Russian Toy

The Russian Toy is a tiny terrier that originated in Russia in the 1950's. It was bred as a companion dog to nobility. It has continued to be rare throughout its short history. Known for its devotion to its owner and gentle temperament, the Russian Toy stands at 8 to 10 inches, and weighs an average 3 to 6 pounds. The Russian toy is a medium-boned, square dog. It is refined and delicate in appearance. It has well-defined muscle, a sturdy compact body, and long thin legs. It has a small head with a short but pointed snout. This breed has very large, triangular, erect ears and very large, expressive dark eyes that may be somewhat prominently set. Its coat is smooth and fine, and comes in varieties of fawn, sable, blue, red, black and tan, and brown and tan. There may be subtle white markings on chest and feet. The coat is seen in two varieties: smooth and long. The difference is the long feathering on the ears in the "long-haired"�, giving the individual a Papillon-like appearance. The Russian Toy may have its tail docked to a few inches of length. Regardless, it is usually carried high and curved. The neck of this dog is long and curved and the head is carried high. The ribs are lightly-sprung and the chest deep. The feet are tiny, well-arched and delicate. The gait of this little dog is lively, quick and animated. At the turn of the 20th century the English Toy Terrier was well-known throughout Europe as a small companion dog, mainly to the leisurely class. Pre-Soviet Russia shared much of the popular culture of its European neighbors, and the English Toy Terrier was popular there as well. But the coming of the Soviet era in the second decade of the century changed many aspects of Russian life, particularly for the upper class. Many of the toy breeds were eliminated in Russia, the logic of the socialist regime being that these "useless"�dogs were a mark of the leisure class and consumed food that could well be used for the poor, without performing any work or function for society. From 1920 to 1950 almost all breeding of toy breeds ceased altogether. These policies, combined with the devastating effect that the two world wars had on dog populations as a whole, rendered the toy terriers all but extinct in the Soviet Union. In the late 1950's a group of Russian breeders set out to revive the toy breeds. At that time the existing individuals were generally of mixed bloodlines and types. A standard was adopted that had little to do with that of the original English Toy Terrier, aside from the small size. In 1958 two smooth-coated dogs produced a pup with spectacular feathering on the ears. It was decided that this would be a desirable trait, and this and other select traits were encouraged through subsequent generations, producing in the end what was called the Moscow Long-haired Toy Terrier. Through the next several decades, the development of the breed occurred in isolation because of the political climate inside the Soviet Union, and documentation was not shared outside the nation, and so the specific road to development is obscure. However, by the end of the 20th century the distinct breed Russian Toy Terrier was in existence, and had two varieties: long-haired and smooth. The name was changed in 2007 by the Russian Kennel Club from "Russian Toy Terrer"� to "Russian Toy"�. The breed enjoys full recognition with the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and is eligible through the Stock Foundation Service of the American Kennel Club. The Russian Toy is ideally suited for apartment life. It is an active dog indoors, but should have a walk outside daily for both physical conditioning and mental: the owner should not be tempted to carry this dog at all times and deny it exercise. Walking outside on a leash and learning good leash manners is an essential bonding exercise between owner as leader, and a dog of any size. The handler will find that a harness works better on this tiny breed than does a collar. If the Russian Toy is given a fenced yard, the owner should take care to check the bottom of the fence periodically for openings through which the dog may escape. The coat of the Russian Toy needs little care. For the smooth coat, a damp cloth is all that is needed to keep it looking good. For the long-haired variety, the feathering should be brushed daily with a smooth-bristled brush to keep it from tangling. The ears of the Russian Toy should be checked regularly for cleanliness and for signs of infection. A neglected infection in the ears can result in a great deal of pain and in permanent damage to the hearing apparatus. Nails should be checked often and clipped as necessary with a cat-sized clipper or a dremmel. The owner is cautioned to be religious in having the teeth cleaned regularly at the veterinarian's. Small dogs are often prone to bad dental health and without regular and consistent care, can lose their teeth early in life, or develop systemic diseases such as heart and kidney disorders that begin with excessive bacteria accumulating in the mouth. If denied the opportunity to participate in life as a dog would and develop psychologically as a larger dog would, problem behaviors will appear in the Russian Toy such as excessive resource guarding and jealousy; such a dog can become snappish and difficult to be around. Given appropriate training, the Russian Toy is devoted to its owner and a vivacious companion, eager to be included in any activity or outing. It is not recommended for a household with small children because it is too dainty and vulnerable to injury. This dog does well with cats, and with other dogs. This breed is social and enjoys outings with the owner, and can excel in agility competitions.

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