English Toy Terrier: breed description and dog care

Miniature dogs today are represented by different breeds, among which there are animals with a long history. These four-legged companions of a person include the English toy terrier. The dog is popular all over the world, but today it is classified as an endangered species.

The progenitors of dogs of this breed are considered to be the black and tan terrier, as well as the larger representative of the world of four-legged pets - the Manchester Terrier. Some facts indicate the presence in the pedigree of modern English Toya blood of Italian greyhound and whippet. Animals with a similar exterior can be found depicted on canvases dating back to the 16th century. But the maximum complete description of such dogs appeared only two centuries later. At that time, miniature pets were used as hunters for rats, badgers and other small animals, and they also took part in various competitions.

The birthplace of the English toy terrier is considered a British island state. In particular honor such dogs were among aristocratic ladies. In 1826, animals took part in the exhibition, after which their popularity increased significantly. Later dogs began to be kept in France and America.

According to the requirements for the exterior, dogs of this breed must be dry in their constitution, elegant and proportionately folded.The growth of the animal at the withers varies within 30 centimeters with a mass of about 4 kilograms.

Toy's skull is wedge-shaped with an elongated and narrow muzzle. Stop is expressed in average values, without sharp corners. The bite in dogs will be scissor-like with a snug fit of the upper and lower jaws to each other. The nose is black. Eyes of medium size should have an almond-shaped shape, a slight slanting is allowed. The iris is dark.

The ears of the toy are triangular with sharp ends, set high, are in a standing position. The inside of the auricle is looking straight. The neck is elongated, with a smooth transition in the body, there is a minimal backward inclination. The animal’s chest is deep, with a back with a bend.

The tail is low, in size should not reach more than the hocks, slightly narrowed to the tip. English toy terrier refers to shorthair dogs, however, the coat of animals stands out for its density and luster. An acceptable color option for dogs of this breed is black and tan, light marks refer to deviations from the standards. In light of the fact that the coat cannot sufficiently protect the animal from frost or heat, dogs may suffer from hypothermia or overheating.

Toi, despite their fragile physique, are in good health. However, pets can be prone to the following ailments:

• diseases of the organs of vision - cataract, glaucoma;
• hypothyroidism;
• peters disease.

These small dogs stand out with a lively temperament, which is inherent in almost all terriers. At the same time, the animal is endowed with innate courage, the dog has a well-developed intellect, is favorably disposed to all those around it without undue aggression. The English toy terrier stands out by the affection for its breeder, remains faithful to him until old age.

With strangers, the dog makes contact reluctantly. The small four-legged companion has not lost its innate hunting instincts, therefore, if there are pets in the form of small rodents, it can identify them as prey. Dogs of other breeds will be able to safely coexist, however, keeping same-sex animals in one dwelling is still not recommended. With children, the animal gets along well, but if the family has a small child, injuries to the animal due to careless handling are not excluded.

The dog does not tolerate loneliness and long separation from the owner, so it is recommended to leave it alone at home as little as possible. Excessive sensitivity is inherent in the breed, so the dog can take offense at its breeder for a long time.

Dogs of this breed can not be attributed to centenarians. The average life span of a pet is 10 to 13 years. However, among the toy, you can also find pets who survived to 15 or 20 years. In each case everything will depend on the pedigree and genetics of the animal, nutrition and living conditions are an important factor.

Despite the fact that these two breeds have the same name, dogs will still be different from each other in some respects. If you compare the size of the pets, then the English toy will be more than the Russian representatives of miniature pets. The difference in the withers can reach up to 5 centimeters.

Comparing the two breeds, one can find differences not only in size, but also in the habits of animals, since the English dog still has not lost its hunting inclinations, which can not be said about the Russian toy terrier. The latter became a completely domesticated breed, when a larger subspecies often becomes a participant in various competitions and rodent hunting.

In light of this feature, the English Toy will have a more developed muscle corset, a flat skull, as well as an outstanding muzzle and strong jaws. In addition, the behavior of dogs of two breeds is slightly different, first of all, this concerns a more balanced and stress-resistant nature of English dogs, when Russian miniature representatives can demonstrate nervousness, breakdowns in mood and behavior.

Differences in animals can be traced in the shape and structure of the auricles. So, in a Russian toy, the ears will be similar to an isosceles triangle, when the British appearance has a structure that resembles the shape of a candle flame. Animals are distinguished by the type of coat, if the domestic representative of the terriers has a short-haired and a long-haired type, then English dogs should be exceptionally smooth-haired.

Russian toy terriers can have several color variations; in the second breed, only one color of wool is permissible.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the coat and physiology of the animal, the breeding and maintenance of this breed implies exclusively domestic conditions - an apartment or a private house. In general, such a pet in terms of care will give its breeder a minimum of trouble. Wool does not require daily combing. It is recommended to use a brush for smooth-haired toy 2-3 times a week.

An alternative to the brush will be a tough glove designed to care for short-haired animals. They bathe an Englishman only in case of emergency. Usually, water hygiene procedures are performed twice a year. The limbs should be washed after every walk on the street.

The ears and eyes of the dog will require special attention from the breeder; they should be examined as often as possible. If any accumulations of dirt or secretions are found, clean them with a wet swab. Claws should be shortened once every 3-4 weeks, however, they will grow much faster in a puppy of a miniature dog, so you will have to cut the claws every 2 weeks.

It is important to train a pet from a very young age obligatory cleaning of the oral cavity. Usually this procedure is carried out twice a week. In dogs, deworming and treatment from external parasites should be performed at least once every 3 months. In bad weather, the animal should be protected from the cold with the help of special windproof and waterproof clothing.

In that dwelling takes up very little space, for a comfortable existence, he will need a comfortable couch, located in a quiet place, as well as several toys. If it is not possible to regularly take the dog out to the street to cope with needs, this breed will be able to be accustomed to a tray or diaper. Ideally, toy terriers walk in the morning and evening. During walks, do not overload the pets; you should also avoid dropping the animal from a height, even insignificant, and bumps.

It is not recommended to keep animals of this breed in isolation, they need to get new emotions, get acquainted with the environment and people. Therefore, walks should not be avoided at all. It is possible to take the puppy to fresh air after the second scheduled vaccination. It is recommended to accustom him to the street gradually, the first time walks should last about half an hour. With an adult animal it is quite possible to go for a morning or evening run. Some pets take part in dog sports, such as freestyle or agility.

In terms of diet, animals do not have any specific restrictions. The main thing is that the dog's menu is as nutritious and useful as possible. English Toy Terrier can be fed with industrial feed or natural food.

If finished products are preferred, then it must be at least premium. Because of the small servings needed for a dog, many breeders note the convenience of using ready-made dry or wet dog foods. In addition, their composition will already include all the necessary vitamins and minerals important for a small animal. Dry food must be selected with small croquettes, which will be more convenient when chewing.

If the breeder feeds the toy terrier with natural food, then the following products should prevail in the animal’s menu:

• meat - rabbit, poultry, beef;
• raw vegetables;
• fruits;
• greens;
• sea ​​fish;
• dairy and dairy products.

Dog is not allowed to feed or feed from the human table. You can not treat the animal with bakery products, pickles and smoked products, fried and fatty dishes. It is not recommended to introduce sugar, pork, potatoes, citrus and legumes into the pet's diet.

As a vitamin bait should be considered brewer's yeast, special complexes recommended for dogs of small breeds, crushed eggshells.

It is important to teach puppies of the English toy terrier to a certain portion of food. As a rule, 300-400 grams of feed per day will be enough for them. The number of meals will depend on the age of the dog - up to 4 months they should be 4-5, closer to six months of feeding you can reduce up to 3 times, after a year you need to feed the animal twice a day - in the morning and evening.

Decorative toy will require from the breeder not only early socialization, but also competent training, otherwise the dog will show negative character traits - waywardness, laziness, disobedience. In the process of training it is forbidden to use physical force. The dog must clearly understand and execute the commands "fu", "sit", "next to". It will be possible to achieve positive results during training if:

• give commands to the dog in a calm voice;
• Do not show aggression during classes;
• repeat commands until the animal executes them.

For more information on the toy terrier, see the next video.