The brown color of Toy Terriers is not considered rare, but it all depends on its shade, as well as the presence of tan or white markings.
Brown and tan dogs are more common than pure brown or, for example, reddish brown.
In any case, this color of the pet’s coat will emphasize its small size and grace, because the chocolate toy terrier looks cute and almost like a toy.
Origin story
The first dogs of this color appeared in the second half of the 20th century, when decorative dog breeding was revived in the country..
The fact is that in the 1920-1950s, keeping a small dog in the house was not only indecent, but also served as indirect evidence of the unreliability of its owner.
But since the mid-1950s, domestic dog handlers, having come to the conclusion that it was extremely difficult to keep a service dog as a companion in a city apartment, began breeding a medium-sized breed of dogs similar to English toy terriers, the number of which by that time in the country was minimal.
Brown puppies were born in the first litters of a new breed variety . They began to appear at shows in the 1970s and almost immediately became as popular as the black and tan toy.
Video “Toy Terrier Colors”
From this video you will learn what colors toy terriers are.
The Toy Terrier is a decorative dog that has won the hearts of city residents.
Today, increasingly at social events, famous personalities appear in the company of these funny creatures.
Toy terriers are regaining the glory of salon dogs that originally belonged to them since the 18th century, when they were regulars in the living rooms of aristocrats.
The custom of keeping charming little ones in the house came to Russia along with the fashion for everything English.
The breed was bred in England for purely pragmatic purposes for hunting rats.
The attractive appearance and miniature size of terrier dogs appealed to noble people, and the dogs gradually turned into decorative ones.
Marriage or breed?
Brown and tan or tan are specified in the breed standard and are not considered a defect.
Pure brown is almost never found in dogs of this breed and, as a rule, it only looks like that, whereas in fact it is brown and tan with blurry or indistinct tan..
Small white markings on the toes or chest of brown and tan or tan dogs are not a fault, but are considered a fault.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“Brown toy terriers have long ceased to be a rarity. True pure chocolate coloring is rare in these dogs, but brown and tan toy terriers are very popular nowadays. They are no different from the black and tan dogs, which have long been considered the standard of the breed: they are just as energetic, active and playful. And the interesting colors, reminiscent of one of the shades of bitter or milk chocolate, make brown toy terriers very attractive and impressive in appearance."
Types of colors
- Brown and tan . It is already considered a classic, especially if we are talking about a long-haired toy terrier. It is characterized by the main color of one of the brownish shades with lighter tan marks of a reddish color.
- Chocolate . True chocolate color in the Russian Toy Terrier is very rare. This color is considered a color defect and puts the dog out of breed. If a pet that appears completely brown has at least a hint of tan, then such a dog is already considered a standard brown and tan.
- Red with brown . With this color, the base of the hair is colored red, and the rest of it is brown in various shades. If almost the entire hair is pigmented brown, then this color can look almost chocolate.
- Brown with white markings . It is considered not defective, although undesirable, only if the white markings are barely noticeable and are present only on the tips of the fingers and chest.
If a dog that appears pure brown has at least a few fawn hairs in place of the tan marks, then the animal should be considered brown and tan.
Photo of what it looks like
The brown shade of the coat, which is also called chocolate, in a toy terrier can vary in intensity and brightness: from dark brown, the color of dark chocolate, to very light, the color of coffee with milk.
The presence of a chocolate-colored coat in an animal is due to the fact that instead of the black eumelanin pigment, it synthesizes brown.
This also determines the chocolate color of the paw pads and the color of the nose, which usually coincides with the main shade of the coat.
The intensity of tan has nothing to do with the synthesis of eumelanin and is determined by the influence of completely different genes, and therefore a light chocolate Toy may well have a very bright and rich brownish-red tan, while a dark brown dog may have a pale fawn tan.
Signs of aging
One of the most common signs of an aging dog, according to owners, is teeth falling out. However, in a Toy Terrier, the process of tooth loss is not associated with old age, but with genetics.
To understand that your pet is actually aging, you should know the following:
- his vision and hearing are deteriorating;
- he becomes lethargic and inactive;
- gray hair appears on the coat;
- the dog sleeps often.
If you notice any of the above in your toy, it means it’s time to take him to the veterinarian for checkups more often. And as a conclusion: love your pet, take care of it, and it will have a long life!
Advantages and disadvantages
pros:
- Attractive, sweet appearance.
- You can even keep it in a one-room apartment.
- They do not require complex care.
- You don't have to take them outside in bad weather if the pet knows how to use a litter box or diaper.
- They get along well with other dogs and with older children.
- Energetic, cheerful and playful.
- They are distinguished by their devotion to the owner.
- You can take them with you on trips.
Minuses:
- Like all terriers, they can be stubborn and headstrong.
- May be hyperactive.
- If improperly raised, they can be aggressive towards strangers and other people's dogs.
- Not suitable as companions for children under 10-11 years of age.
- Needs careful handling.
- They get cold already in cool weather.
- They need an individual approach during training.
Brown toy terriers are monogamous . They usually choose only one owner in the family, to whom they become truly attached.
Proper nutrition
Toy terriers are not picky dogs, but you can’t feed them just anything - this will cause problems with the gastrointestinal tract. An unbalanced diet often increases the risk of developing obesity, diabetes and other similar diseases.
Your pet's diet should be rich in all essential nutrients. The basis should be proteins - lean meat, fish. It is important that your diet includes porridge from a variety of cereals. In addition, your food must include vegetables and unsweetened fruits (in no case citrus fruits!).
Important! It is necessary to feed the dog strictly on time. The portion should be appropriate for the size of the dog. It is important to remember that puppies eat less, but more often, and adult animals - the opposite.
Toys should not be overfed, but lack of food will also negatively affect the pet’s condition. If you plan to use ready-made dry food for feeding, you should consult with your veterinarian in advance and choose the most suitable option.
You cannot feed your dog food from the table. Sweets, baked goods, smoked meats and fried foods are excluded from the diet. As a treat, you can give your dog a small piece of cheese or fruit.
It is important to treat your dog against blood-sucking insects in a timely manner.
Dimensions, weight and other distinctive features
The height of these dogs is from 20 to 28 cm at the withers, and their weight is up to 3 kg. Moreover, females are usually larger than males.
IMPORTANT!
Toy terriers are distinguished by their lightness of bones and apparent fragility of build, but in fact they are agile and active animals with such qualities as courage and perseverance.
The body format is square, the muscles are weakly expressed, appearing angular.
The head is quite rounded, but at the same time light, wedge-shaped. The occipital protuberance and brow ridges are weakly expressed, the forehead is quite wide and convex.
The stop is pronounced, the muzzle is light, rather dry, slightly tapering towards the nose. The length of the muzzle is usually equal to 1/3 of the total length of the head.
The ears are erect , set high and rather thin, shaped like an isosceles triangle . In long-haired individuals, they are usually covered with grooming hair.
The nose is brown, usually matching the base color.
The pigmentation of the eyelids and lips is brown, the paw pads also have a chocolate tint.
The eyes are rather bulging and brownish.
The neck is not too arched, rather long, with flat muscles . The withers are weakly expressed. The chest is deep, but not wide.
The line of the back is slightly sloping, turning into a rather rounded, slightly sloping croup. The belly is tucked in, forming a clearly defined curve.
The limbs are straight and parallel, with sufficiently developed, but not too pronounced muscles, while the hind limbs are slightly pulled back.
The tail can be of natural length or docked at a distance of 2-3 vertebrae . The undocked tail reaches the hocks and is quite thin.
According to the standard, only two types of wool are allowed: smooth-haired and long-haired.
The short coat consists of a close-lying, smooth and shiny spine. Longhaired Toy Terriers have a smooth or slightly wavy coat, reaching from 3 to 5 cm in length and forming feathering on the ears and the back of the limbs.
Advantages of a Yorkie
The advantage of the Yorkshire Terrier is its outfit - a shiny, long, silky, thin coat that hangs evenly on both sides of the body. The coat is usually blue-silver on the tail and body. The chest and head are golden tan in color, often turning golden cream. There are other colors where the predominant color is black rather than silver-blue. The fur looks expressive, where only rich fiery and black colors are combined. Small puppies are always black, with only small red spots on their paws and face. Over time, the color changes.
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Life expectancy and health
On average, toy terriers live 11-16 years, and their life expectancy very much depends on heredity, quality of maintenance and care.
Brown Toy Terriers may be predisposed to the following diseases:
- Cataract
- Retinal atrophy
- Congenital dislocation of the kneecap
- Oral and dental diseases
It should be remembered that these dogs must be protected from injury, as they have very fragile and light bones..
Basic rules of care
It is enough to brush the coat of a smooth-haired pet once a week with a brush for short-haired dogs.
The long-haired Toy needs to be combed more often, while sorting out the hair in the areas of feathering on the ears and paws with a metal comb with rounded teeth.
Read more about caring for the coat of long-haired Toys here.
NOTE!
Ears and eyes should be examined every day, but only cleaned when they become dirty. Nails are shortened once every 15 days in puppies and once a month in adult animals.
Plaque, if the dog does not get rid of it by itself while gnawing on special treats or toys, is removed with a toothbrush for animals with a paste applied to it, also intended for dogs.
The toy terrier's coat is not inclined to collect dust and dirt, and it does not emit a dog odor, therefore, wash a pet of this breed only if it gets dirty in a very sticky or “fragrant”.
Yorkshire Terrier
The appearance of the Yorkshire Terrier is definitely fabulous, even somehow unearthly. Every Yorkie owner supports the divine beauty of their pet. Caring for such a friend requires special care; it is akin to an entire art.
The small head is slightly flattened on top, the cute medium-sized muzzle is decorated with silky hair. Through its thick cover, eyes can be seen like black beads. The erect ears are V-shaped, perfect hearing captures all sounds. As soon as he hears something wrong, the terrier immediately makes his forebodings known with a loud, warning bark.
The front paws are covered with fur, round, the toes touch tightly, black claws also require special care. All movements of the Yorkie are frisky and fast, which precisely defines the common character traits of all terriers. The tail is located above the level of the back; at an early age it is docked at half its length. When a dog is in a good mood, she always holds her tail up.
How to choose?
Before purchasing, you need to decide what class of pet you need: a show pet or just a pet?
In the first case, it is necessary to be especially careful about the origin of the dog and whether its parents have show titles. It will also be necessary to study the breed standard.
This will help you choose the most promising puppy in the litter, who can subsequently grow into a champion of the breed and its improver.
A domestic quality puppy may not meet the strict requirements of the standard a little: for example, he may have a white mark on his forehead, which gives him a special charm, but makes it impossible to participate in shows. In any case, regardless of what class the future pet belongs to, it must be healthy, active and cheerful.
And, also regardless of exhibition prospects, a small toy terrier must have a birth certificate and a veterinary passport with records of vaccinations given.
When choosing a chocolate toy terrier puppy with intercalated perspectives, you need to remember that a rich and bright base coat color with a clearly defined, contrasting tan color of reddish-brown is especially appreciated.
The brown toy terrier, thanks to its coloring, reminiscent of one of the shades of chocolate or dark caramel, looks cute and elegant at the same time.
The chocolate color, which until recently was considered rare, has now become quite common among dogs of this breed. Whether the brown background is complemented with tan or not will determine whether it will be acceptable or non-standard.
But, regardless of the color of the coat and whether it has a tan or not, the brown toy terrier will become a faithful and devoted friend and companion to the person who decides to get such a pet.
