Russian Toy Terrier is a needle in a velvet case. Small, up to 3 kilograms in weight, elegant, 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 its head. Short history: from a ratcatcher to a couch lion The 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 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 watchdog instinct, territoriality, aggression to strangers (for such a size), and a wild reaction. General psychological portrait The 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's 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 left 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's small, but he doesn't care. ... Read more