Russian Toy: temperament, size, care and health

About the Russian Toy

The Russian Toy is a small, slender and graceful dog with long thin legs, a lean body, a fine head with large upright ears and a tail that is often docked where permitted. It comes in two coat types, the smooth coat, which is short and glossy, and the longhaired coat, which is slightly wavy with an elegant fringe on the ears, legs and tail. The usual colors are black and tan, brown and tan, blue and tan, and red.

The breed was developed as an indoor companion. People keep it for its small size, its quick, cheerful manner and the very light grooming demands of the smooth coat.

Temperament and family life

Russian Toys are lively, affectionate and attached to their families. They like to be in the middle of activity and tend to follow their owner around. They are alert, will bark at unfamiliar sounds and can be reserved with strangers, but aggression is not typical.

The breed is delicate and easily injured, so it is best with adults and older, careful children. Some are shy if poorly socialized. They can get along with other dogs and with cats, but they may be bossy. Long hours alone do not suit them, and a lonely dog may bark and fret.

Exercise and training

The Russian Toy has a good deal of energy and enjoys running around, playing fetch and exploring. A daily walk and play sessions in a secure area meet its needs, and indoor games are valuable in bad weather. It feels the cold easily and should wear a coat in winter.

The breed is intelligent and learns well with reward-based methods, and many enjoy tricks and agility. Training should be gentle and short, as the dog is sensitive. House training can be slow, partly because of dislike of cold and wet ground. Careful socialization helps prevent shyness and excessive barking.

Grooming and shedding

The smooth coat needs only a weekly brushing with a soft brush or mitt and sheds lightly. The longhaired variety requires combing a couple of times a week to prevent tangles in the fringes behind the ears and on the legs, and it also sheds only a little.

Baths are needed only now and then. Trim the nails, clean the ears and brush the teeth regularly, since small jaws collect tartar. Pay attention to the dog's comfort in cold weather rather than to its coat.

Health

The Russian Toy is generally healthy, but typical toy-breed concerns apply. Patellar luxation is the most common, and dental disease is frequent. Some puppies have an open fontanelle, a soft spot on the skull that may or may not close, and low blood sugar can affect very young or very small dogs. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, eye conditions and fragile leg bones are reported.

Responsible breeders examine knees, eyes and hips and avoid breeding dogs that are too small. This is general information about the Russian Toy, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The breed was developed in Russia from English Toy Terriers, the small black and tan dogs now known in the United States as Toy Manchester Terriers. By 1947 only one dog was shown in Saint Petersburg, and Soviet breeders worked afterward to rebuild the population. A longhaired puppy born in 1958 to two smooth-coated parents led to the longhaired variety. The two coat types were later united in one standard, and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in the early 2020s.

Is the Russian Toy right for you?

A Russian Toy suits an adult or an older family in a small home that wants a lively, tidy and low-shedding small dog and can give regular company. It is a good apartment dog and easy to keep clean.

It is a poor match for houses with toddlers, for people who want a sturdy dog or for owners in very cold climates who will not provide warmth. The Chihuahua and the Toy Fox Terrier are similar in size, the Miniature Pinscher is bolder, and the Manchester Terrier is the closest living relative of the Russian Toy's foundation stock.