English Toy Terrier: breed description and dog care

Miniature dogs today are represented by different breeds, among which there are animals with a long history. These four-legged human companions include the English Toy Terrier. The dog is popular all over the world, but today it is classified as an endangered species.

The ancestors of dogs of this breed are considered to be the black and tan terrier, as well as the larger representative of the world of four-legged pets - the Manchester Terrier. Some facts indicate the presence of Italian greyhounds and Whippets in the pedigree of modern English toys. Animals with a similar exterior can be found depicted on canvases dating back to the 16th century. But the maximum complete description of such dogs appeared only two centuries later. At that time, miniature pets were used as hunters for rats, badgers and other small animals, and they also took part in various competitions.

The British island state is considered the homeland of the English Toy Terrier. Aristocratic ladies had such dogs in special honor. In 1826, the animals took part in an exhibition, after which their popularity increased significantly. Later, dogs were kept in France and America.

According to the requirements for the exterior, dogs of this breed must be dry in constitution, elegant and proportionally built.The growth of the animal at the withers varies within 30 centimeters with a mass of about 4 kilograms.

The skull of the toy is wedge-shaped with an elongated and narrow muzzle. The stop is expressed in mean values, without sharp corners. Dogs will have a scissor bite, with the upper and lower jaws close to each other. The nose is colored black. Eyes of medium size, should be almond-shaped, slight slanting is allowed. The iris is colored dark.

The ears of Toy are triangular with sharp ends, set high, and are in a standing position. The inner side of the auricle looks straight. The neck is elongated, with a smooth transition in the body, there is a minimal backward tilt. The animal's chest is deep, the back is curved.

The tail is set low, should not reach more than the hock in size, slightly tapering towards the tip. English Toy Terriers are short-haired dogs, but the coat of animals is distinguished by its density and shine. The acceptable color option for dogs of this breed is black and tan, light markings refer to deviations from the standards. In light of the fact that the wool cannot sufficiently protect the animal from frost or heat, dogs can suffer from hypothermia or overheating.

Toy, in spite of their fragile constitution, are distinguished by good health. However, pets may be prone to the following ailments:

• diseases of the organs of vision - cataract, glaucoma;
• hypothyroidism;
• Peters disease.

These small dogs stand out for their lively temperament, which is inherent in almost all terriers. At the same time, the animal is endowed with innate courage, the dog has a well-developed intellect, is supportive of everyone around him without undue aggression. The English Toy Terrier is distinguished by affection for its breeder, remains faithful to him until old age.

With strangers, the dog is reluctant to contact. The small four-legged companion has not lost its innate hunting instincts, therefore, if there are pets in the form of small rodents, it can identify them as prey. Toi will be able to coexist safely with dogs of other breeds, however, it is still not recommended to keep same-sex animals in the same dwelling. The animal gets along well with children, but if there is a small child in the family, injuries to the animal due to careless handling are not excluded.

The dog does not tolerate loneliness and prolonged separation from the owner very badly, therefore it is recommended to leave it alone at home as rarely as possible. Excessive sensitivity is inherent in the breed, so the dog can take offense at its breeder for a long time.

Dogs of this breed cannot be classified as centenarians. The average life span of a pet is 10 to 13 years. However, among the toys you can also find pets that lived to be 15 or 20 years old. In each case everything will depend on the pedigree and genetics of the animal, an important factor is nutrition and living conditions.

Despite the fact that these two breeds have the same name, the dogs will still differ in some characteristics from each other. If we compare the sizes of pets, then the English toy will be larger than the Russian representatives of miniature pets. The difference in withers can be up to 5 centimeters.

Comparing the two breeds, you can find differences not only in size, but also in the habits of animals, since the English dog still has not lost its hunting inclinations, which cannot be said about the Russian toy terrier. The latter have become a completely domesticated breed, when a larger subspecies often becomes a participant in various competitions and rodent hunting.

In light of this feature, English Toy will have a more developed muscular corset, a flat skull, as well as a prominent muzzle and strong jaws. In addition, the behavior of dogs of the two breeds is somewhat different, first of all it concerns the more balanced and stress-resistant disposition of English dogs, when Russian miniature representatives can demonstrate nervousness, breakdowns of mood and behavior.

Differences between animals can be traced in the shape and structure of the auricles. So, the Russian Toy's ears will be similar to an isosceles triangle, when the British species have a structure that resembles the shape of a flame from a candle. Animals differ in the type of wool, if the domestic representative of the terriers is allowed a short-haired and long-haired type, then English dogs should be exceptionally smooth-haired.

Russian toy terriers can have several color variations, in the second breed only one coat color is allowed.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the coat and the physiology of the animal, the breeding and maintenance of this breed implies exclusively domestic conditions - an apartment or a private house. In general, such a pet will give its breeder a minimum of trouble in terms of care. The coat does not require daily brushing. It is recommended to use the Smooth Toy Brush 2-3 times a week.

An alternative to the brush will be a stiff mitten designed for caring for short-haired animals. They bathe an Englishman only if absolutely necessary. Usually, water hygiene procedures are carried out twice a year. The limbs should be washed after every walk on the street.

The dog's ears and eyes will require special attention from the breeder and should be examined as often as possible. If you find any accumulation of dirt or secretions, clean them with a damp swab. The claws should be shortened every 3-4 weeks, however, in a miniature dog puppy, they will grow much faster, so you will have to trim the claws every 2 weeks.

It is important to train your pet from a very young age. to the obligatory cleaning of the oral cavity... Usually this procedure is carried out twice a week. Dogs should be dewormed and treated for external parasites at least once every 3 months. In bad weather, the animal should be protected from the cold using special windproof and waterproof clothing.

It takes up very little space in the dwelling, for a comfortable existence, he will need a comfortable bed, located in a quiet place, as well as several toys. If it is not possible to regularly take the dog out into the street to relieve needs, this breed can be trained to a tray or diaper. Ideally, toy terriers are walked in the morning and evening. During walks, you should not overload the pets; you should also avoid falling from a height, even insignificant, and impacts.

It is not recommended to keep animals of this breed in isolation, they need to get new emotions, get acquainted with the world around them and people. Therefore, walking should not be avoided altogether. You can take the puppy out into the fresh air after the second routine vaccination. It is recommended to accustom him to the street gradually, the first time the walk should last about half an hour. With an adult animal, it is quite possible to go for a morning or evening run. Some pets take part in dog sports such as freestyle or agility.

In terms of diet, animals do not have any specific restrictions. The main thing is that the dog's menu is as nutritious and healthy as possible. The English Toy Terrier can be fed commercially or organic food.

If finished products are preferred, then it must be at least premium... Due to the small portions required for a dog, many breeders have noted the convenience of using ready-made dry or wet dog foods. In addition, their composition will already include all the necessary vitamins and minerals important for a small animal. Dry food should be selected with small croquettes, which will be more convenient to chew.

If the breeder feeds the toy terrier with natural food, then the following products should prevail in the animal's menu:

• meat - rabbit, poultry, beef;
• raw vegetables;
• fruits;
• greens;
• sea ​​fish;
• dairy and sour milk products.

It is forbidden to feed or supplement the dog from a human table. You can not treat the animal to bakery products, pickles and smoked meats, fried and fatty foods. It is not recommended to introduce sugar, pork, potatoes, citrus fruits and legumes into the pet's diet.

Brewer's yeast, special complexes recommended for small breeds of dogs, crushed eggshells should be considered as a vitamin supplement.

It is important to teach English Toy Terrier puppies to a certain portion of food... As a rule, 300-400 grams of feed per day will be enough for them. The number of meals will depend on the dog's age - up to 4 months, there should be 4-5 of them, closer to half a year of feeding, you can reduce it to 3 times, after a year the animal must be fed twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.

A decorative toy will require from the breeder not only early socialization, but also competent training, otherwise the dog will demonstrate negative character traits - willfulness, laziness, disobedience. In the process of training, it is forbidden to use physical force. The dog must clearly understand and execute the commands "fu", "sit", "beside". It will be possible to achieve positive results in training if:

• give commands to the dog in a calm voice;
• do not show aggression during classes;
• repeat commands until the animal fulfills them.

For more information on the Toy Terrier, see the next video.