A miniature favorite of women, children and older couples, the toy terrier is playful, loyal and energetic. But the biggest advantage of a dog of this breed is its compact size, allowing you to take your pet to the store, long trips, easily placing it in a carrying bag.

Description and characteristics of the breed

Representatives of the decorative breed of toy terrier belong to the class of the smallest dogs. You can meet Toy with short and long hair. The latter were bred in the post-war capital of the USSR, while a smooth-haired variety has been around for more than 100 years.

By its nature, the dog is very energetic and loves playing with the owner in the fresh air. At the sight of strangers, loyal and very active toi can bark loudly and continuously for a long period of time. Despite the size, the representatives of the breed are aggressive, with which proper education will help to cope. Also, dogs that are ideal for housing, do not get along well with young children, which can seriously harm them.

Origin history

The English toy terrier, from which the Russian toy was subsequently descended, mistakenly identified with the ancestor, is a small variety of the Manchester Terrier, hunting badgers and other small-sized game. In each offspring there were miniature specimens, often becoming pets of court ladies, who willingly acquired them not only because of their size, but also thanks to a pretty face.

During the great plague epidemic, when control over the rat population was wiped out due to the mass destruction of cats by the Inquisition, terriers took on the task of exterminating rodents. In the palaces, dogs were also used as guards of the hostesses and their children from mouse-like colonies. Since the breed was very active, reproduction proceeded rapidly. After a short period of time, Manchester Terriers began to appear in simpler houses.

However, dogs of this breed lacked grace, so dog handlers began to cross the breed with a greyhound, Italian greyhounds and whippets.

In 1920, a new breed officially appeared, known in those days as a miniature black and tan terrier. The modern name "English toy terrier" was received by the breed only in 1962.

Breed standard and puppy selection

The thoroughbred toy terrier must comply with the breed description and its following standards:

  • Eyes - rounded, slightly rolled out, wide-set, tightly closed for centuries.
  • The neck is rather long with a slight bend.
  • Ears - high landing, auricles erect, large, thin.
  • The body is a muscular physique with a not too wide chest and a shortened back.
  • The muzzle is a shortened, pointed shape.
  • Tail - slightly raised. For owners of smooth hair, it is shortly cropped, for long-haired representatives of the breed, the tail does not stop and eventually grows into a “sultan”.
  • Paws - forelegs are slender and parallel, hind legs are spaced a little wider, arched.
  • Wool - in shorthair representatives, the hairline is shiny, dense, the undercoat is absent; long-haired dogs have a hairline with a length of up to 5 cm, which can be either straight or wavy.
  • Color - black and tan, red with a brownish swelling, blue and tan, brown and tan.

When choosing a puppy, in addition to meeting breed standards, the following criteria should be taken into account:

  1. Place of purchase. A thoroughbred puppy should be purchased only in nurseries or from trusted breeders, where the puppy's parents can demonstrate to the future owner.
  2. The presence of a veterinary passport and vaccination marks. When selling, a veterinary passport must be attached to the future family member, where marks will be made on 2 vaccinations by age, guaranteeing the puppy's healthy state.
  3. Age. You should not make a purchase of a puppy under 4 months of age. Since the first vaccination, after which a 30-day quarantine must pass, is carried out only in 2.5 months.
  4. Behavior and conditions of the animal. Alertness of the animal, passivity, refusal of food and its content in the cage should cause alertness, which is not permissible.
  5. Availability metrics. If puppies of a toy terrier have thoroughbred parents, then they must have a pedigree that confirms this.

Features of keeping a dog

In order for the dog to live a happy life, it is necessary to create comfortable conditions for keeping the pet in the apartment:

  • Toys A little pet should buy various balls, bones and systematically play with him, which will benefit his nervous system and mental health.
  • Security. Due to their miniature size, dogs are always at risk and need careful attention from the owner and other family members. You should look at your feet, do not sit on the sofa with all your legs, slowly close the doors.
  • Clothing. To prevent the dog from freezing, stock up on blouses, sweaters and shoes, which are necessary for walking on the street when the temperature is set below 5 ° C.
  • Walking. Young individuals need frequent walks for speedy socialization - 4-5 times a day. Adult dogs can be taken for a walk less often - 3 times.

Care and Feeding

In addition to games and walks in the fresh air, important factors that affect the life expectancy of a dog are proper care and a balanced diet:

  • The ears. Every month, with the help of a cotton pad soaked in a special solution, sulfur deposits are removed from the outer part of the auricle, the accumulation of which can lead to otitis media.
  • Teeth. Once a week, it is recommended to clean small, sharp teeth of the toy. At the age of 5 months, it is necessary to monitor the rate of loss of milk teeth: at a slower pace, an incorrect bite may form.
  • Wool. Due to the dryness of the skin of the toy, it is enough to bathe twice a year in heated water using a special shampoo.
  • Claws. Clipping - a mandatory procedure in which only the curled part is removed. Frequency for a puppy - twice a month. For adult dogs, the interval is doubled.
  • Food. For balanced feeding, it is best to use premium dry feed for small dog breeds. If it was decided to feed the toy with natural food, then the composition should include dietary meat, cereals, vegetables and fruits, as a source of vitamins. The transition to three meals a day is allowed only after the puppy reaches five months of age. From 8 months you can begin to accustom your dog to a two-time meal.

How to train and educate a toy terrier

The process of raising a new friend needs to be started a few days after appearing in the house so that he can acclimatize to new living conditions.

First of all, the pet should undergo socialization, in which the puppy gets acquainted with the household, and then with the outside world through joint walks along the street.

They are smart and easy to train, grabbing everything on the fly. They love increased attention to themselves, which also contributes to quick learning, which should begin in a relaxed home environment. When the pet learns the acquired knowledge well, it is possible to conduct training sessions in the presence of a street noise factor acting as an irritant.

Since the toy terrier assimilates information very quickly, one should constantly make sure that the dog understands this or that task in order to avoid unpleasant situations associated with the misinterpretation of various commands by the puppy. The character of the toy terrier can be described as easily excitable, so do not bore him with monotonous activities, to which he will quickly lose interest.

Pros and cons of the breed

Among the indisputable advantages of the breed are the following:

  • The size. The compactness of the dog touches and allows it not to be parted for a minute. Also, due to their size, they eat very little.
  • Learnability. Dogs of this breed are very curious and energetic, so they can be easily trained.
  • Attachment. Great companion dogs that will do whatever their beloved owner does.

Among the shortcomings of the breed can be identified:

  • The explosive nature of the toy. The pet can bark incessantly for a long time at other dogs and strangers. And also because of its sometimes manifest aggressiveness at small sizes, that one may suffer at the hands of the child.
  • Fear of cold weather. Due to the lack of undercoat, dogs need extra clothing.

How much does a toy terrier cost

The price of puppies varies depending on breed standards, which allows dogs to show and breed:

  • The cost of show-class dogs is 40-60 thousand rubles. for boys and 45 - 48 thousand rubles. for girls.
  • Puppies of the “standard” class, due to incomplete compliance with the characteristics of the breed, are priced cheaper, although they can take part in exhibitions - 20-30 thousand rubles. boys and 25 - 45 thousand rubles. girls.
  • Animals belonging to the pet-class category are not allowed for breeding, but are full-fledged dogs and cost from 15 to 30 thousand rubles. depending on the gender of the puppy.

Before you start a miniature dog, you should weigh the pros and cons, having studied the characteristics of the dog’s character and the requirements for keeping the toy terrier in the apartment. After all, an animal is acquired for a long time, and caring for it and understanding the intricacies of behavior for some owners may be unbearable.

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