The Russkiy toy is one of the best pets you might find. They are elegant, smart, playful, and love to entertain you and your fellow family members. Just like any other small dogs, they do have their own special treatment. So, if you’re looking for a Russian toy terrier, here are eight useful tips to take care of your Russkiy toy!
1. Feeding
The Russian toy terriers have a different portion of food depending on their age. Here is a short guide of feeding your Russkiy toy:
- Eight to twelve weeks old Russkiy toy puppies should be fed 4 times a day in a small portion.
- After they reached three to six months, feed them with medium portion meals, three times a day.
- From six months to one year old, feed them with medium-large sized portions two times a day.
- After they reached their first year, a big bowl of meal a day is sufficient. Another supplement can be given after at least two hours after a meal.
- Once they reached adulthood, some Russkiy toys might ask for two meals a day. It is your choice to give them or not, but it is better to learn their eating schedule. If your dog is less active, usually a big meal a day is enough.
Always give them various type of foods. Fresh meat, fish, poultry, grains, veggies, nuts, and eggs are some of the best foods to replace canned dog foods.
Keep in mind not to overfeed them because obesity will cause harmful diseases.
2. Housing
Just like you when you feel comfortable in your house, your Russkiy toys will be happy if you provide a cozy and peaceful place for them to lay low. You might want to buy a set of bed for your doggo. Or if you feeling creative and want to put your D.I.Y skills to use, you can make one your own! For its frame, you can use cardboards or a wooden box. A blanket, pillow, or an unused clean sheet can be placed on top as cushioning. This will be very useful for you and your dogs. You surely don’t want them to be on your laps all day long.
Another useful tip if you live in a country with four seasons: Consider placing a covering at the bed for your dog to stay warm during cold seasons, and some cold water to cool down during hot seasons.
3. Handling
Because of their small size, there is a special method to handle a Russkiy toy, especially their pups. If you holding a puppy, place your hand under the dog’s chest, and your other hand supporting the hind legs. Lifting or grabbing the pup by the front leg or back of their neck will hurt them, so don’t.
You can apply the previous way if you are about to handle an adult Russkiy toy. Once they grew up, you can hold them by the foreleg or the back of their neck, but still, the first way is the best way.
4. Physical Activity
You have to let your Russkiy toy to fulfill their daily physical activity needs. They need it to power their brains, maintain their health, reduce boredom and burning some calories. Their needs for daily exercise will only increase the older they get, at peak of two to three years old.
Letting your Russkiy toy to run also will alleviate their desire to dig, chase and chew. So if you want your furniture to stay intact, free up some space or let them go outside. Just keep an eye out of any hazardous objects and any fragile household items which may trip your dogs.
5. Grooming
The Russkiy toy’s needs for brushing is depending on their fur type. The soft-haired one will need less brushing than their long-haired counterparts. But consider to brush them at least once a week to keep them clean and reduce shedding. Don’t forget to check them if they have ticks and fleas in their body, especially during summer or other warmer seasons.
For bathing, the Russkiy toy doesn’t really need frequent bathing. At least once a month is sufficient to keep your dog clean. It is important to rinse all the soap from the coat to prevent dirt from sticking to the foam left behind.
6. Social Interactions
The Russkiy toys really love being around your family. They are very social and will suffer from anxiety if you left them alone.
It is good to let them know your friends too since they will bark at your friends if they think that your friends are strangers. The Russkiy toys also could easily get along with other pets in the house, if you have any. Just remember to let them to get to know each other first. Once they know each other, they will be less likely to hurt each other.
7. Health Issues
Generally, Russkiy toys have good health conditions and less prone to diseases like cancers or intestine diseases. Some other health issues caused by parasites like heartworms, ticks, and fleas still could happen to your dog, so keep them clean and their food healthy.
It is also highly recommended to spay your dog, both male, and female, after their first childbirth (or pup birth?) to prevent breast cancer in the female and testicular cancer in the male. Even though they are more resilient towards cancer, it is best to do an early prevention.
8. “The Big No” Lists
Several foods that are harmless to us can be harmful to our dogs. Its effects may be various, from a slight laceration, and the worst case is death. Here is the list of foods that you should not ever give to your dogs:
- Alcoholic drinks. Alcohol is highly toxic to them.
- Chocolate, coffee, and other products with high caffeine. At least 150 milligrams of caffeine can cause seizures, heart failures, and even death.
- Grapes and raisins. They can cause severe kidney problems.
- Moldy and spoiled foods. Just don’t.
- Salt and salty foods. Salt can make your dog extremely dehydrated and can cause sodium poisoning.
- Yeast dough. Yeast dough could react inside your dog stomach and produce alcohol, which is toxic.
- Onions, leeks, garlic, shallots, asparagus. They can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
- Any bones, both poultry, and fish. They can cause lacerations which cause pain in their stomach.
- Unripe fruit, tomato leaves, and stems. They were poisonous. Tomato stems and leaves are also poisonous for humans.
There it is, eight useful tips in taking care of Russian toy terrier. Now you have learned something about Russkiy toy caring, adopting a Russkiy toy will be no longer a problem.