RUSSKIY TOY (REVISED JULY 1, 2009)
Companion Dog Group
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©Copyright 2008, United Kennel Club, Inc.
Revised July 1, 2009

HISTORY

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the English Toy Terrier was one of the most popular toy dogs in Russia. However, during the years from 1920-1950, the breeding of this breed was nearly stopped and when it started up again, practically all of the dogs used had no pedigrees and many were not purebred. The new standard for the breed that was drafted in Russia differed significantly from that of the original English Toy Terrier. From that point on, evolution of the breed went its own way and during a long period of development a new breed was created, the Russkiy Toy.

The Russkiy Toy was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2008.

A small, elegant, lively dog with long legs, fine bone and lean muscles, the Russkiy Toy comes in two coats, long haired and smooth coated.

Active and very cheerful. The temperaments of the males and females are significantly different.

The head is small in proportion to the body.

SKULL - The skull is high and round, but not too wide. The stop is clearly pronounced.

MUZZLE - The muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull and is lean and pointed. The lips are thin and tight fitting, either dark or matching the coat color. The cheekbones are only slightly pronounced.

TEETH - The teeth are small and white, and meet in a scissors bite. Two missing incisors in each jaw are allowed.

Fault: Level bite.

Disqualifications: Overshot or distinctly undershot.

NOSE - Small, either black or matching the coat color.

EYES - Quite large, rounded, dark and somewhat prominent. They are set well apart and look straight ahead. The eyelids are close fitting, and either dark or match the color of the coat.

EARS - The ears are big, set high, thin and erect. Semi pricked ears in the long coated dogs are permitted but not preferred.

Disqualification: Hanging ears.

Long, lean and slightly arched, carried high.

The shoulder blades and upper arms are approximately the same length, and meet at an angle of approximately 105 degrees.

FORELEGS - Long, thin, straight and parallel. The elbows are in line with the body. The pasterns are almost vertical. The length of the leg is slightly more than half the height at the withers.

Disqualification: Distinctly short legs.

The body is square. The chest is oval, sufficiently deep and not too wide. The withers are slightly pronounced, and the topline slopes gently from withers to tail. The loin is short and slightly arched, and the croup is gently rounded. The underline is nicely curved from the chest to the tucked up belly.

The hind legs are straight and parallel, but stand a little wider than the front legs.

HIND LEGS - The upper and lower thighs are the same length. The muscles are lean and developed. There is sufficient angulation at the stifle and the hock, and the rear pasterns are vertical.

The feet are small and oval in shape, with tight, well arched toes. They point straight ahead.

Docked or natural, and carried high. A natural tail is in the shape of a sickle and should not be carried below the level of the back.

Fault: Low tail set.

There are two coat types: smooth haired; and long haired.

Smooth-short: Close-lying and shiny. There is no undercoat, and there should not be bald patches.

Fault: Bald patches in smooth coated dogs.

Long: The body is covered with moderately long, straight or wavy, close lying coat that does not obscure the outline. The hair on the head and the front of the legs is short and close. There are distinct feathers on the back of the legs. The feet have long, silky hair that covers the nails. The ears are covered with thick, long hair that forms a fringe. Mature dogs should have a fringe that completely hides the outer edges and tips of the ears.

Disqualifications: The absence of ear fringes in mature long haired dogs. Curly coat.

The skin is dry, thin and close.

Black and tan, brown and tan, blue and tan, or solid red of any shade, with or without black overlay. Richer shades are preferred for all colors.

Faults: Small white patches on the chest and toes. Solid black, brown or blue color. Tan markings that are too large or that have black shading.

Disqualifications: Solid white. Brindle. White spots on the head, abdomen or above the wrist. Large white patches on the chest and throat.

Height at the withers for males and females is from 8 to 11 inches. Weight is up to 6.5 pounds.

Disqualifications: Under 2 pounds.

Easy, straightforward and fast, with no change in the topline when moving.

(An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a conformation event.)

Under 7 inches or over 12 inches.

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism. Overshot or distinctly undershot. Hanging ears. Distinctly short legs. The absence of ear fringes in mature long haired dogs. Curly coat. Solid white. Brindle. White spots on the head, abdomen or above the wrist. Large white patches on the chest and throat. Under 2 pounds.