically they will have to be bought, because not all the useful substances from food are absorbed by the dog's body in full.

Health and diseases of Russian colored lapdogs

Paradoxically, baby lapdogs are creatures with a strong immune system and good health. There are not so many genetically determined ailments in the breed, and most of them were inherited from their ancestors – Havana bichons. Diseases that can pass to animals from distant relatives:

• cataract;
• prolapse of the gland of the third century;
• excessive lacrimation;
• dislocation of the patella;
• hip dysplasia;
• Perthes disease;
• cardiomyopathy;
• hypothyroidism;
• epilepsy;
• allergy;
• deafness;
• skin diseases (hyperkeratosis, adenoma of the sebaceous glands).

Do not panic and try to look for all the listed health problems in the pet. Each dog inherits a unique set of genes and does not always get a "bonus" of bichon disease. The best way to protect yourself from acquiring a defective puppy is to choose an interested breeder who has gained sufficient experience and is carefully suitable for the selection of breeding individuals. The significance of tests for genetic diseases has also not been canceled, so before buying a dog, always find out the results of a medical examination of her parents.

How to choose a puppy

• Be responsible about choosing a seller. It is great if it is a monopred nursery with a long history and exhibition diplomas of producers, and not an unknown office registered "yesterday".
• When choosing a RCB puppy of a particular color, be prepared for the fact that with age the animal may fade – most often this happens when the dog's coat becomes very long.
• Russian colored lapdogs of zonal, as well as red and black colors can have contrasting masks on their muzzles. This is not a defect, but if you do not like this feature, keep in mind that as the baby grows up and his head grows with the adorning hair, the mask becomes almost invisible.
• Evaluate the condition of the tail: if it is not thrown on its back at puppy age, then it will not change the position of an adult lapdog.
• Do not buy Russian colored lapdogs of extremely miniature dimensions if you plan trips to exhibitions and mating of a pet. Dwarf individuals are just victims of fashion that do not fit into the framework of the breed standard and do not have the right to be exhibited in the rings.

Price of a Russian colored lapdog

The cost of a colored puppy is influenced by the class of the animal, pedigree and uniqueness of the color. The average kid with the RKF metric, without visible exterior defects, will cost around $200-$300. Individuals with a rare shade of wool are much more expensive – approximately $600 - $800.