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What breed is it?

This is the Russian Toy (also commonly called the Russkiy Toy). He is a very small breed of dog originally bred in isolation in the former USSR from the original English Toy Terrier. There are two types, smooth coated and long coated, which were known by a variety of different names until brought together under the same standard (FCI) as the Russkiy Toy in 2000. The breed was nearly wiped out twice; first following in the 1920s with the rise of Communism due to the toy breed's traditional link to the aristocracy and secondly in the 1990s with the influx of foreign breeds following the fall of the Iron Curtain. The smooth haired type is the older of the two, with the long coated type first appearing in 1958.

What do you feed them?

Reputable pet food companies provide feeding guides on pet food labels designed around the different energy requirements for different dog breed sizes. But not all small dogs have the same nutritional needs. Giving your dog a food specially formulated for his size and activity level is the easiest way to make sure he's getting complete and balanced nutrition. You should be provided with feeding instructions from the breeder you have selected and their feeding regime that your new puppy is accustomed. But in general, they can eat any dog food but in much smaller amount. It is a big pleasure to feed a Toy. Even a small piece of cheese, which is due to the size would be ashamed to offer to a large breed dog, will bring a lot of fun to a Russian Toy and even can serve as a good addition to his dinner!

Is it a Pinscher or a Chihuahua?

Sure, people who are far from the kynology (the breeding of dogs) can easily confuse these three breeds, especially since all of them are small. Some people even confuse a Chow-Chow with a Chihuahua, because these names start with the same letter and sound unusual. And yet, Russian Toy, Chihuahua and a Miniature Pinscher are very different breeds. If to say in a simple way Russian Toy is a dog which looks like a little deer in the exterior and the value of it is elegance and grace, while the Pinscher and the Chihuahua are dogs with strong and muscular bodies. If to put all three of them nearby, it is easy to see that these breeds are different.

Is it necessary to take them daily for a walk?

Small dogs quite frequently require more exercise than larger cousins. Most exercise needs for small dogs can be satisfied in an apartment, home or back yard. If you provide the small dog with adequate toys, or perhaps you have another dog or cat as a companion, the dog can generally meet all its exercise needs. However, don’t miss walking the dog on a daily basis too; a walk provides healthy exercise for both the dog and its owner. Some dogs also require mental exercise. Dogs, like people, can get bored. Certain dogs get bored enough to engage in undesirable behaviors like destroying potted plants or eating your shoes and furniture. New toys that require some work to get the "rewards" are fantastic for dogs that need a mental challenge. Also, daily interaction with your dog will help satisfy some mental exercise needs. Daily walks can strengthen the bond and also re-enforce the alpha dominance roll of the owner into being a good "pack leader".

Is it a pocket dog?

Usually we answer it depends on the season. In winter it is an ‘Under the jacket dog’. In summer it is a ‘Purse dog’. But it is basically not convenient and we do not recommend carrying them in your pocket.

Is it the smallest breed in the world?

It is very common to think that the Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog. However the Russian Toy with its small toy appearance will often be compared in size to the Chihuahua. According to the Chihuahua standard the Chihuahua has a size range of 3.3-6 pounds. The Russian Toy's FCI standard states 2.2-6.6 pounds, but it also states the Russian toy should be longer on leg and have a height on no more than 11.75 inches. So what do you interpret smaller, weight or height? Russian Toy is one of the smallest breed in the world. And we repeat it "one of". There are other small breeds. Each breed standard states what height and weight must be an adult dog. But inside of every small breed there are larger representatives and miniature ones. When you hear the phrase ‘Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog in the world’, do not believe it. In the Guinness Book of super-small dogs (500-800 grams in adults) you can find Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Japanese Chin, and the same Chihuahua. Russian Toy is not there for the simple reason - it is still a young breed.

It very much depends on the size. Dogs that are less than 8 inch (21 cm) in withers have a problem even to get pregnant. 9-10 inch (23-25cm) is the optimum size for a Russian Toy breeder. However even having a bigger size dog you cannot be sure that its pregnancy and delivering will be easy. It often happens when a Russian Toy needs a veterinarian help during this period and at the moment of giving birth. If the unborn puppy is close to 7 oz. of weight, and the bitch is a smaller size, she is in high risk of having cesarean sections. Russian Toys give birth from one to three puppies in one time, rarely more than three, and the size of puppies is not small comparing to the size of their mother - from 2.8 oz. to 6.7 oz.!

Is it an adult dog or a puppy?

Russian Toy is a ‘fast-maturing’ breed. Most of the growth takes place within the first 4-5 months of age. So the 5-month-old puppy is easy to be confused with an adult dog. By the way, the mental development of Russian Toys is also formed much earlier than large breeds. At the age of 3-4 month you cannot treat it as a puppy, it is almost an adult intellect!

Are they aggressive? Can they bite?

Everything depends on education. You can grow a poodle the way that his aggressive and ugly character will hate all neighborhoods, and the same time you can grow a Staffordshire Bull Terrier as sweet as a cat. Incidentally, small dogs are less educated than the larger ones. The psychology is – ‘what dangerous can this little one to do!’ Our opinion is that any dog must be educated! Every dog must know the minimum set of dog commands, and should be trained not to afraid of strangers and to be loyal. After all, if the dog in a dog show will display aggression - it will be removed from the ring, and if it is too coward, it will lose the competition. But if you ask any owner of a Russian Toy most of the time you will hear the answer: ‘Russian Toy is a killer-dog. It will lick you to death!’

Here are some reasons for biting ( but not limited to, in any breed).....

Dominance Aggression

One of the reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs is that they want to establish dominance. This behavior can be exhibited toward humans, but it is more commonly shown against other dogs or animals. Canines are pack animals, and there is a certain hierarchy within that pack. Sometimes dogs think of the people in their family as their pack, and they will try to establish themselves as alpha dog, so aggressive behavior may occur when there are a lot of people or pets around.

Fear Aggression

Fear is another one of the reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs. There are some specific signals that a dog is afraid, and those signs need to be taken seriously, because fear is one of the most misunderstood reasons for aggressive behavior in dogs. A dog in a state of fear will usually lash out because it feels cornered. The dog will usually show signs like growling, ears pulled back, and the tail between the legs. When a dog lashes out because it is afraid, the behavior is often mistaken for direct aggression rather than a reaction to the stimulus.

Predatory Nature

While some dogs may be afraid, others have strong instincts, so predatory behavior is another reason for aggressive behavior. Certain dogs love to hunt and chase down game. Sometimes cats, smaller dogs, or children can be mistaken by a dog as food.

Medical Reasons for Aggression

Finally, there may be medical reasons for aggression in dogs that have not been diagnosed. While most dogs can be trained to not be aggressive if the aggression is behavioral, sometimes there is an underlying medical condition that needs to be treated. Also, some females are very aggressive when they are pregnant or nursing, and though maternal protectiveness is common in many nursing females aggression can be curbed through good training early on in the dog's life. Taking a step back to look at the reasons for aggression in dogs and seeing where your dog’s fits can be the first step in curbing the behavior. There are some different training methods you can use to curb the different types of aggression, so learning the reasons behind your dog's aggressive behavior can help you determine what training methods to use to be more effective.(Training advice Courtesy of Dogproblemsoultions.com)

Why does it shake? Is it cold?

Commonly it is just plain body temperature. The Russian Toy is a small lean bodied dog and therefor does not carry much fat storage to help regulate body temperature. Your Russian Toy enjoys added T-shirts, sweaters and clothes for added warmth. You will often find the smooth haired variety sleeping under a blanket. Another cause is nervousness, due to their small size and lack of socialization can lead to a nervous shaking dog when he is in unfamiliar surroundings. In a new situation, they get anxious and it causes them to quiver some. Once they are comfortable in the situation they stop shaking.

Where can I buy such a dog?

You should buy it only in a club or a kennel, and always with a pedigree. The presence of genealogy will give you a guarantee that this puppy is a real Russian Toy and not a fake! In addition people who have seriously engaged in the breed, will surely give you a professional advice, because growing a Toy has its own characteristics and significant differences from the growth of large dogs. A person who has raised, such a dog as a Shepherd, is unlikely to correctly describe the features of the teeth changing, or feeding a puppy of the toy-breed. Buying a puppy do not chase cheap and empty promises, otherwise already the next year you will have a bitter sigh, looking at the watchdog, which has grown from the "elite" Toy without a pedigree. There will be always some ‘breeders’ who practice crossbreeding of their Russian Toys (good if it is a purebred dog) with other breeds and sell puppies as purebred, although without documents and certainly not so cheap for a mutt dog, even though it is very small.

How much do they cost?

If you are looking to buy a puppy, you have to ask yourself a few things.

1. What do I want this puppy for? Breeding purposes, show dog, friend, companion.

2. How important is price to you. Are you prepared for lifelong financial commitments?

3. Are you concerned about pedigrees and health issues?

Once you decide an answer to these questions, it will become more obvious what your price will range in.
It is clear that a good cannot be cheap. Females are usually more expensive than males. The price will depend on the values of ancestors, available in the pedigree, titles, parents, the viability of the puppy, etc. But buying a puppy, remember the ancient truth ‘Penny wise and pound foolish!’ Remember this dog will be your partner for a long time!

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