Russian Toy
The Russian Toy (also named the Russkiy Toy) is a small breed of dog bred in Russia. Unsuprisingly it is classed as a toy breed. It was bred from the English Toy Terrier. This dog has come close to being made extinct twice already. First during the 1920s with the coming to power of Communism. This dog was traditionally seen as a dog for the aristocrats, which diametrically opposed the values of Communism. However even after surviving this it also had to cope with the fall of the Iron Curtain, and all the new breeds coming over. This breed was originally created to deal with rats, and also as a rat fighter. It also found a role as a watch dog. The ancestors to this breed can be seen at the Saint Petersburge Museum of Zoology. In the museum there is an English terrier from 1716. This dog is said to have been the Russian Emperor Peter the Great's dog.
Appearance
The Russian Toy is one of the smallest breeds of dog. It generally is between 20 cm and 25 cm, and weighs a comparable 1.4 kg to 2.7 kg. Its head has a very distinnctive shape and it has large triangular eyes. The tail is generally curved. The coat of this dog comes in two flavours, either smooth haired or long haired. This breeds coat comes in 5 main colours, blue and tan, black and tan, sable or red.
Temperament
This is a very friendly dog that is very family oriented, it craves human company and does not do well left on its own for extended periods during the day. It is a very active breed, it tends to be very yappy, this explains its talent for being a watch dog. Don't depend on this dog to be a guard dog though, it will only amuse potential burglars. As with most other toy breeds, these dogs can work well in a built up city and apartment.
Grooming and care
Grooming varies depending on what type of Russian Toy dog it is. If it is the long coat version then brushing ideally should be on a daily basis. If it is the short coated version then brushing is only required on an infrquent basis, alternatively the dog can be wiped down with a damp cloth. Generally it is advisable to check the ears regularly to avoid ear infections. For this breed shedding is about average for dogs. These dogs need a daily walk to be fully happy. They do also get exercise in the house and quite active, but play time does not substitute for time outside.
Health
This dog needs specific help with its teeth, as it can have trouble when moving from puppy teeth to adult teeth. Without vet help the two rows of teeth form, this can then easily lead to infection of the gum, as well as terrible breath. This breed also sufferes from potential to have the kneecap get out of joint. Generally this problem would be evident in the parents of the Russian Toy. These dogs also tend suffer broken bones much more eaisily than average. These dogs have also been known to get very bad allergic reactions against certain medication and vaccines. These can cause epileptic seizurees.