Many small dog lovers didn’t know much about Russian toy terriers. But in their country of origin, they are quite popular among Russian people. Outside of Russia, this dog pure breed is quite rare and not easy to be found due to the low demands.
Want to learn more about animals in Russia? Click the links below!
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- Rare and exotic animals in Russia
- Most dangerous animals in Russia
From their low popularity outside of Russia, not many people know that the Russian toy terrier can be a good dog for therapy. Their energetic nature could help promote motoric growth in children, as well as a therapy dog for elder people with dementia.
Now you have already know what this little fella has to offer. If this dog breed is in your bucket lists, it is better to adopt it since it was a pup. Here are eight effective ways to take care of Russian toy pups!
1. Feeding
The Russkiy toys have their own food portion depending on their age. Below you can find some guides in feeding your Russkiy toy, from pups to adults.
- Russkiy toy pups from right to twelve weeks old should be fed at least four small portions every day.
- After they reached their early juvenile stage (three to six months) feed them with medium portion meals, three times a day.
- Two medium portions should be given every day if your Russkiy toys have reached six months to one year old.
- After they have reached one year old, a big portion every day is enough. Some dog biscuits and other supplements can be given afterward.
- If your Russkiy toys are active, giving them two meals a day is okay. But it is better to make their eating schedule to organize their mealtime.
Avoid overfeeding to prevent obesity and other diet-related health issues.
2. Physical Activity
Just like other terriers, the Russian toy terrier puppies do not take a long time to reach adulthood. Since they have reached three months, most of them will show a significant increase in physical activity. From this time, you have to give them free rein so they can run around to fulfill their daily exercise needs.
Exercising is good for their brain and muscle development as well as reducing their boredom and anxiety. The older they get, the more active they become.
Letting them running around is also a good way to save your furniture. Exercising will reduce their urges to chew, dig, and chasing small critters. If you have plenty of time, you can take your Russkiy toy for a walk around the neighborhood. By this way, they will feel more attached to you and love you more.
3. Handling
Handling a Russky toy pup requires a special handling method. Their fragile bones could easily fractured and break if you handle them carelessly.
To handle a Russkiy toy properly, put your hand under the dog’s chest, and the other hand holding their hind legs. Do not try to grab the pup by the front leg or on the back of their neck because it will hurt them.
4. Housing
Your Russkiy toys will be looking for a peaceful and comfortable place to rest if your laps are not present. A set of dog bed in the corner is always a good idea. You can buy it in shops or make one yourself! All it needs to make a dog bed is a wooden box and a pillow for cushioning.
Remember to clean their bed at least once every one or two weeks to prevent fungus growth and fleas infestation. A bed covering can also be added for your dog to stay warm during cold seasons.
5. Hygiene
You don’t have to brush and bathe your Russkiy toy puppies frequently, as their coats aren’t fully grown by then. Once every week or two is sufficient to keep their coat clean. When they’re close to adulthood, they will shed their pup’s coat. When it comes, simply brush them with a soft brush.
To bathe your Russkiy toy, simply bath them with sprinkler and don’t soak them in tubs. Rinse all the soap until it’s clean so dirt will not stick on the residue.
Don’t forget to brush their teeth with vet-approved toothpaste and trim their nails alongside with fur between their paw pads, at least once a week.
6. Training
Russkiy toys have a rather fast growing phase and can be very active when they have reached about three months old. But, they still undergo their physical development process at that time. To support their physical development process, you can take them for a stroll around the yard, or if you are a busy person, just let them go outside to play.
After a year, they can be taught some basic commands like sit, roll, and so on. Their cheerful nature and desire to please you will make them learn your commands faster than most dogs. Be careful when you have to give them critics since they are very sensitive.
7. Health
Although the Russkiy toy is generally healthy, there are common health issues that you should be wary of. For example:
- Oral Issues – If your dog’s breath smells foul, it should be caused by plaques on their teeth. Brushing their teeth will help to fix the problem. And also when your dog’s teeth are about to fall off, you have to help them to pick it off before their adult teeth have grown overlapping with their young teeth.
- Heartworms – You should be careful of musquitos during hot seasons. Some of these mean flying insects carry heartworm larvae inside their body and can be transferred from dog to dog. As prevention, it is best to test your dog blood to a vet at least once a year. An anthelmintic (anti-worms) pills can be given to your dog for further prevention.
- Bone Fracture – You should be careful when carrying them, especially when they’re still young and fragile. And also you have to keep their playground clear of any hazardous objects that my trip them when they running around.
8. Must-Avoid
There are several treatments and foods that you should not give to your dog in order to keep your dog happy and healthy. Bad treatment and improper foods may cause discontent, harms, or even death. Below are the lists:
- Neglecting for quite a long time. Russkiy toys are very family oriented. When they started to feel attached to you, they will be stressed and suffer from anxiety.
- Caffeine products. Coffee, chocolate, black tea, and products with caffeine level of 150 milligrams will cause heart failures, seizures, and death for dogs.
- Alcoholic, and other liquors. Alcohol is dangerous as it will cause blood toxication for your dog.
- Salty foods. Extreme dehydration and sodium poisoning will occur once your dog consumed some of them.
- Grapes and raisins. Mineral contents in grapes and raisins may cause severe kidney problem in dogs.
- Harsh scolding. Russkiy toys can be very emotional when you scold them for their bad behaviors. A gentle approach is highly recommended when you try to discourage their bad behaviors.
- Grapes and raisins. They can cause severe kidney problems.
- Onions, asparagus, and other liliciae-s (garlic, etc). These foods can lower blood pressure and damage the dog’s red blood cells. Its effect is severe anemia.
- Fish and poultry bones. A pup’s digestive system can not digest bones properly, so it will hurt their stomach and causing a laceration.
Overall, caring the Russian toy pups is rather easy. Their cute appearance and playful nature will worth you every seconds spent on raising them. Once you become their true friend, it will stay that way forever.