Russian Toy Terrier

History of the Russian Toy Terrier breed

The progenitors of Russian toys were English Toy terriers, who gained fame as incomparable rat catchers. The first representatives of this venerable family appeared in Russia back in the Peter the Great era, and by the middle of the XIX century, small but extremely frisky dogs turned into beloved pets of the domestic elite. Toy Terriers lived in imperial residences, guarded the chambers of rich landowners, traveling to balls and social events with their arrogant mistresses.

With the advent of Soviet power, decorative dogs migrated to the category of "bourgeois excesses". The new government preferred more useful breeds aimed at full-fledged service and protection, so for almost half a century toy terriers remained in the shadows, gradually dying out and degenerating.

In the 50s, Soviet dog enthusiasts decided to revive the tribe of legendary salon dogs. But since there were no purebred representatives of the Toy Terrier family in the USSR by that time, specialists had to work with animals without pedigrees and individuals taken by Soviet soldiers from Germany as war trophies. An additional complication was that the offspring obtained during the experiment could not be compared with the cubs of English terriers due to the policy of the Iron Curtain. As a result, domestic experts did not suspect for a long time that they had bred a new breed that was significantly different from the one they initially focused on. For example, Toy Terriers of the Soviet "spill" were one and a half times smaller than their British counterparts, had different body proportions and the shape of the skull.

However, the discoveries did not end there. In 1957, in a family of Russian toys, where one of the parents was not purebred, a male puppy with long hair in the ears and paws was born. The animal looked so cute and funny that the breeders decided to keep this attractive mutation, leaving the puppy to the tribe. So there was an independent branch of the breed – the Moscow long-haired Toy Terrier.

Despite the sharply increased popularity, Russian toy terriers remained "local" pets for quite a long time, practically unknown outside the country. And only in 2006, the International Cynological Association, reluctantly and with reservations, recognized an independent breed in salon dogs. Russian Russian Toy Terriers were renamed Russian Toy Terriers at the request of the FCI commission and received the right to participate in the world and European championships.

Curious fact: among the famous owners of these "toy" dogs, Alla Pugacheva, Garik Kharlamov, Sergey Lazarev, Christina Aguilera and Diana Gurtskaya were noted.

Video: Russian Toy Terrier

Appearance of the Russian toy terrier

Russian toy dogs –toddlers with a body weight of up to 3 kg. The average height of an individual is 20-28 cm, but often so-called mini-animals are born, whose height may be several centimeters lower than allowed by the standard. Despite such miniature parameters, Russian Toy Terriers look very elegant, which is partly due to a thin skeleton and dry musculature.

Head

The skull is small, but at the same time high and moderately wide. The cheekbones are flattened, slightly pronounced. The muzzle is dry, pointed. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is clearly "drawn". Lips are black, thin. The nose lobe is medium, black, or in the tone of the main color of the animal.

Jaws

The Russian Toy Terrier has a scissor bite, small white teeth. The absence of several incisor teeth (two incisors for each jaw) is allowed.

Eyes

Rounded, large, slightly convex. The landing is direct. The distance between the eyes is wide. The shade of the iris may vary.

Ears

Toy Terrier ears are large and thin at the same time. Standing. Set high.

Neck

Slightly curved, long. Set high.

Body

The back is strong and smooth with a smoothly descending upper line in the direction from the withers to the tail. Body with rounded rump. The abdomen is taut, the lumbar zone is short and convex. The selected groin makes the lower line of the body taut and curved-relief. The chest is not wide, but deep.

Limbs

The front legs are straight, placed parallel to each other. The musculature of the limbs is dry, the elbows look back. The length of the shoulders coincides with the length of the shoulder blades. The shoulder angle is 105°. The hind limbs are slender, straight (if viewed from behind), slightly wider in relation to the forelegs. The musculature of the thighs is developed, but dry. The shins and thighs have the same length. The paws are small, oval-shaped, arched, collected in a "lump". The front paws are slightly wider than the hind ones. The pads are black, or repeating the main color of the body, elastic.

Tail

In toy terriers, both docked and natural variants are allowed. The docked tail is usually short (the recommended length is no more than 3 vertebrae), directed upwards. Uncouped has the shape of a sickle or crescent, keeps at the level of the back, sometimes higher.

Wool

The characteristics of the coat directly depend on the species of the individual. Shorthair Russian Toy Terriers have a smoother coat adjacent to the body, characterized by an almost complete absence of undercoat.

In long-haired animals, the guard hair is longer, within 3-5 cm. The coat fits snugly to the skin in the trunk area. The hair has a slightly wavy or straight structure, the ears have a fringed coat. In adults, the flowing "fringe" hides the edge and tips of the ears. The back side of the limbs is decorated with so-called brushes. In the area of the paws, soft, fluffy wool also grows, covering the fingers and claws of the dog.

Color

Purebred individuals are distinguished by saturated red, fawn, brown- and black-tan, as well as purple- and blue-tan colors.

Breed Defects

The disadvantages of the breed include any inconsistencies with the standard of appearance. These are usually: excessively tall (above 28 cm), a straight bite, semi-erect ears and a low-lying tail. The presence of white markings on the paws and in the chest area, as well as monocras (blue, brown, purple, black) is not welcome.

The main disqualifying vices of Russian toy terriers

• The presence of bald spots in short–haired individuals, in long-haired - the absence of fringed hair on the ears.
• Underweight – less than 1 kg.
• Marbled, spotted and white colors, as well as the presence of tiger markings.
• Aggression or cowardice.
• Short legs.
• Hanging ears.
• Malocclusion.
• No canines and more than 2 incisor teeth in each jaw.

The character of the Russian Toy Terrier

Russian Toy Terriers are pets capable of dispelling any melancholy. Mobile, affectionate and emotional, they are ready to frolic and play pranks all day long. These temperamental kids require a lot of attention and constant "feedback", so when buying a Russian toy, get ready for the fact that peace and solitude will disappear forever from your home as soon as the animal crosses its threshold. Representatives of this breed are completely non-aggressive, which does not prevent them from being excellent watchmen, warning with their ringing barking about the arrival of an uninvited (and often an invited) guest. Among breeders, Russian Toy Terriers are reputed to be very clever and skillful manipulators. If the owner, smitten by the tender look of the pet, gives up, there is no doubt: the animal will find a way to use this loyalty to its advantage.

The specific features of the breed include the psycho-emotional instability of its representatives. Russian Toy Terriers are easily "turned on" by the slightest rustle and do not calm down soon. As a rule, excitement is accompanied by increased activity of the animal and prolonged barking. Of the unusual talents of miniature dogs, their amazing memorization abilities are of particular interest. In particular, the Russian toi are able to store in memory the events of three years ago. Often an animal can remember and identify a person with whom it has met only once.

Education and training

No special methods of teaching basic commands to Russian Toy terriers have been invented, so standard training techniques are applied to them. However, these dogs perceive the authoritarian style of influence poorly. The animal gets scared, withdraws into itself, or vice versa, tries to cheat, which negatively affects the formation of its character. In general, representatives of this breed are not the most diligent students, so you should not hope for lightning-fast success in mastering commands. Of course, with sufficient patience and perseverance, toys can be taught all the necessary skills, it just takes a little more time to achieve the final result than, for example, when training sheep dogs.

Puppies under the age of 6 months require a particularly reverent attitude: no matter how much the pet bothers you with its pranks, punishment does not apply to it. If the puppy's poor progress in the training process causes irritation, it is better to postpone the lesson. However, it is also not worth indulging the pet's whims unnecessarily. No matter how much you want, don't let the dog sleep in your bed. Representatives of this breed have a rather weak backbone, for which even an ordinary jump from the bed can end in serious injury. And of course, do not forget about the systematic rewards that help simplify the training process and achieve your goals faster.

How to wean a Russian toy terrier to bark

Frantic barking is considered the main disadvantage of the breed. Toy terriers bark often and a lot, and the reasons for such "opera arias" may be the most insignificant. Do not try to calm an excited dog by stroking and cajoling. A cunning pet will regard this as encouragement and will try even harder. Painful techniques and surgical intervention are fraught with a negative impact on the already unstable psyche of the dog.

Barking is usually stopped by a command ("Fu!", "You can't!") pronounced in a strict tone. Sometimes the ban is accompanied by a light slap of the animal with a newspaper. In some cases, the method of ignoring is used. When the dog starts barking, the owner emphatically distances himself and tries not to look at her. As a rule, without receiving support from the outside, the one cancels the concert. The latter technique is considered an alternative and energy-consuming, since the formation of the skill takes more time and nerves of the owner than when using command equipment. In addition, ignoring does not work in cases with grown-up puppies whose upbringing has not been previously engaged in. Such animals are already used to making a fuss, so they are unlikely to monitor the behavior of the owner.

How to wean a Russian toy to bite

From an excess of emotions, Russian Toy Terriers often bite their owners. Despite the fact that such injuries do not cause serious harm to health, it is still not worth indulging a pet. Wean an animal from a bad habit can be a light cry of "Ouch!", signaling the infliction of pain. If the incident occurred during the game, stop the gameplay and leave the pet alone for a while so that he realizes that he made a mistake. In no case do not hit the dog, it will only worsen the matter.

Care and maintenance

Due to its charming appearance and tiny dimensions, the Russian Toy Terrier resembles a funny toy that is difficult to perceive as a full-fledged adult animal. Regulars of Instagram and thematic photo shoots, these dogs are becoming more and more a fashion accessory and a live advertisement of their own owner. Manufacturers of clothing for dogs are also adding artificial excitement, sewing whole collections of outfits and shoes for toys. However, experienced breeders do not recommend getting too carried away with fashion shows. It is enough to buy several insulated blankets for the pet-overalls for the autumn-winter season. But "packing" a living being in tight dresses, and even more so, in boots, is clearly superfluous.

Important: the characteristic tremor inherent in the representatives of the Russian toy breed is not an indicator of hypothermia of the body. Usually dogs tremble from an excess of emotions and overexcitation.

Hygiene

Do not go to extremes and clean your pet's ears daily. If there are no foreign objects and dirt in the ear funnel, the hygienic procedure is carried out once a week, using boiled and cooled vegetable oil and a cotton pad, or cleaning lotion from a veterinary pharmacy. Once or twice a week, dogs brush their teeth with a special toothpaste or chalk powder with soda and lemon juice. Adult animals are supposed to cut their claws once every 15-20 days. 10-day-old puppies are also clipped with a claw plate so that the cubs do not injure the mother.

Russian toy does not need the services of a breeder and daily combing (the exception is long–haired individuals). It is enough to regularly remove dirt from the coat with a cleaning mitten. Too frequent water procedures can dry out the pet's skin and cause bald spots, so experts recommend bathing Russian Toy Terriers every six months. Puppies under 6 months of age are strictly forbidden to bathe.

Feeding

There are three options for feeding Russian toys: "naturalka", "drying" and a mixed diet. In the first case, the daily "menu" of the animal should include meat (preferably beef), fermented milk products (no more than 3% fat content), fillets of sea fish, cereals, egg yolk, vegetables and fruits. Each "meal" of a dog should consist of 1/3 of animal protein (meat, fish) and 2/3 of cereals, vegetables and dairy products. The volume of each serving is at the rate of 50-80 grams per kilogram of dog weight.

From time to time, it is useful to treat a pet with rye crackers and vegetable oil in the amount of 1 teaspoon per day. A couple of times a month they give a garlic clove, which works as an anthelmintic. Muffins, smoked meats, bones, exotic fruits, egg whites and river fish are strictly prohibited.

In the case of dry food, preference is given to varieties that include at least three types of cereals, vegetables, fruits and at least three animal proteins. Options with soy, yeast additives, wheat and corn are best avoided. Adult individuals are fed twice a day, combining it with the intake of a vitamin and mineral complex selected by a veterinarian.

Toilet

Russian toy terriers don't get used to the tray right away, and sometimes they don't get used to it at all, so often the only possible toilet option for a dog is a diaper (newspaper). Keep a close eye on the puppy in the first months of life. In particular, after sleeping, feeding and playing, be sure to put him on a diaper or in a tray to catch the moment when the baby is going to relieve himself. After each "puddle" made in the right place, the pet is supposed to be praised and treated. A fairly effective way is to place the dog in an aviary with a tray, thus limiting its habitat. Usually a puppy quickly realizes that arranging a toilet next to his own bed is not the best idea, and uses a tray.

Health and diseases of the Russian toy

The average Russian Toy Terrier lives from 10 to 15 years, although there are cases in history when individual representatives of this genus lived to their 20th anniversary. The most common diseases of Russian toys are cataracts, retinal atrophy, kneecap subluxation, hydrocephalus. Pancreatitis is quite common, which is a consequence of attempts to diversify the dog's diet with the help of pickles and fatty smoked meats.

The fragile thin backbone and excessive mobility of the animal are particularly dangerous, so representatives of this breed are easily and often injured. Some individuals may have such a genetic anomaly as aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. Usually the disease leads to lameness of the pet, and in the absence of treatment – to complete atrophy of the hind limbs.

How to choose a puppy

Choose an affectionate, easy-to-contact animal at the age of 2.5, preferably 3 months. During this period of life, the puppy's weight should be about 1.5 kg. If the dog weighs 600 g or less, most likely, they are trying to sell you a defective dwarf individual. Try to get the most complete information about the pedigree of the puppy, even if you are going to purchase a Russian toy terrier of the pet category.

Reasons to be wary:

• the puppy is shown in a cage without letting out of it;
• the animal's fur has bald spots;
• the dog has too bulging eyes or a slight strabismus, which is often a sign of increased intracranial pressure;
• there is discharge from the nose and eyes;
• the puppy does not have a veterinary passport.

Photos of Russian toy puppies

How much does a Russian toy terrier cost

In kennels you can buy a Russian toy terrier puppy for $200 – $500 . Cheaper options can be found by ads. In this case, the price of an animal with the RKF metric will be from $120 to $170. In addition, the cost is affected by the class, gender and color of the dog. Although the sexual type of Russian toys is poorly expressed and the external characteristics of males and females are approximately the same, the latter will cost significantly more. Of the entire palette of colors, purple-tan and blue-tan are considered the most scarce and, accordingly, expensive. The cheapest color option is red.