At the beginning of the 20th century, a breed of decorative dogs, toy terriers, was popular in Russia. By the middle of the century, interest in them had diminished, and the number of representatives of this breed approached a critical level. However, Russian cynologists took up the development of the breed, and after a certain time a long-haired toy terrier appeared. Today, these cute pets are among the most popular all over the world.
Differences and similarities between the toy terrier and the Prague rat
Externally, these breeds are quite similar. But experienced dog breeders can easily distinguish them. But lovers and owners of pets of other species often confuse them.
The height of a ratlik (ratlik) is 18-23 cm, and a toy terrier is 28 cm. The first has large bones and weighs 2.6 kg. Toy – up to 3 kg.
The toy's ears are erect and set high, while the rat's ears are wide and at a slight angle to each other. The ratlik's muzzle is longer.
The top of the toy terrier gradually descends from the withers to the very tail; the rat dog has a straight back.
Accepted standard
The peculiarity of the breed is the compact size of the dog and thin bones. This is an elegant dog with long legs, whose weight does not exceed 3 kg, and the height at the withers barely reaches 28 cm.
Description of the breed standard :
- rounded head;
- prominent forehead;
- thin, triangular ears;
- weak cheekbones;
- a small nose, whose shade matches the color of the coat;
- square body format;
- Long neck;
- rounded loin and croup;
- legs are straight, with well-developed muscles;
- the hips are wide, but with weakly defined joints;
- the tail has a sickle shape, which is often docked;
- sexual characteristics are poorly expressed.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
A toy is a small pet with a small muzzle and large erect ears. This gives the impression that the pet is fragile, which is true, but only partly. In fact, the dog has well-developed muscles, and its body resembles a miniature Doberman. A distinctive feature of the long-haired Toy Terrier is the long locks and tassels that beautifully frame the ears. Smooth-haired toy terriers do not have this feature.
Characteristics of the Toy Terrier
Modern representatives of the Toy Terrier breed are small, long-legged dogs, curious, active, with an intelligent look. The animal is easy to train, but is not suitable for replacing service or hunting dogs.
The dog can be kept in an apartment and travel together.
The Toy Terrier's height is 20-28 cm, and its weight is 2-3 kg. The colors are black, blue, brown and tan, red, and has no spots, since this breed does not have a marble color.
The long-haired toy is distinguished by a small hairy coat (length - 3-5 cm), which requires daily care - combing.
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On the page below we will help you understand the main colors of Russian Toys (Toy Terriers) using the example of PHOTOS of puppies of different colors.
Absolutely all standard Toychik colors can be found in both smooth-haired and long-haired varieties. However, there are colors that are rarer or, conversely, more common.
3 classic colors of the Russian Toy - Red-brown, Black-and-tan and Brown-tan
A short introduction: Once upon a time, just starting to get acquainted with our beautiful breed, I also paid great attention to the color of the “skin”. I liked the noble gray shade of lilac and tan toys, which were still very rare back then. I liked the “chocolates” (brown and tan toys). But in addition to color, I also looked at the exterior and character - the latter ultimately outweighed. And it was a very right choice, I tell you!
Now, years later, I sincerely advise all newcomers to the breed and not only those who seek help in choosing a puppy or for advice, never to put “skin color” as a priority in choosing a living creature, companion, friend, or even sire!
So, the colors of Russian toys (toy terriers):
Black and tan, brown and tan, blue and tan, lilac and tan, red and black, red and blue, red, fawn, red and brown, red and lilac, cream. Nose to match color
And now in more detail and with illustrations (photos)
*The photo shows purebred Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppies from the Blueberry Knights kennel and friends of the kennel
1.Tan colors
The first group includes all variations with the prefix “tan”, that is, the main color with red markings on the face, paws, chest and under the tail.
- Black and tan color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - black dogs with red “tan” markings on the face, paws, chest and under the tail
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired black and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired black and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired black and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long haired black and tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired black and tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired black and tan
- Brown and tan color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - brown dogs with red “tan” markings on the face, paws, chest and under the tail
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired brown and tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired brown and tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired brown and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired brown and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired brown and tan
- The blue and tan color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) is a silver-gray dog with red “tan” markings on the face, paws, chest and under the tail.
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired blue and tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired blue and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired blue and tan
- The lilac-and-tan color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) is a dog with steel-colored fur with red “tan” markings on the face, paws, chest and under the tail.
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired lilac-tan
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired lilac-tan
Longhaired lilac and tan Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy The
lilac and tan and blue and tan color variations are “weakened”, that is, a special gene makes black dogs blue and brown dogs lilac. These colors have their own specifics, and those wishing to purchase such a puppy should weigh the pros and cons.
Color comparison: from left to right brown and tan, blue and tan and lilac and tan puppy
2. Solid colors
The second group of “solid” colors includes essentially all possible variations of RED. A red dog can be very light, the color of baked milk - this shade is called cream (with a brown nose) or fawn (with a black nose), or it can be bright red, or red with a touch of brown or black.
- Red-brown color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - Red dogs of varying brightness with a brown nose, dark brown eyes, brown claws and paw pads.
Red-brown Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired Red-brown Russian Toy (Toy-Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired
Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired red-brown Red-brown Russian Toy (Toy-Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired
Red-brown Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
Red-brown Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppies, smooth-haired Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, long-haired, red and brown
Red-brown long-haired Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy
- Red or Red with black color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - Red dogs of varying brightness with a darker coating on the body of varying intensity or without it (pure red color), black nose, black eyes, black claws and paw pads.
Red and black Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
Pure Red Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) long-haired puppy
Puppy for Sale Red and black Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) long-haired puppy Red and black Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) long-haired puppy
Red and black Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
- Fawn color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - Light red, sometimes almost white puppies with a dark nose, eyes and paw pads
Fawn Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
Fawn Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
- Cream color Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - Light red, sometimes almost white puppies with brown nose, eyes and paw pads
Cream Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
Cream Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) smooth-haired puppy
- Red-lilac, Red-blue, Isabella, fawn-lilac, fawn-blue color of the Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) - Red or Light red, sometimes almost white puppies with eyes and nose to match the color (see lilac-tan and blue and tan)
Red-blue Russian Toy (Toy Terrier) puppy, smooth-haired
Numerous variations of red colors, from red with black to cream, actually differ from each other only in the names in the pedigree, brightness and color of the nose.
3. What color do toys NOT come in?
Having examined the standard colors, I would like to pay special attention to the colors OUTSIDE THE STANDARD.
Some of them are sometimes born from two parents with pedigrees and breeding scores of quite standard colors. Such puppies are sold exclusively as pets, but they, if the puppy's metrics are present, are without a doubt Russian Toys. These colors outside the breed standard include:
- solid black (no tan at all)
- solid brown (no tan at all)
- solid lilac or blue (no tan at all)
Other colors can NEVER be obtained from two purebred dogs, with pedigrees and breeding scores. They can ONLY be obtained through crossbreeding , that is, mating purebred dogs with dogs of other breeds, or dogs without documents at all.
These colors include MERLE (marble) and BRIDGE.
Don't be fooled! Purebred Russian Toys of such colors cannot exist genetically!
These colors are quite popular in other breeds and unscrupulous breeders, in the wake of popularity, create such an “exclusive” and sell mestizos under the guise of purebred puppies. Some of them talk about alternative clubs and are even ready to show some pedigrees. But you need to understand that the Russian Toy breed was created and recognized in the RKF-FCI system. And there is only one recognized breed standard (LINK=>) . Merle and brindle colors did not exist in the breed from its creation until final recognition in 2022, and they do not exist today.
You must understand that when purchasing a mestizo, you cannot guarantee to receive any breed characteristics of the Russian Toy.
But it is not only the way the color appears in the breed that makes the merle not very desirable for most breeders. Improper breeding of this color leads to the appearance of extremely sick and non-viable dogs!
For those wishing to purchase these “exclusive” colors, I would like to recommend considering other breeds.
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