Everything you need to know about long-haired toy terriers

Russian long-haired toy terrier is a compact decorative breed of dogs, characterized by fearlessness, high intelligence and lively temperament. Miniature animals have an attractive appearance and are quite capable of competing with foreign counterparts. Today, a Russian toy, both longhair and shorthair, can be seen at international exhibitions, including as a champion. But for many years the breed did not receive recognition on the world stage and was considered exclusively a national treasure.

Russian Toy, and earlier - Moscow Longhair Toy Terrier, was born thanks to the peculiarities of the political system in the USSR. The breed owes its appearance to the “Iron Curtain” and the general deficit of decorative species in post-revolutionary Russia. The once popular English toy terriers, declared relics of the bourgeois past, were almost completely destroyed as a class even before the start of the Second World War.

The remaining dogs were difficult to attribute to purebred. But the import of miniature toas from Germany in the postwar years nevertheless forced domestic breeders to begin their own experiments to revive the old fashion for decorative animals.

For many years, enthusiastic breeders acted almost blindly: they were sure that they would recreate the lost stock of the English breed. But the Moscow toy terriers, as it turned out, have acquired their own characteristic appearance. Miniature was characteristic of them: the sizes were 1.5 times smaller than those of foreign counterparts, the shape of the skull and physique also turned out to be radically different.In addition, by 1958, offspring with a dominant longhair gene was obtained from crossing smooth-haired parents.

By the efforts of breeders, the appeared tows on the legs, tail, and ears were fixed as a pedigree sign. So there was a Moscow long-haired toy terrier, charming and unlike anybody. Until 1996, the breed existed rather at an amateur level, and only after the formation of the national club began to hold exhibitions and issue official documents for puppies.

With international recognition, too, not everything went smoothly. But in 2006 FCI nevertheless assigned the individual number 352 to the breed and included it in the register as conditionally approved for participation in international exhibitions. True, without revealing any similarities with the terrier, both varieties, both smooth-haired and long-haired, were endowed with the single name “Russian Toy”. Dogs were allowed to compete in the International Champion Title (INT CH) in 2017 after full recognition. The American Cynological Federation, by the way, gave Russian toy dogs access to their dog shows back in 2008.

Russian toy, or, according to an outdated name, Moscow long-haired toy terrier, is a shaggy compact dog, distinguished by elegant addition and thin-boned. He retains grace not only at a young age. An adult Russian toy has dimensions at the withers of 20 to 28 cm and weighs no more than 3 kg. The sophistication of the addition does not prevent the dog from remaining a strong moving individual without behavioral and genetic problems.

Today, furry puppies of Russian Toya are born only with long-haired parents, and much attention is paid to purebred breeding. The outer hair at this line has a length of up to 5 cm, can be straight and slightly wavy. Scabs form on the ears in the form of a fringe, on the legs.

The coat colors that reduce the appearance rating include zonar and black-backed versions. In addition, solid black, chocolate (brown), purple and blue are not too welcome. Tribal marriage includes all varieties of spotted, marble, piebald and tiger colors. They are considered unacceptable for use in breeding. White spots on the throat, abdomen, skull, expressed curl of the coat are considered vices. A detailed description of the breed, according to the standard, includes an assessment of the dog for many reasons.

• Housing square format with a weakly expressed withers, a straight line of the back. Croup is located below the shoulder blades, beveled, rounded. The chest is clearly defined, has the shape of an oval, deep. The line of a stomach is tightened, with a relief bend.
• Neck long, with a high set, has a small but noticeable bend.
• Limbs long, dry, graceful. The shoulders are of equal length with the shoulder blades. The hind limbs are straight, have a slightly wider set, the hips are muscular, the paws are compact, tightly compressed, oval in shape.
• Tail may have a natural length or stop. With a natural length - sickle-water, located at the level of the back or slightly raised above it.
• Head with a compact rather wide skull, weakly pronounced flat cheekbones. The muzzle has a pointed appearance, the stop is clearly marked. The nose has a black or brown tint, it is proportional in size, the pigmentation of the lips is black.
• Bite scissor-shaped, incomplete completeness of teeth is permissible (no more than 2 incisors per jaw).
• The ears large, thin, high set, directed vertically upward and slightly to the sides.
• Eyes large, rounded, slightly convex, widely spaced. The iris can be darker or lighter depending on the main color scheme of the color.

Defects of the breed include any non-compliance with the standard. It is considered undesirable to grow more than 28 cm, a low tail landing, creases on the ears, any kind of bite except for a scissor bite. Disqualifying malformations include dwarfism: the body weight of an adult dog should not be less than 1 kg.

Animals with marbled, spotty colors, pure white wool, and tiger stripes are sent to marriage. Defects of behavior: increased cowardice, the manifestation of aggression lead to the fact that the animal is not allowed for breeding.

Lively, funny dogs - Russian Toys - are able to bring only positive impressions to their master's life. Characteristics of this breed imply a constant need for close communication with the owner. The highly excitable temperament and good temperament turns both a puppy and an adult dog into a favorite of the whole family, able to amuse the baby or dispel the sad thoughts of an adult.

Despite the miniature size, Russian toy is a mini-hurricane that can create a commotion in a house or apartment. Puppies are especially playful, because of boredom they can begin to spoil furniture or things. In addition, they are barking quite loudly, they belong to the very “calls” that no intruder can pass by.

These dogs are good psychologists and manipulators, they use their charm to get an extra piece of food or to climb onto the welcome sofa to the owner. But in combination with a light temper and incredible charm, this character trait can hardly scare breed lovers from buying a pet.

A healthy animal easily reaches age 10-15 and even 20 yearskeeping puppy fervor to old age. These dogs are not prone to the manifestation of genetic defects, have strong immunity. But because of the convex shape of the eyeball, they can suffer from cataracts, retinal atrophy, conjunctivitis. A fairly large skull can contribute to the development of hydrocephalus.

Often the owners themselves are guilty of pet health problems. For example, by giving Russian smoked and salty foods from your table, you can help develop pancreatitis in him.

Proper care for fluffy puppies and adult dogs lies in a whole range of measures that allow the pet to maintain a neat presentable appearance. A Russian toy with long hair needs a periodic hygienic haircut at least 1 time in six months. It is not recommended to shorten the coat if there is less than a month left before the exhibition: it will not have time to grow to the length specified by the standard. All types of haircuts of the toy terrier in this case are divided into several types.

• Model. The fantasy approach allows both dispensing with towing and creating unusual patterns on the body. In addition, you can make an original hairstyle using decorative rhinestones, hairpins, weaving. A professional groomer who knows the subtleties of the breed is also easy to handle.
• Hygienic. The hair interfering with the animal is removed, and long tows are shortened. In some cases, a haircut is done before medical procedures, taking into account the peculiarities of surgical intervention.
• Classic. They mean improving the appearance of the dog without significantly shortening the coat. The main focus is on the scruff, tail, legs, ears. Uneven hairs are removed, a beautiful silhouette is formed.
• Under the puppy. The hair is shortened, resembling the appearance of puppy fluff. Such a haircut is considered summer, helps the dog easier to tolerate the heat.
• For girls. An unusual technique is applied here with shortening the hair on the legs, while maintaining elegant tows on the ears and tail. The silhouette is light and sophisticated, and limb hygiene is minimized.

Hygienic care for Russian toy is also not labor-consuming. A compact animal needs a separate place for sleeping and relaxing: it is better to refuse joint sleep due to the fragility of the dog’s bones. For a walk in the cold, you can buy blankets or jumpsuits in size. Body tremors should not be taken as a sign of freezing: this is a manifestation of nervous excitement, it indicates an experienced surge of emotions. Among the mandatory hygiene procedures for a dog, you will definitely need to carry out:

• unraveling wool - several times a week with a frequent comb or a metal comb;
• Cleaver removal - soft fluffy hair is prone to their formation;
• bathing - no more than once every 3 months, if there is no urgent need, the dog’s skin is prone to drying out;
• brushing teeth - needed weekly with the use of veterinary pastes for the prevention of tartar;
• ear sanitization - they can be affected by ticks, in addition, the breed is prone to otitis, frequent inspection is recommended;
• cleansing the corners of the eye from pollution and organic matter;
• claw tips - it is necessary every 20-30 days.

It is necessary to avoid drafts, to protect the pet from jumping from a height. The animal is contraindicated in nervous shocks, it is better to create a calm atmosphere at home. Walking representatives of the breed need moderate, they are easily trained to visit the tray and are not inclined to "miss" past it, maintain cleanliness in the house.

Feeding the Russian toy is better organized in the same way as it was organized in the nursery. If the puppy is already accustomed to natural food, you can not transfer it to dry food. Representatives of this breed are well perceived beef and poultry. Grind them before serving. And you can also use offal, once a week to give oceanic boiled fish.

Toy terriers perceive vegetables well in the diet. Small dogs eat carrots and beets, cucumbers, cabbage (can be flavored with vegetable oil). As a treat, apples and pears, sliced ​​banana, are suitable. The share of cereals in the nutrition reaches 30%. It is better to choose hypoallergenic low-calorie options: rice, buckwheat, oats. Toy, corn and wheat are not very useful.

Despite the general usefulness of fermented milk products, it is often not worth giving them to small dogs. Whole milk is given only to puppies. Cottage cheese, kefir, yogurt are given no more than 2 times a week. It is excluded to receive additional feeding during the day, you cannot allow eating found on the street food.

Among the natural food, which is located in the strict ban zone for Russian Toy, you can distinguish spices, sausages and sausages, egg white. The nuts, butter, sour cream and other high-calorie foods will not benefit the dog. Ata threat to the health of the dog are pickles, smoked meats.

Compact animal needs in specialized nutrition, taking into account its needs for calories, nutrients. Cheap economy feeds can harm a dog’s health. But super-premium and holistic diets lack this flaw. They have everything you need, you just need to take into account the level of mobility, the age category of the toy.

The frequency of feeding an adult animal is not more than 2 times a day. Russian toy is prone to obesity, it is important not to exceed the recommended calorie content. Puppies up to 3 months old are fed 5-6 times a day, night and late meals can be preserved. Until six months, food is served 3-4 times a day, by the year the dog should eat twice a day.

The education of the Moscow long-haired toy terrier, or, as it is now called, a Russian toy, begins with the development of the basic principles of maintenance in the house. The pet must learn where its place is, bowls with food and water, respond to the nickname and call of the owner. It is worth starting the first days of training the dog in a tray or diaper - In puppyhood, this will greatly facilitate the maintenance of the pet.

A basic Russian training course is necessary to increase discipline. It will be enough to take a course of UGS under the guidance of an experienced instructor. Obtaining obedience from a dog on your own will be quite difficult. The resourceful toy terrier will simply cheat or will frankly miss during classes. Achieving success in training will certainly not be fast, but when using game techniques, you can teach your pet a lot of interesting tricks.

Russian toi are highly excitable dogs, responding to any external stimuli with a provocative bark. The animal should not forgive such behavior, but it is necessary to act much more subtly than with the owners of a rougher constitution. To keep the dog from barking will not work either with affection or with threats. A certain action plan will be optimal.

• In case of undesirable behavior, the dog should strictly command “Fu!” or "You can’t!".
• The maximum that can be applied from the options of physical impact is a light slap by the newspaper.
• A puppy barking to attract attention can be ignored. With an adult dog, this does not work.
• Unwanted physical reactions can be suppressed with the help of distraction. If the pet does not fight in hysterics, this may work.

Out of an excess of feelings, Russian Tois can bite their owners slightly. When trying to show emotions in this way, it is worth expressing indignation with intonations, but not physically punishing the animal. Any joint activities should immediately be interrupted. More expensive communication with the owner will be enough to reconsider your behavior.

You will learn about how to raise a Russian toy from the next video.