Correct size and weight of a toy terrier: features of adult dogs and puppies

Toy terriers are miniature dogs that look like puppies until they are old.

Like all purebred dogs, they have a standard weight and height.

The puppy's development must be monitored.

Since too small sizes can become a dangerous deviation - female toy terriers will not be able to bear offspring.

Difficulties in selecting drug dosages complicate treatment.

Find out about the norms of basic parameters in this article.

Adult pet weight

An adult dog weighs about 3 kg .
Sometimes there are mini toys weighing 0.9-1 kg. This weight is considered normal for a boy.

But if you are going to breed puppies, the Toya girl must weigh more than 1.8 kg for gestation and birth without complications.

More often 1-3 puppies are born . Their weight is 70-170 grams, which is a lot for such a small dog.

Puppy weight and height by month

The table is indicative. A discrepancy of ±300-400 g is possible. It is worth examining the dog if the weight differs from the table by 1 kg.

Puppies grow disproportionately: in one month they gain a lot, and in the next month the weight will not change . Focus on the condition of the toy. If he is active, playful and eats well, then everything is fine.

The conventional concept of norm also applies to growth.

Puppies are sold at approximately 3 months . At this moment their height is 15-20 centimeters.

The standard toy will grow even bigger by 6-9 months, but the mini toy will no longer be there.

Weight table:

Growth chart:

Caring for the Russian Toy

Dogs of this breed are unpretentious in maintenance. These are not the big dogs that need to be walked several times a day. The toy is great at learning to go to a regular cat litter box when needed. However, walking cannot be completely ruled out. A small terrier needs periodic outings into nature and fresh air for its psychophysical health.

This dog does not require frequent bathing, only once a month. During water procedures, it is worth inserting cotton wool into your ears to prevent water from flowing into them. In addition, your ears should be checked for infections from time to time. Also, as necessary, the toy's claws are trimmed.

Caring for the coat of the long-haired variety comes down to daily combing with a fine-toothed comb - a pleasant procedure for both the pet and its owner. Although a terrier is considered a tame dog, you shouldn’t carry it in your arms or in a bag all the time, it needs a burst of bursting energy.

Mini toy terrier

There is no separate standard for this breed . Mini toy terriers are usually classified as dogs whose sizes are smaller than standard ones.

The weight of an adult dog is less than 1.5 kg, the height at the withers is about 20 cm.

Mini Toy Terrier females are not allowed to give birth.

The mini toy is no different in character from the standard one. But it requires a more careful attitude. They break limbs much more often, and if they play carelessly, they can twist their jaw.

There are advertisements for the sale of super mini toy terriers . The weight of such dogs is up to 1.3 kg.

approximate cost

To purchase an animal, you can contact a toy terrier nursery. The range in prices for these dogs is great. Females are much more expensive than males.

Data on how much the average puppy will cost is shown in the table below.

Dynamics of prices for toy terrier puppies (thousand rubles).

The high cost is explained by the large monetary and time costs of breeders.

Breeding purebred puppies requires considerable investment:

• veterinarian services;
• time to study and communicate with kids;
• healthy diet;
• vaccinations;
• medications that protect against parasites;
• bowls and dog toys, etc.

When purchasing a toy terrier, be prepared to become his real parents.

When is a dog considered an adult?

Decorative breeds develop faster than others.

A dog is considered an adult when its period of physical development ceases.

This usually occurs at 6-9 months in a standard breed, 4-5 in a mini toy terrier..

Mental development ends at 4-5 months. Therefore, puppies are trained from a very early age.

Signs of an adult dog:

• eyes are clean, clear, without clouding;
• baby teeth were replaced by permanent ones;
• the dog’s body is toned, strong, proportional; height does not change, but weight may increase.

How long do mini toy terriers grow?

Mini Toy Terriers are a variation of the standard breed. These are real “pocket” dogs, fragile and miniature. Due to their special body structure, their development is slightly different from that of ordinary toys. But for mini-toy terriers there is no separate standard for appearance and weight; it is assessed according to the standard of a regular terrier. Therefore, it is necessary to study their characteristics based on the experience of breeders.

Mini Toy Terrier even fits in a tea cup

Miniature toy terriers grow up to 4-5 months, while the level of development is the same as that of the standard breed. These babies can grow to a maximum of 23 cm and weigh up to 1.8 kg. If, after reaching this indicator, the puppy continues to grow, it means that the breeder decided to make extra money when selling and passed off the standard terrier as a mini-breed. In appearance, these two varieties differ only in growth, but the final result can only be determined after six months.

Important! Mini Toy Terriers are even more fragile than standard ones. They are small enough to fit into a cup. If an ordinary terrier can break a paw by jumping off the sofa, then a mini's fragile limb can be damaged even if it runs very actively on the floor.

Choosing a baby

To choose your future pet, follow these recommendations:

Pay attention to the habits, character, and appearance of the kitten. The eyes, nose and ears should be clean. Any discharge indicates poor health.

The coat should be shiny and smooth. In the anal area there are no signs of loose stool.

Call them, the first one to respond will be the kindest. Loyalty is unlikely to be his trait; rather, an affectionate attitude will be manifested on his part towards everyone around him.

Consider deviations from developmental standards (weight, height, color). This is how much a kitten should weigh approximately:

When purchasing a pet for exhibition purposes, you should immediately pay attention to all the subtleties required for toy terriers.

Check out the documentation and pedigree. And also specify how many times vaccination was carried out.

Parameters of an adult toy terrier

Boys and girls of toy terriers are almost no different from each other in appearance. In some breeds, boys are more impressive and larger, but toys do not have this feature.

The height of an adult animal is up to 28 cm, anything higher does not fit into the breed standard:

According to the format, terriers are square.

For this format, the following characteristics apply::

• The oblique length of the body is equal to the height at the withers. Oblique length - from the extreme point of the chest to the sit bones. Height at the withers - from the ground to the withers.
• The back-lumbar-croup ratio is 2:1:1. If we conditionally divide the length of the dog (from the base of the neck to the beginning of the tail) in half, then the part at the neck is the back. Then comes the loin, followed by the croup.
• The height of the limbs is slightly more than half the height at the withers.

Overweight dog

Deviations from the table indicators in a larger direction can indicate both individual characteristics, for example, the size and height of a terrier are slightly larger than average, and the presence of obesity in the pet.

In addition to large mass, the following signs indicate obesity:

• Increased laziness of the pet;
• Poor agility;
• The dog moves little and gets tired quickly;
• The presence of severe sweating, shortness of breath;
• The animal does not tolerate heat well;
• Presence of constipation.

In addition, an obese dog changes in appearance:

• The size of the abdomen increases - it begins to sag;
• Fat folds appear on the back, hips, buttocks;
• The ribs and spine are practically not palpable.

Appearance

The rounded head of the toy terrier is small. The transition from the animal's forehead to the pointed muzzle is clearly noticeable. The dog's thin lips fit tightly and cover his white teeth. The breed standard describes the animal's bite as a scissor bite, with the upper canines slightly covering the lower ones.

The small nose of the toy terrier is painted black or to match the “fur coat”. The dog's small ears stand high. The eyes of the representative of the breed are quite large compared to the size of the head. They are placed widely and appear convex. Dark eyes are tightly covered with eyelids, the color of which matches the color of the dog’s fur.

The Toy Terrier's neck is long and slightly curved. The dog's body is compact and well built with a flat back and slightly rounded croup. The animal's tail points upward. It is customary to dock the tail. The standard allows undocked ponytails shaped like the letter “C”.

The toy's chest is round and of medium width. The abdomen is well tucked, without sagging. The dog's legs, in comparison with the body, seem quite long. They are straight and parallel to each other, with the rear ones being slightly wider than the front ones. The animal's paws are small, rounded and tightly packed.

Description of the breed

The Toy Terrier is an ornamental dog that prefers to live in comfortable conditions, sometimes even without regular walks: they cannot be kept on the street. Although Toy Terriers themselves imagine themselves to be large guard dogs, in reality they are fragile and defenseless. It is not for nothing that the name of the breed is translated from English as “toy”.

The name of the breed is translated from English as “toy”

Body shape, appearance

This is a relatively young breed that was bred in Russia. She was not known for a long time, but in the 21st century there was some kind of explosion of popularity. Everyone started buying Toy Terriers - from breeders to housewives.

The breed standard describes the Toy Terrier as follows:

• the body is square, with a fragile skeletal system, angular muscles;
• not pronounced rounded knees;
• head in the shape of an inverted triangle, rounded skull, large protruding forehead;
• dark eyes slightly bulging;
• pointed muzzle, sharp large ears, set high;
• the tail is long, docked from the second vertebra.

The baby is very nimble and is popular in families with children, as he agrees with them in his desire to play. The average height of a dog at the withers is 20-25 cm. Excellent for breeding in an apartment or private house. Toy terriers live for about 12-15 years, but life expectancy still depends on the care, care and attitude of the owner.

The Toy Terrier feels great in a person's home

Important! You should not adjust your pet to these standards if it will not participate in dog shows or shows.

Wool

Based on coat type, Toy Terriers are divided into two groups:

1. Smooth-haired. They resemble a small deer due to their smooth shiny fur and protruding, almost doe-like eyes. The short coat lies close to the body.
2. Long-haired. The body is covered with hair up to 5 cm long, which can be smooth or slightly wavy. There is an elegant fringe on the ears, and the fur on the paws completely covers the claws. A special article dedicated to this type of dog has been published on our portal

These varieties do not differ in height and weight. Active babies do not have a strong odor, and their fur does not cause allergies.

Smooth-haired toy terriers

Longhaired Toy Terriers

Color

Some breeders are baffled by the coloring of the toy terrier. Dark coat colors are common, but in reality the Toy can be any color. The following shades are available:

• black and tan;
• brown;
• red of various tones;
• gray-blue (the most fashionable shade);
• lilac, isabella color (experimental shades).

Sometimes puppies of unusual colors are born from crossbreeding. For example, there is a known case when a female fawn toy terrier gave birth to a lilac baby from a long-haired red male. Breeders are increasingly trying to breed dogs of rare and fashionable colors. Although the result is excellent, veterinarians do not advise engaging in such experiments. Such puppies may not live up to 5 years.

Toy terrier puppy of rare isabella color

Character and intelligence

Toy terriers are active, agile and hardy. They are very loyal, becoming attached to only one person, whom they consider the owner. They treat other family members calmly. The puppy is sociable and playful, loves to spend time with children.

Character Traits:

• friendly. He is friends with all family members, guests, and other dogs. Feels great around pets of other breeds, but sometimes can rush even at a large dog if it senses a danger to the owner;
• trainable. Terriers have a very high level of intelligence and can easily remember commands. Even in stressful situations, they are able to soberly assess the situation and make correct decisions;

Interested toy terrier

• babies have an amazing memory: they can remember the owner, even if they haven’t seen him for 5 years;
• cunning. As your pet gets older, its cunning becomes more and more evident. The main goal for a toy terrier is to search for the owner’s weak points, so that he can then easily manipulate him;
• loves to travel. He is ready to go with his owner anywhere - to the store, on a hike, for a walk in the park. Fortunately, the small size of the dog will not burden the owner on the road;

The Toy Terrier is always ready to travel with its owner

• cannot stand loneliness. The Toy Terrier cannot be left unattended: it becomes nervous, angry, and attacks people. Those who cannot spend enough time with their toy because of work should not get this breed or should consider buying two dogs at once so that they do not get bored.

Despite the miniature and sociability, in general the character of the toy terrier is very serious. Inside the family, the dog will behave peacefully towards all family members, but outside it it will protect the owner from any encroachment.

Important! Some owners are confused by the fact that the pet periodically begins to shake while sitting in their arms. This is due to an excess of emotions and energy due to a pronounced temperament. To channel this energy in the right direction, Toy Terriers need to be trained.

Video - Teaching a toy terrier commands

Factors influencing performance

Growth and development depend on proper nutrition. The diet should contain minerals and vitamins, especially calcium, and healthy fats.

Decide on the type of food - natural or food. Mixed nutrition is undesirable.

It is better to feed your puppy on a schedule:

• 1.5 – 3 months: 4 times a day;
• 2 – 4 months: 3 times a day;
• 4 – 6 months: 2 times a day.

Serving size for 3-4 meals a day is about 30 g. You cannot overfeed, otherwise excess weight will form.

Calcium and phosphorus are essential for strong bones and teeth . A calcium deficiency is indicated by the toy's ears. If they first rose and then hung, the puppy needs vitamins. Multivitamins should be introduced into the diet gradually, monitoring the pet’s health.

The puppy is taken for vaccination. The first vaccination is given at approximately 6 weeks .

This prepares the body for the next dose. The next vaccination is given at 2.5 months, it will protect the body from diseases - distemper, hepatitis, etc. If the puppy suffers some kind of disease, the consequences are irreversible.

Care and maintenance

Before buying a puppy of this breed, you need to organize a special place for him . This could be a special enclosure, playpen or bed in which the dog will spend the night and rest during the day.

If you want your pet to grow up healthy and strong, you must follow the following rules for caring for it:

1. Proper feeding.
2. Make sure that the dog does not get injured. This breed is small in size and has fragile bones. Do not allow the puppy to jump from heights or get into fights with other animals.
3. Remove dangerous objects (vases, cables, household chemicals, heavy and unstable objects) - they should be out of reach of the puppy.
4. Cleans the baby's eyes and ears daily.
5. Be sure to give vitamins with calcium and phosphorus. This is especially important during the period of setting ears and changing teeth.
6. Do not feed from your plate.
7. Avoid hypothermia or overheating of the animal.
8. Give anthelmintic drugs once every three months.
9. Treat against parasites. This is especially important in the warm season.
10. Walk your puppy regularly.
11. From the first days, accustom him to the tray. Puppies of this breed get used to the litter tray very quickly and painlessly.
12. Bath your baby regularly – once every 2-3 months is enough.
13. Accustom him to a collar and leash from the first days of his arrival in your home.
14. Perform oral hygiene at least once a week.
15. Be sure to trim your claws. Representatives of this breed are distinguished by the rapid growth of their claws. Therefore, the procedure is carried out as necessary. The main thing is to want this from an early age.

Compliance with these rules is especially important in the first six months of a dog’s life.

At what age is the tail docked?

Dog experts agree that the best time to dock a tail is at birth.

A newly born puppy does not feel pain , so the procedure is much easier. If for some reason docking was not performed during this period, then the procedure should be carried out by a veterinarian. The appropriate age for a completely healthy puppy is 3-4 days after birth.

If the puppy does not participate in exhibitions, then such a procedure is not necessary at all.

Lack of weight: what to do?

Being underweight is no less dangerous than being overweight. Check the puppy weight chart by month.

If the ribs and spine of the toy terrier are noticeable even without palpation, then the dog is unhealthy thin.

If the puppy has stopped gaining weight, it is recommended:

• Give the puppy anti-helminth medications. When parasites are inside an animal, they prevent nutrients from being absorbed and suck them out themselves.
• Try giving your puppy more exercise. Play with him more often, take him for a walk.
• Increase the portion. Or increase the number of meals.
• Read the composition of the food. Meat ingredients should come first, not cereals. Buy food from the premium segment, marked “for puppies”.
• Contact your veterinarian. Weight loss is a symptom of diseases, such as hepatitis, cancer or inflammatory processes in organs.

Diseases

The weakest points of toys are bones, teeth, digestive tract and eyes. Often they have to pull out baby teeth when the molars are already growing. These dogs also suffer from tartar, which causes tooth loss.

Small dogs often experience digestive disorders. These include diarrhea, the cause of which can be anything: allergies, poisoning, helminthiasis or infection. If diarrhea appears, the dog should not be fed all day; it only needs to be given water frequently. The next day you can feed with dietary products: boiled chicken, oatmeal. If your pet has bloody diarrhea or lethargy, you should immediately consult a veterinarian.

Health problems in toy dogs are often genetically determined. These include conjunctivitis. Your pet's eyes become watery and pus accumulates in them. The disease occurs against a background of weak immunity. Over time, small dogs develop vision problems. They may develop cataracts or retinal atrophy.

Toy terriers suffer from allergies. Dogs are allergic to certain foods, dander from other animals, dog cosmetics, or insect bites. It manifests itself with the following symptoms:

• the dog begins to carefully lick itself or rub against pieces of furniture, trying to relieve the itching;
• the skin peels off and dermatitis appears.

Allergies can be treated with antihistamines, but it is better to start treatment after consulting a doctor.

Toy owners note that toys often tremble all over their bodies. This is a physiological feature of the breed – an easily excitable nervous system. Dogs tremble when scared, when they want to go to the toilet, when they are lacking attention, or when they are cold. However, shaking can be a symptom of a serious illness, so you should contact your veterinarian to determine the cause of the fever. Over time, the dog owner can learn to determine why the pet is trembling.

If the dog was not purchased for breeding, it can be neutered. Castration will help avoid many problems:

• character becomes calmer;
• there will be no unpleasant smell from dog marks in the apartment;
• life expectancy increases;
• the risk of hormonal diseases is reduced.

If you provide dogs with good care, timely examinations and vaccinations, toy terriers live more than 20 years.

Learning ability

Russian Toy Terriers are highly trainable. They easily remember commands and execute them with ease. But they are also famous for their disobedience and the need for education.

Never overload your pet.

The following rules should be taken into account:

• the dog should not be allowed to growl at its owner;
• any aggression must be controlled by the owner and suppressed by voice command;
• the dog should enter the room only after you;
• he must sleep in his place - you should not allow the dog to spend the night with you, so that later he does not imagine himself to be in charge;
• If you constantly travel with your dog, then it would be best to teach him to spend the entire trip in a carrier.

Watchdog qualities also need to be developed - the dog should not be allowed to rush at everyone it meets. In general, according to a five-point system, dogs deserve a solid four in terms of trainability.

Russian Toy Terrier: description, photo, character, care, training

Excess weight: causes and treatment

When a Toy Terrier becomes overweight, the stress on fragile bones increases . The risk of heart and liver diseases increases. The risk of diabetes increases.

Examine the dog yourself. While standing, feel the sides and back of the animal. If the ribs and spine are weak or cannot be felt at all, then the toy is overweight.

Constipation, excessive sweating and shortness of breath also indicate excess weight..

Causes of obesity:

• Poor nutrition. Overeating is unacceptable. Toys may not feel the measure. Limit access to food, introduce 2 meals a day.
• Sedentary lifestyle. Even if the dog goes to the tray or on a diaper, arrange walks in the air.
• Malfunctions of the body.

What to do:

• Consult your veterinarian. If a disease is detected, he will prescribe a course of treatment.
• Stick to your diet. Do not feed toy from the table, reduce the portion size. Change the food to something special for overweight dogs.
• Increase your physical activity. Play with your dog, buy toys. Go for walks regularly. If you have a lot of excess weight, start gradually. At first, just walk 30 minutes a day. When the dog becomes easier, introduce running and games.

You will need to enter the dog’s parameters, activity level and find out the number. The calorie content of one serving is usually indicated on the package; if eating natural foods, calculate the number of calories manually, for example, using a mobile application and scales.

Meeting height and weight standards is required to participate in shows . If you don’t plan to visit them, then don’t exhaust your dog in pursuit of the ideal. The most important thing for a toy terrier is the care of the owner.

Follow the basic rules - meals 2 times a day, no handouts from the table, physical activity and regular monitoring by a veterinarian.

Read more detailed information about caring for a toy terrier here.

Rules and exceptions to the rules

Standards state that an adult representative of the Russian Toy Terrier breed should weigh no more than 3 kg. Females tend to be a little more massive than males due to the fact that they have to bear offspring. The difference in weight is about 500 g. Mini-toys have a standard weight of 1.8 kg.

However, even within the same variety there can be differences in weight. After all, weight is adjusted due to the following factors:

• the puppy's activity level and lifestyle;
• food that the owner chose to feed the pet;
• individual structure of the body;
• the dimensions of the parents.

So, a stocky toy terrier with massive paws will weigh much more than its thin relative. If a dog does not like to go for walks and constantly lies on the sofa at home, it will soon begin to suffer from obesity.

Important! Even if the dog does not want to go outside at all, it is necessary to accustom it to walks and games in the fresh air. Such outings will keep your pet's muscles toned and teach him to be energetic and active.

Toy terrier walking on a leash

Excess weight

If, during the next weight measurement, the owner notices a significant upward deviation from the table indicators, this may indicate obesity of the four-legged animal. In addition to being overweight, obesity is indicated by:

• the dog gets tired quickly and does not want to walk for a long time;
• severe sweating and shortness of breath;
• heat intolerance;
• constipation

The Toy Terrier is fat and no longer looks like the usual miniature puppy. Appears:

• saggy belly;
• fat folds on the buttocks, back, thighs;
• a fatty layer on the chest, due to which the ribs and spine cannot be felt.

Fat toy terrier

What causes excess weight?

There are several factors that need to be neutralized to prevent obesity from occurring. This:

• disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system;
• failure of the nervous system;
• inactive lifestyle;
• very rare forays into fresh air;
• poor nutrition.

The Toy Terrier must eat properly

What to do about an obese pet?

If extra pounds do appear, first of all you need to pay attention to your pet’s diet:

1. You cannot give food from the table every time the puppy asks. Every day you need to include meat, cereals, vegetables, fruits and kefir/cottage cheese in your diet.
2. A recovered pet should be put on a diet low in fat and carbohydrates.
3. Increase the level of physical activity: take the puppy outside more often, make him run. You can buy or build an obstacle course in your yard for your dog to play with.

You can read more about your pet's diet here .

In addition, you should visit a veterinarian for prevention. In some cases, obesity may be a warning sign of a more serious condition.

Visit to the veterinary clinic

Weight deficiency: causes and how to deal with it?

Being underweight is no less dangerous than being obese. If your toy terrier has significant deviations from the standard weight downward, you need to contact a veterinarian. Before visiting a doctor, preventive measures are taken to remove parasites from the dog’s body. You can try to increase the number of meals, check the composition of the food and make sure its quality. If necessary, select another specialized food.

Lean toy terrier

Attitude towards children

Russian Toy Terriers get along well with children, provided the dog is raised properly. They are always very sociable and playful, which children really like. Toi will not be able to attack or harm a child due to its size, but it is not worth leaving them alone, especially if the child is very small. It is not the dog, but the child who can cause harm by accidentally injuring the pet, because toy terriers are very “fragile” animals. You can have a toy even if you have small children, but the dog needs to be trained so that it knows its place and rights. The toy terrier deserves a solid C in its friendliness with children on a five-point scale.

Stages of development

It is very important for any dog ​​owner to know the correct rate and duration of growth of the pet, as well as how the proportions change in each individual time period.

Until what age is a dog considered a puppy? Here are the main stages of dog development:

• embryonic (while the embryo is in the womb);
• suckling (begins immediately after birth and lasts approximately 30-45 days);
• puppies (from one and a half months to six months);
• young animals (from six months to a year);
• young individuals (from one to two and a half years).

Attention! The most important foundations are laid during the prenatal period and during feeding.

At this time, the greatest acceleration of growth occurs. For example, the weight of an embryo on the fortieth day of a mother’s pregnancy can be about several grams, while a puppy emerges with a weight of 300g or more. up to 600g. In total, we have an increase in weight literally hundreds of times.

After birth, within a month, the cub increases its weight approximately five to six times.

At this age, the puppy already has all the typical signs of its breed, appearance, proportionality of the skull, ears, coat color, as well as bright constitutional features characteristic of the breed.

Males and females also differ in appearance. When the puppy reaches one month, the baby is weaned from mother's milk.

After three months, the growth rate decreases, although it remains at a fairly high level. And upon reaching the age of 6 months, the pet can no longer be considered a puppy, but transferred to the conditional category “young animals”.

Vaccination

Vaccinate the puppy no earlier than after 2 - 2.5 months.

1. The first vaccination is carried out in two stages with an interval of 7-10 days.
2. At the age of 6 - 6.5 months, the next vaccination is carried out with the drug "Biovac", which contains weakened bacteria from 18 pathogens. Because of this, it is considered the most difficult for a dog.
3. 21 days after this drug, vaccination against rabies is carried out.

Further vaccinations should be done once a year throughout the pet’s life.

What to feed a puppy for growth?

A balanced and properly formulated diet is of greatest importance. It is better to draw up a feeding regimen together with a specialist. It is imperative to take into account the characteristics of the breed, size and physiology.

In the period from one and a half to three months, the puppy needs quite frequent feeding: about six times a day. Gradually, the number of feedings should be reduced to four, and after two months to three times.

When the puppy reaches six months, he is transferred to two feedings a day, morning and evening.

It is worth noting that after six months, puppies are actively gaining muscle mass, so they need sufficient amounts of protein, calcium and vitamins.

So, for 1 kg of weight you need:

• nine grams of protein;
• two and a half grams of fat;
• fourteen grams of sugar and starch;
• one and a half grams of fiber;
• five hundred milligrams of calcium;
• as well as vitamins A, D and E.

What to feed a puppy for growth?
There are two types of feeding: natural food and factory feed. Pet food at the premium level and above has quite great advantages. For example, they contain all the necessary macro- and microelements, vitamins, and are fully balanced for a specific breed, age and characteristics of the dog.

If the puppy eats natural food, then follow the general recommendations.

Important! Salty, smoked, fatty, and spicy foods are prohibited for dogs.

Raw meat is given with caution, as it may be contaminated with helminths. You should completely exclude flour, sausages and various sweets from your diet!

All this is poison for the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Her teeth may become damaged and her eyes will water. Small bones that can pierce the esophagus or stomach are dangerous.

It is recommended to adhere to a certain feeding schedule and accustom the puppy to it from a very early age.

It is extremely important to meet your dog's water needs. So, for one kilogram of weight you need to give from forty to one hundred milliliters of water.

A properly balanced diet and sufficient intake of minerals even affects the development of the dog’s skeleton. A tendency to pathology of the skeletal system is more common in large breed dogs, such as the German Shepherd, St. Bernard, and Labrador Retriever.

Thus, scientists studied the effect of nutrition on the growth process and identified two main factors:

• overfeeding;
• excessive calcium intake.

It follows from this: it is extremely important to maintain a balance of this mineral in food, since an increase in the rate of calcium intake causes deviations in cartilage tissue, and a reduced intake increases the risks of developing a weak skeleton and an increase in the incidence of fractures.

Feeding

Despite the fact that the Russian Toy Terrier is a miniature dog and does not need large portions of food, its diet must still contain all the necessary nutrients and minerals.

Adult dogs

Feeding rules:

• main meals: twice a day - in the morning and after an evening walk;
• It is allowed to pamper your pet with a treat in the middle of the day (dog biscuit, leather bone);
• calculation of the daily diet: 50–80 grams of food per 1 kg of animal weight;
• when calculating daily feeding, the dog’s lifestyle is taken into account: older and inactive people require less food than young and active people or pregnant women;
• food should be at room temperature;
• The water is certainly raw, but filtered.

Daily diet:

• meat: lamb, veal, raw beef;
• poultry: boiled turkey and chicken (boneless);
• sea ​​fish - boiled fillet;
• porridge: oatmeal, buckwheat, rice (with water);
• fermented milk products: low-fat cottage cheese, kefir, fermented baked milk;
• vegetables (carrots are required) - fresh (grated on a fine grater), stewed, boiled (without salt);
• fruits: bananas and apples are especially useful.

Weekly (no more than once):

Boiled eggs;

• offal: heart, kidneys, liver;
• corn porridge.

Contraindicated products:

• milk;
• sausage (any);
• smoked products;
• pork;
• nuts;
• legumes;
• sweets;
• bell pepper

If you prefer to feed your pet dry food, you will find the necessary instructions for this on the package. There is no universal guide for dry food, since different manufacturers have different compositions of nutrients included in them.

High-end ready-made food is produced by: Hills, Royal Canin, Orijen, Canidae, Eagle Pack. Please note that these companies produce food specifically for small dogs, some even by breed, as indicated on the packaging.

Puppies

Naturally, from the moment they are born, babies are fed exclusively with mother's milk. After three weeks, without removing the mother from the breast, small complementary foods are introduced. Additional food in the form of beef and low-fat cottage cheese is given in small peas - always warmed to room temperature - 3 times a day.

Menu from 6 to 8 weeks (feeding every 4 hours):

• 1 feeding: a ball of raw meat;
• 2 feeding: cottage cheese diluted with milk or kefir;
• 3 feeding: cottage cheese again;
• 4 feeding: porridge boiled in water - rice, oatmeal or buckwheat;
• 5 feeding: milk porridge;
• 6 feeding: a pea of ​​raw meat.

It is best for puppies to eat meat from the menu listed above, however, you should not exceed the recommended daily portion. There is a significant risk that she will continue to prefer only meat. Ignoring other foods will have a bad effect on his health and overall well-being.

The diet from two to five months remains the same, supplemented with vegetables and fruits. Meals are reduced to four times a day.

From five months, the feeding schedule is adjusted to three meals a day, and after nine months - to two meals a day, with the transition to the diet of adults.

It is extremely important to ensure that the baby receives the food it needs in full. Otherwise, this is fraught with improper development of the musculoskeletal system. This can be tracked quite simply: the puppy must be periodically felt - the ribs should not be noticeable, but they should be felt. If you deviate from this condition, you need to adjust the power supply, depending on which direction the slope goes.

Bitch after giving birth

If the bitch is unable to care for the puppies in the first few days (for example, after a caesarean section), you will have to imitate the actions of the dog by massaging the puppies' bellies with a warm, slightly damp cloth. A mother bitch coming off anesthesia, especially if she is a first-time mother, may be somewhat shocked by the appearance of puppies underneath her, and may become quite nervous when the small newborn puppies begin to crawl over her extremely painful belly. Therefore, when the bitch finally comes to her senses, return the puppies to her one at a time and observe her reaction before introducing the remaining puppies to her. If she has had a litter before, she will most likely take them under her and will look after them normally even despite the stitch on her belly. However, a bitch who has become a mother for the first time will behave a little more warily, so sit next to her at all times. It will be good if you have an assistant to make your task easier. The point is that if the mother is restless, she needs your constant presence for several days and nights.

You can walk away for a minute and return to find that the bitch, for example, has licked and chewed off part of the umbilical cord along with the peritoneum, or has calmly chewed off the heads or limbs of her puppies. This is rather a rare and atypical behavior for a mother bitch, but you need to know about it and be prepared for it. You can also keep the puppies in the first 24 hours after a caesarean section in a box with a heating pad next to the bitch and place the puppies only for feeding. If the dog shows no interest in puppies at all, it may be sick. Call a doctor without delay.

How to choose?

If you decide to purchase a toy terrier puppy, then you should do this no earlier and no later than eight weeks after birth .

Why is it so important to stick to these deadlines? The fact is that at this age the puppy will already have acquired certain habits that will be very difficult to re-educate. It will also not be possible to adopt a puppy before this time, since he will still be dependent on his mother due to the fact that his baby teeth have not yet erupted and he will not yet be able to eat on his own.

Attention ! A puppy offered for sale must be branded and, if it is already two months old, must be vaccinated.

Before buying a puppy, you must clearly define the purpose for which you are buying it.

Whether it’s visiting exhibitions with a pet or just a pet. Based on the purpose of purchasing an animal, you can determine the criteria for its selection.

If you decide to get a toy terrier to perform at various exhibitions, then it is important to find a serious and responsible breeder who has puppies in factory or exhibition condition. If this is your pet, there is no particular need to choose a show animal.

Let's take a closer look at the criteria by which you need to choose a puppy.

Health

This is the most important thing to pay attention to. It is very easy to recognize a healthy puppy . He will be curious, playful, cheerful. If you find just such an animal, it means that everything is in order with its health.

A puppy's behavior like this would be a bad signal: he wags his tail, but does not show much interest in strangers, avoids them and barks. This is a possible signal about problems with his health.

You can try to come at another time and look at the baby’s reaction again; if it remains unchanged, then it is better to look for another breeder.

Floor

Male puppies and female puppies have a number of positive and negative qualities . For example, a male dog will look more impressive at an exhibition. And bitches are characterized by a calmer character. In addition, they are easier to train and educate. Males, in turn, are more conflict-ridden and stubborn.

Another significant problem will be that uncastrated individuals mark everything and it is not always possible to solve this problem by castration.

When does a toy terrier stop growing?

Dogs that are small breeds grow very quickly. The rapid development in growth ends from five to nine months. A more precise definition depends on the breed and personality of each individual. Basically, active growth and development of puppies occurs up to six months. Large breed dogs continue to grow and develop after a year, although the growth rate is much lower.

The health of the future puppy begins inside the mother's womb. Responsibility for the growth and development of the baby after birth falls on the breeders. So, the baby should be taken from healthy parents of this breed and a responsible breeder.

Well, then you take a puppy and, as a new owner, are responsible for it.

The first six months of a four-legged friend’s life are characterized not only by an increase in height and weight, but also by a change of teeth. At the same time, tubular bones grow and are finally formed, the correct development of which affects the proportions of the animal’s body.

After six months, the toy's growth begins to slow down, and he still gains weight. The period of up to a year is characterized by intensive development of the chest, as active growth of flat bones occurs.

How long does it take for mini toy terriers to grow?

You will be surprised how many months it takes toy terriers to grow, including mini toy terriers. The accelerated growth of a miniature dog stops at four to five months. It is worth noting that as a puppy grows, its brain activity also develops actively. A four-month-old toy terrier puppy is not inferior in mental development to an adult.

Let us immediately make a reservation that these data are averaged, since the growth and formation of the animal is significantly influenced by the dog’s diet, the conditions in which it is kept, its care, training and education. Special attention should be paid to proper nutrition during the period of growing up and the formation of the body and ensure that proteins and vitamins are present in food. Excessive loads during training or, conversely, a sedentary lifestyle of the terrier contribute to the destruction of bone tissue that has not yet fully formed, which will subsequently lead to diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

But first of all, normal development, including growth, is possible only in the absence of genetic predispositions to diseases.

Important Details

• If you plan to breed Toy Terriers, you should buy a female weighing at least 1.8 kg. A dog with less weight will not have a chance to bear healthy offspring;
• It is important to remember that toy terriers, especially toy terriers, are very fragile animals. They must be treated with the utmost care;
• Toy Terriers need training, but you shouldn’t overexert your pets. Due to heavy loads, bone tissue that has not yet formed may begin to collapse;

Toy Terrier training

• To completely eliminate the risk of disease in the future, when purchasing a pet, make sure that they do not have a genetic predisposition to any dangerous diseases.

Character

The little toy terrier is a smart dog that can be raised and trained. Usually dogs easily remember their nicknames, unless, of course, the owner thinks of giving the dog a name that is difficult to remember. When thinking about what to name your pet, remember that the dog's name should be simple and consistent with its character. Training a toy terrier involves teaching the animal several simple commands such as “Sit”, “No”, “Fu”. According to owners' reviews, the dog should be trained from six months.

Toy is a dog with a friendly and sociable character. If there are children in the house, the toy will be happy to play all the games offered with them, and he will get along great with adults. The toy will make friends with other pets if it grows up with them. An active and energetic dog, due to its character, is ready to accompany its owner everywhere, showing its love for him. A small dog has a hard time being alone, so if you are a busy person, consider a different breed.

Do not forget that your tiny pet, by nature and the call of nature, is a hunter. This is a brave dog that is always ready to defend its owner. This terrier, although not very tall, is a good watchman of the house where he lives. His ringing bark will certainly be heard as soon as a stranger appears in the house.

There is an opinion that he is an aggressive dog. This negative character trait can appear in a dog due to lack of upbringing. The dog should set “frameworks” in behavior beyond which it is not allowed to go. She should not jump or bark at strangers at her own discretion and should not climb into hands whenever she pleases. A well-trained dog must “know its place.”

When do puppies' teeth change?

In Toy Terrier puppies, teething begins to change at 4–6 months, and by the age of one year, all of the dog’s milk teeth fall out. The owner can speed up this process if he manually loosens the teeth every day.

As a rule, incisors change at five months, canines change at 5–7 months, premolars at 4–6 months, and molars at 4–7 months.

This period in a dog’s life puts quite a lot of stress on the body. Milk teeth with large roots may not fall out for quite a long time, causing significant discomfort to the animal. At this time, the dog may be lethargic, have no appetite , and even the ears, which are already confidently erect, may droop again.

Important: Poor dental care can lead to the development of malocclusion. Dogs with such a defect face disqualification from the exhibition if it is a show class dog.

It is possible to remove baby teeth in a clinic, but there are a number of disadvantages. If the operation was performed under general anesthesia, it may take a long time for the dog to recover from it; subsequently, such methods of anesthesia cause harm to the dog’s body.

When a dog's teeth are forming, under no circumstances should the puppy be given hard objects or bones to chew on, or allowed to play with sticks, and it is also not recommended to vaccinate the puppy until the process is completed.

The main thing to remember is that the pet’s health will depend entirely on the owner. An animal that is surrounded by attention and care will always look great. And most importantly, in return you will receive a devoted friend!