Small, slim, elegant and of a charming nature: The Russkiy Toy (“Russian Toy”) is a pretty small dog that is somewhat reminiscent of a deer pinscher and a companion full of character. The term “toy” should not be taken literally; in English-speaking countries, it is the common term for small companion dogs (in contrast to “serious” working dogs). The Russkiy Toy is an excellent choice for dog owners who want a friendly and shrewd four-legged friend in a “handy” format.

ProfileRusskiy Toy

Breed history of the Russkiy Toy

At the beginning of the last century, English Toy Terriers enjoyed great popularity in Russia; however, the breed became watered down over time. In the fifties, breeders tried to steer rearing back into standardized channels. This resulted in a random mutation in the form of a dog with long hair on its ears. It was possible to bring this trait into the gene pool as well. The Russkiy Toy became an independent variant of the popular small dog. Since 2006, it has been recognized as a breed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). In Germany, Russkiy Toy breeding has officially taken place since 2010, with the Association of German Small Dog Breeders in charge.

The character of the Russkiy Toy

The Russkiy Toy is an agile, playful and cheerful dog. He is friendly, does not tend to be aggressive and usually gets along with other dogs as well as other pets and children if they interact with him carefully. The four-legged friend is attentive and lively, follows his human affectionately and shows exemplary obedience when well trained. When not challenged, however, he tends to yapp.

Education and keeping of the Russkiy Toy

Russkiy Toys are nimble dogs with a high urge to move. They need attention: Take plenty of time to engage and play with the little whirlwind. His playfulness and intelligence make him an ideal candidate for agility, dog dancing or trickdogging.

Since the Russkiy Toy has a strong “will to please”, its upbringing is usually unproblematic. Of course, dealing with it requires patience, gentle consistency and a certain amount of “dog sense”.

Even though the furry nose can easily live in the apartment due to its mini format, it needs enough exercise and outdoor exercise. Keep in mind that your four-legged buddy is a terrier. The Russkiy Toy does not easily shed its pronounced hunting instinct.

Caring for the Russkiy Toy

Grooming is simple: Occasionally brush a short-haired dog with a Striegel or massage glove. For long-haired animals, this is a daily routine to prevent matting of the coat. In addition, the eyes should be cleaned every day so that drying tear secretions do not cause inflammation. Like many small dog breeds, the Russkiy Toy is prone to tartar formation, which you can prevent by brushing your teeth regularly.

Besonderheiten des Russkiy Toy

Grundsätzlich ist der Russkiy Toy ein Hund von robuster Konstitution. Allerdings können in Zuchtlinien mit wenig genetischer Vielfalt Gesundheitsrisiken wie Zwergwuchs, Augen- und Herzerkrankungen oder Patellaluxation (herausspringende Kniescheibe) vererbt werden. Verantwortungsvolle Züchter tun alles, um solche Probleme zu vermeiden. Erwerbe deinen Russischen Toy deswegen von vertrauenswürdigen Anbietern. Der VDH (Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen) ist dein Ansprechpartner bei der Suche nach einem Züchter.

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