Breeds / Toy
Russian Toy puppies
Bright, alert and closely bonded to its own people, the Russian Toy is a very small, fine boned Russian companion breed that comes in a smooth and a longhaired variety.
The facts
- Size class Toy
- Country of origin Russia
- Adult weight Up to 2.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds Up to 6 lb
- Adult height 20 to 28 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short double
- Typical lifespan 12 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Fine with supervision
Where these come from:
About the Russian Toy
The Russian Toy was developed in Russia from English Toy Terrier stock kept by the aristocracy, then rebuilt from very few dogs after the breed almost disappeared. It is among the smallest breeds going, up to 2.9 kg and 20 to 28 cm, fine boned and long legged, with large upright ears carried high. It comes in a smooth coated form and a longhaired form with fringing on the ears and legs. The temperament is bright, attentive and closely attached to one or two people in the house.
Energy is moderate and a yard plus daily walks covers it. The smooth coat needs a weekly brush, while the longhaired variety wants two or three sessions a week with the fringes kept clean. Walk it on a harness rather than a collar, since small dogs have fragile necks and tracheas. It is rated three out of five with children, so supervision and socialisation are needed, and its size makes it easy to injure. The mistake owners make is skipping dental care, which is this breed's main health problem.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Russian Toy puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. It can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so it needs frequent small meals rather than two big ones. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Retained deciduous teeth, which usually need surgical removal by nine months of age
- Periodontal disease, which can begin by one year and is slowed by regular tooth brushing
- Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), detectable by DNA test
- Corneal ulcers and other eye injuries, found by an ophthalmic examination
From Russian Toy breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/russian-toy/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Russian Toy puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a Russian Toy.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the Up to 2.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other toy breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.