My Unconditional Love for My Russian Toy Poodle, Kuzmich

It's been a decade since we lost our beloved dog, and we decided to adopt a new furry friend - a Saint Bernard. But he was a laid-back one, and I was worried he'd get too chunky, so we got another pup to keep him company. We wanted a smaller dog to live in the adjacent kennel, essentially a 'watchdog' for our Saint Bernard.

I started browsing through ads, but nothing seemed quite right. Then, I stumbled upon this adorable little face, and I was hooked! It wasn't about the breed; it was about the connection. This was more than just a liking - it was love at first sight.

Loves going out, rain or shine

I initially thought the breed name was a joke, but it turned out to be a heartwarming story about the Russian Colored Bulldog's origins.

The charming Russian Colored Bulldog is a testament to the hard work of Soviet dog breeders. This breed was developed relatively recently, considering its relatives, the Maltese and the Shih Tzu, have ancient roots. After World War II, Leningrad dog breeders aimed to create a companion dog, not a working breed. The country was healing from the war, and people lived in close quarters, often in communal apartments or small flats. A small, loving dog like this was exactly what people needed.

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I showed the ad to my husband, and he gave it his seal of approval. So, we agreed to meet the seller.

The handover of the puppy happened in the seller's car. The girl was enthusiastically spinning the three-month-old pup around in her arms, raving about his iridescent coat and friendly temperament. Honestly, at that point, I was already sold - whether he was a tiny tyrant who'd grab passersby by the pants or not.

After paying the agreed amount, we took the pup and, remembering the words of the previous owner that he never gets on furniture or chairs, and isn't picky about food, we drove him to meet his big friend. They were both three and a half months old.

I have to say that the first meeting wasn't a success. The two male puppies were clearly not thrilled to see each other. Oh well, I guess we'll just have to work on getting them used to living together. And Kuzmich went home.

When we bought him, we were told that the puppy's name is Kuzia. I wasn't particularly fond of the name, but my husband said since he's already gotten used to it, we won't change it.

First thing Kuzmich did when he arrived at the new home - jumped onto the couch, like it was his own! Upon assessing its size, I realized that there's no way he's going to be living in a doghouse.

Gets along great with catsI was surprised to find out at home that my dog had some consequences from past injuries - improperly healed ribs. Guess the kids were pretty rough on him when he was a puppy. Oh well. I mean, he's so fragile!

But a few days later, our dogs had become fast friends, gotten used to each other, and were getting along amazingly well! We'd even feed them from the same bowl, play together, and sometimes even sleep in the same doghouse!

The little one Winter walks Although my Kuzmich had a doghouse of his own, he's got a special privilege - he can choose where he wants to sleep. If he wants to sleep outside, he'll go out. If he wants to sleep on the couch, that's where he'll be. In the summer, he'd often sleep with the sennemar on the patio or in his doghouse, but rarely in the house.They were inseparable for nine years. They'd go on walks together - the sennemar, the bolonka, and the cat. I couldn't help but be amazed by this fact. Sorry about the photo quality. I took them from the window, through the glass, with a bit of a shaky hand (some of these photos are over 10 years old)

Winter strollsThe Russian toy poodle weighs around 3-4 kilograms. Kuzmich's weight varies depending on his age - sometimes he's a bit heavier, sometimes a bit lighter. His weight is crucial for administering the right dosage of flea and parasite treatments, and that's not all.

His coat is long and silky, like a mane. It's easy to brush, but also kind of tricky at the same time. The hairs are magnetized, so it's best to do it with some specialized tools. The undercoat is pretty subtle, but last year, when Kuzmich would venture out into the snow and sleep in the doghouse with the sennbernar, the undercoat was quite dense. Unfortunately, Kuzmich doesn't take too kindly to furminators - I guess the clippers are a bit too harsh for his delicate fur. The style lasts for about three minutes.

The main color of his coat is black with a silver sheen.

The mischievous adventurer, through and throughHis eyes are expressive, lively, and full of meaning. Kuzmich's eyes are black, but I've seen pictures of poodles with brown eyes. I prefer the brown-eyed look, personally. Kuzmich loves it when we lock eyes - it's like he can sense my love for him.

His nose is black, and it's always so moist and adorable.

My Fave Snout Short legs, but they're perfectly proportioned to his body. Now that he's over ten years old, I try not to let him jump from high places.

This breed is super easy to care for. Kuzmich got along great with our two-year-old British cat right off the bat. And when, due to some unfortunate circumstances, we had to get a new kitten, Kuzmich welcomed the little guy with open arms.

Gets Along Great with Cats Gets Along Great with Cats Gets Along Great with Cats And they're still the best of friends to this day. Whether they're lounging on the couch at home or playing outside together, they're inseparable. Hi There! Kuzmich is relatively energetic. Even on freezing days, he's not opposed to long walks. And in the summer, he's always up for a good run! Since we have a fenced-in area, I just let him out to roam free.

Hi There! Russian Toy Terriers are active dogs, always up for a good game of fetch or tug-of-war.

My Russian Toy is a total sweetheart - obedient, affectionate, delicate, and low-key. He's not the type to hover around the dinner table, begging for scraps. He's happy with his own food from the bowl, and occasionally he'll swipe a snack from the cat.

Gets along great with catsWhat's on the menu

Some people might think I'm feeding my dog the wrong way, but he's happy, he eats with gusto, and I don't see the need to change his diet. I feed him twice a day, and the menu is pretty simple:

Boiled chicken. No skin or bones. I buy these pre-packaged chicken bits, boil them, and pick out all the extras. My dog loves chicken. Occasionally, he'll even eat it raw, but that's super rare. If he doesn't finish, the leftovers go to the cat.Dog food (wet). I give it to him a couple times a week, two or three packs per meal.He only eats dry food when we're out on walks. If I'm walking a bigger dog, I'll give him these little kibble treats just for company.Fish. He's obsessed with raw minnow, sliced up like a fish stick. But he's not really interested unless it's a special occasion, maybe once a month.Eggs. Hard-boiled, of course. He'll eat half an egg every now and then, but it's not a regular thing.Beef scraps. This is his absolute favorite! I chop it up into tiny pieces, and he goes wild. But it's not something I can get all the time.Despite eating huge portions, he's got plenty of energy to burn - he spends all day outside in the summer, and half the day running around in the winter, so I guess it's no surprise he's always hungry.

Winter WalksKuzma isn't interested in eating any treats, but he loves his dental chews. I regularly buy them for him.

Health

One thing that's tough for Kuzma during the off-season is the snow. When it starts to fall in big clumps, it's impossible for him to run around with his paws covered in it. We head back inside, give him a warm bath, and snuggle up under a blanket.

After a WalkHumidity is a real issue for small dogs like Kuzma. He was diagnosed with a form of arthritis, which we've treated, but now we need to be careful. If he gets wet or has to go out in the rain, the best thing to do is wrap him up in a towel.

After a WalkSmall breeds often have some genetic issues, like heart problems or misaligned teeth. Kuzma has a few quirks of his own. Our vet couldn't give me a clear answer about what's going on, but we do have some episodes that look like epilepsy. The main thing is to be there for him during those moments. I just sit with him and hold him close. Within five minutes, the episode passes, and he's able to drink his daily water intake.

He drinks a lot of water, and he loves it. I fill his bowl with 300 grams of water twice a day.

Bad Habits

I'm happy to report that nothing's been chewed up since the puppy joined our family! I'll say it again, this little guy doesn't beg for food on the table. He's delicate in his behavior and patient if I'm running late with the walk - he won't whine and scratch the door, he'll just lie down and wait.

He's a bit of a guard dog when it comes to guests, letting out a loud bark at first, but once he realizes it's just us, he calms down and snuggles up nearby.

At homeHe's not prone to running off on walks - he knows me like the back of his paw! We've been together for ten years now, and I can tell what he wants just by looking at him - he's either asking for pets or to go for a walk.

He's not a bird-chaser.

He gets along with the cat.

And when his old buddy passed on, he took a bit of time to adjust to the new companion - I mean, he'd spent nine years with the sennberger, and then suddenly we brought home this energetic little thing.

This is what it's all about - my cat, dog, and little Kuzmich After a few days, he even took a liking to her. We'd all sleep together, with the dog walker looking after her. Sleeping together The dog walker The dog walker The dog walker Playing together When it was time to train her to use the doghouse, Kuzmich even showed interest in helping out. Teaching the dog to sleep in the doghouse Don't forget to treat your dogs for ticks during the summer Now, it's been a few months since we got the dog, and it's been an incredible journey.My dog has grown up, and we've got a different dynamic going on. The age gap definitely shows. She needs the energy, the running, and the playtime.

Whoever picks it up first gets to keep itI love watching him just lounge around, sleeping on his favorite cushion, all cozy and relaxed. He's not as active as he used to be, but he's still got a great personality.

We're getting up there in years, so we can definitely take a nap on the couch togetherDespite their differences, they still snuggle up together in their favorite bed.

Two very different faces!They get along surprisingly well, especially during our walks. They try to stick together, but they do have their disagreements. When they do fight, they always seem to make up quickly and run off together.

AutumnKuzmich has won over every creature on our property, including the wild ducks that visit us in the spring.

Saw a duck!To be honest, I'm not even sure if Kuzmich is a dog. He's my friend, my family member, and the guardian of our property. He brings everyone together and keeps the peace.

I've gotta say, I've never had a more affectionate, comfortable, loyal, intelligent, and gentle dog. I'm absolutely obsessed with him!

He's a small guy

Summer vibes

He gets along great with cats

Summer funI'm really hoping we'll be together for a long time!