Russian toy terrier is an needle in a velvet case. Small, up to 3 kilograms in weight, graceful, with huge ears and bead-like eyes. It seems like a fragile decorative dog for glamorous ladies. But those who have lived with a toy terrier know: inside this tiny body beats the heart of a real terrier. Ambitious, fearless to the point of recklessness, possessive, and loud. The psychological type of the Russian toy is a mix of a titan in a pocket and a neurotic on a leash. Let's figure out what's in his head.

Brief history: from a ratcatcher to a sofa lion

Russian toy is a young breed. Bred in the USSR in the 1950-60s from small dogs brought in after the war. There were few English toys in Russia, so breeders took small terriers and pincers as the basis. The goal was a small dog for an apartment, but with a character. And it turned out.

Until the 1990s, the breed was called "Russian toy terrier". Then "terrier" was removed, but the psychological type remained. Now officially — Russian toy (smooth-coated and long-coated). But old cynologists still call them terriers, and not without reason.

The ancestors of the toy were rat and rodent hunters. Therefore, in their genes — a guard instinct, territoriality, aggression to strangers (for such a size), and a wild reaction.

General psychological portrait

Russian toy is an extrovert with a tendency to hysteria. He loves to be in the center of attention. If you sit on the sofa, he is next to you. If you go to the kitchen, he follows you. If you come home, he greets you with such a yelp of joy as if you had just returned from space.

The toy is very attached. Often to one owner, less often — to all family members. He will follow you at your heels, sleep in your bed, lie on your lap while you work. He cannot stand loneliness. If you leave him alone for 8 hours, he will howl, bark, chew things, may even make a mess from despair. This is not mischief, this is panic.

The toy is brave. Yes, he knows he is small, but he doesn't care. He will jump on a shepherd to protect his bowl. He will bark at a guest who seems suspicious to him. He may bite your finger if you try to take away a forbidden treat. Sometimes this bravery turns into aggression. Without education, the toy turns into a tiny tyrant who is feared not only by neighbors but also by mailmen.

The toy is sensitive. If you scold him, he may pout and not come near for an hour. If you hit (God forbid), he will either freeze in fear or start defending himself. The psyche of the toy is delicate, and rudeness breaks it quickly.

Toy terrier and family: pros and cons

Pros: he is incredibly loyal. You won't get lost in a criminal area — he will warn you with a bark about the approach of a stranger. He is compact, you can take him in a bag and travel (in an airplane — in a container). He does not require complex care (smooth-coated ones only need to be wiped). He is fun, loves to play, jump, run after a ball.

Cons: he barks a lot and loudly. For any reason. A noise behind the door, a passerby under the window, another dog, a vacuum cleaner, a hair dryer, a child running by. This can drive you crazy. The second drawback is jealousy. The toy will not tolerate you petting another dog or cat. He will push you, bite your legs, scream. The third drawback is fragility. Small children may accidentally crush the toy or drop it. Therefore, it is better not to keep a toy with children under 6-7 years old.

The fourth drawback is that he is often aggressive to other animals. He is afraid of large dogs, but barks at them from a distance. He considers small ones (hamsters, rats, birds) as prey. He may chase cats. If the cat is adult and strong, the toy may get a beating and be injured.

The fifth drawback is that he is prone to cold. In winter, he needs clothes and short walks. And in summer — overheating. This does not prevent his desire to go for a walk, but the owner should keep an eye on him.

Toy terrier and children: compatibility

It is ideal if the child is 7 years old. Children of younger ages do not understand that a dog is not a toy. The toy may bite in response to pain, being held in a hug, or rough play. A bite from a toy is painful: small, but sharp teeth can puncture the skin and draw blood.

If the child is older, he can become the best friend of the toy. The toy loves to play tag, bring small toys, run with children around the apartment. But the responsibility for safety lies with the parents: teach the child not to pull the tail, not to wake a sleeping dog, not to touch her while she is eating.

It is good if the child wants to participate in care and training — this brings them closer. But the toy will still consider the main adult owner.

How to raise and train

The toy is an intelligent, but stubborn dog. Like any terrier, he has his own opinion. Training is necessary, otherwise you will get an uncontrollable little beast that will scream on a walk and bite everyone who doesn't like him.

The main rules: no shouting and violence. Only praise with a treat and voice. Short sessions — 5-7 minutes, but every day. Commands: "sit", "lie down", "come here", "no", "place". The toy easily learns tricks: spinning, giving a paw, jumping through a hoop. He likes intellectual challenges.

Socialization — from the first days. Carry the puppy in your arms to crowded places, let him interact with friendly dogs (in your arms or in a carrier). Otherwise, he will grow up to be a coward who barks at everyone out of fear.

House training: you can train the toy to use a litter box or a blanket. This is a plus for those who cannot walk 3 times a day. But you still need to walk him — for socialization and health.

An important command is "quiet". The toy barks a lot, but he can be taught to be quiet on command. How? Say "quiet" at the moment of barking, and if he is quiet for at least a second, give him a treat. Gradually increase the pause.

Typical behavioral problems

The first is an uncaused bark at sounds behind the door. Solution: do not reinforce. If the toy barks, do not go to the door, do not open it, do not comfort. Ignore. When he is quiet, praise him.

The second is aggression towards strangers. The toy may jump on the legs of guests, bite their pants. Solution: put on a muzzle during the arrival of guests (there are small, light muzzles for toys) or lock him in another room. Train calm behavior on the street: give a treat when the toy ignores a passerby.

The third is possessiveness: growls at the owner if he tries to take away a toy or a bone. Solution: take the object and return it immediately, alternating with a treat. The dog should understand: give to the owner — it's not scary, you will get something tasty in return.

The fourth is fear of loneliness. Solution: accustom gradually. Leave for a minute, then for five, then for ten. Leave toys with treats inside (kong). Turn on the radio or TV for background noise. If it doesn't help, call a cynologist or get a second toy terrier (it's easier for them together).

Toy terrier and your health

The psychological type of the toy is so expressive that it affects the health of the owner. Pros: walks with the toy make you move, even if you are lazy. Funny antics lift your mood, reduce stress. Studies show that owners of small dogs suffer less from hypertension and depression.

Cons: constant barking can cause headaches and irritation, especially in neurotic people. The toy's anxiety is passed on to the owner: if the dog is afraid of everything, the owner starts to live in a mode of "don't scare, don't lose". This is exhausting.

Be prepared that the toy will wake you up at night (he wants to drink, or he heard a noise, or he is just bored). This is not anger, this is a feature.

Important: if you are a nervous, anxious person, the toy will amplify your anxiety. If you are calm and confident, the toy will feel protected and behave more calmly.

Comparison of psychological types: toy and jack russell

People often ask: "What is the difference between the character of the toy and the jack russell?". Both terriers, but the difference is colossal. The jack russell is a whirlwind of energy, he needs hours of running, hunting, digging holes. He is less anxious, more independent, gets along better with children, and worse with strangers.

The toy is a bundle of nerves and tenderness. He doesn't need long walks, but he needs contact with his owner every minute. He is less destructive to the apartment (he doesn't dig up the sofa if he has been walked), but more noisy. The jack won't sit on your lap for hours, but the toy will. The jack can play with other dogs, but the toy is more likely to be afraid or hate them.

You should choose according to your lifestyle. If you are an active tourist — the jack. If you are a homebody, work from home, want a "cat in the form of a dog" — the toy.

Who is suitable for a toy terrier and who is not

The ideal owner of a toy is a single person or an elderly couple without small children. A person who works from home or can take a dog to work. Someone who loves quiet but is ready for a loud bark. Someone with a sense of humor and patience. Someone who does not keep other animals (except for a second toy).

Who is not suitable: families with infants (risk of a bite). People who are away from work for 10 hours. Too emotional, nervous people — the toy absorbs emotions. Those who live in a dormitory or in a house with paper walls — neighbors will hate them. Those who love quiet, silent dogs (the toy is not like that).

The toy is not suitable for those who are not ready to spend time on training. Without education, the toy becomes unbearable: he bites, barks at night, pees wherever he wants.

But if you are suitable, the toy will be your shadow and the most loyal creature on earth. He will sleep on your pillow, carry your socks in his mouth, lick your face in the morning. And you will not understand how you lived without this little, loud, constantly trembling from an excess of feelings bundle.

Conclusion: a tiger in a teacup

Russian toy terrier is a small dog syndrome in a square. He doesn't know he is small. He is ready to fight the world for his owner. He loves to the point of madness and requires love in return. Keeping a toy means agreeing to round-the-clock attention to yourself, serenades at 6 in the morning, protection from the vacuum cleaner, and endless "mama, pet me".

If you are psychologically ready, go for it. The toy will give you 12-15 years of life filled with laughter, tenderness, and light madness. If not, choose a goldfish. She is silent.

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