My Unconventional Love Affair with Russian Toys: Lessons Learned the Hard Way

I've had the pleasure of owning four adult Russian Toys from different shelters and ages, and it's been a wild ride. Growing up, my family had a Poodle and a Greyhound, but my parents didn't know the first thing about dog care, so they were quickly rehomed. Fast forward to my 40s, I decided to get a dog and started attending dog shows to research which breed to choose. With a limited budget and not many breed options in my area, I narrowed it down to the Russian Toy in 2015. I chose this breed because of its friendly nature, weight under 3kg, short coat without a thick undercoat (meaning no frequent and expensive grooming), minimal health issues, and a brachycephalic-free (no snoring) breed that was affordable and I could see the puppies in a decent shelter. I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't give proper attention to preparing for dog care, I didn't thoroughly read up on dog training, like 'the dog shouldn't sleep in bed!' and since it was all theory, the first few nights with the puppy left me exhausted and depressed. This, of course, has nothing to do with the breed itself! The puppy was taken in at 2 months, and the breeder wasn't very knowledgeable, so she didn't explain what I'd be dealing with and how to handle it. In the end, my over-responsibility played a cruel joke on me, and I returned the puppy - that lesson cost me 10,000 rubles. After calming down, I started researching how to handle the puppy and train it, and there was a lot of useless information to sift through. I spent months going back to shelters and finally found a decent one with a female puppy.

First photos from the breeder of Russian Toys I applied my knowledge of puppy training methodically, and what a smart, confident dog I raised! She didn't make a mess or freak out when we were away. Our toilet with reusable padsIt's clear that I must have done something wrong somewhere! For instance, I fed her incorrectly at first, then I studied up on that area, and of course, I had to go back to the drawing board. Now, my girl has chronic gastritis, but we're managing. She even became a Russian champion. We received the Russian champion titleWe even had one litter (and I encountered some challenges that breeders and laypeople don't talk about). Difficult laborI know the value of a puppy from a responsible breeder, and I advise others to appreciate the hard work that goes into raising these dogs. Don't take a puppy before they're at least two months old, and ideally four months, so they can learn some essential signals that help them interact with other dogs. The daily life of our growing puppiesI got a lot of help from Sofia Baskina's resources and Irina Bezougla's. Nowadays, there are plenty of YouTube channels with video tutorials, advice, and books like Olga Sisoieva and Svetlana Shchvetsova. A year later, I had a grown Russian Toy Terrier. The new girl was different in that she had a very strong prey drive when she saw a cat, which wasn't a problem, but it did make me realize that every puppy is unique. My youngest pup was a handful, to say the least. She barked nonstop (I couldn't even train her out of it). My older one barely barks, and she helped me realize that I wasn't a fan of the noise.

My older dog, who's also a Russian Toy, is a smooth-coated one. The difference in age between them is just one year. A few years later, I saw a little girl at a breeder's place, and she was love at first sight... she was a black, long-haired Russian Toy, and it turned out she was a mini, right on the lower end of the breed standard (1.6 kg). She had some issues typical for her size: her vulva didn't develop properly, and she'd get urinary tract infections from time to time. Her teeth were also in terrible shape - she needed special care and a specific diet. I didn't pay much attention to her training, as the vet said she wouldn't make it. But we'd still take her out, and now we're just correcting her behavior (she's turned out to be a mini general at home).

Our third Russian Toy, who joined our family Our fourth pup is the daughter of the older one. We decided to try breeding, and there aren't any Russian Toy breeders in our new area - the closest one is in Greece.

Waiting for their food That's when I realized that training a pup with such an energetic temperament requires serious effort, but they're also super trainable. Looking at our four dogs, I see that if you put in the work with the parents - training and socialization - it makes a big difference in the next generations.

My well-behaved four pups on a walkEven when we go to the beach, we take the whole family.

THE VERDICT: 1.I was surprised to find that our first dog only needed a bath when it got dirty - this breed doesn't smell like a dog at all. I only bathe my long-haired ones a couple of times a year, and that's only if we've had a blast and their long hairs have gotten into places they shouldn't be. After a walk, I put each one in the sink and wash their paws with regular soap. I also wipe their bellies sometimes. To be honest, they've never even rolled around on the ground outside - they just don't have that kind of instinct. It seems like this is the biggest perk of choosing this breed. I've sniffed around other dogs I've met, and most of them smell if they haven't been bathed! I hate the smell of dog, but this breed is the exception. My male dog lives with my grandma, and that's the only place he smells like a dog. 2.The dogs with brown coats and adult fur are softer and have less undercoat. The only shedding I've noticed in the house is during the seasonal molt, and that's only from my black long-haired dog, but it's minimal - I just use a vacuum and a lint roller to get rid of it. 3.Temperament-wise, they're all different, but overall, they're playful dogs that are eager to learn tricks and commands - even into old age! The tricks they learn as puppies they'll show off flawlessly 10 years later. 4.All the dogs are great at learning to use the toilet and other hygiene procedures if you follow the instructions and are patient. I brush their teeth (1-2 times a week), trim and file their nails (every 9-12 days), and check their teeth, ears, and anal glands at the same time. Trimming and filing nails every 10 daysHow we brush our dogs' teeth 5.You can feed this breed either natural or dry food (which is super cost-effective at 50g a day, by the way)I've been feeding my dogs a special diet to help with their health, avoiding high-fat foods like meat and even fish, which can cause problems with their pancreas. Thankfully, I haven't noticed any other serious health issues. My oldest dog is 10 years old and has had her teeth cleaned only twice in her life, and we've had some issues with her diet, which led to a bout of gastritis after she ate some cheese and fish. My second dog is 9 years old and has had her teeth cleaned a few times, but she did develop pyometra, which can happen to any dog due to hormonal imbalances. It's essential to consider their ancestry.

after removing pyometraMy third dog is 5 years old and is a small breed, requiring specific care, feeding, and individual training. My fourth dog is 3 years old and is healthy, but she did have an episode where she was left alone for an extended period, and I wasn't sure if she could handle the stress, so she ended up eating the wallpaper and developed a twisted intestine, which was a nightmare to treat.

this is what a twisted intestine looks like after eating something non-digestible!6.my dogs sometimes don't go outside at all, just using the potty pad and the backyard. I prioritized this due to my health concerns, ensuring they don't suffer without walks. Despite this, they're very calm, and we play developmental games together. Ideally, even small dogs need walks for their health and happiness!

7.I don't let my dogs play with unfamiliar dogs due to their fragility - I've seen how small dogs can get hurt in play with larger dogs. I recommend that people, regardless of breed, focus on understanding dog training and feeding before selecting a reputable breeder and addressing their own issues, rather than blaming the breed.

8.representatives of this breed participate in agility and dog dance, and you can find them in various dog sports and events.

One thing I've noticed is that many movies portray sled dogs as dumb, but I think that's just because they don't know how to appreciate a well-trained pup.

9.I've never seen a fat Samoyed on a dry food diet - they eat just the right amount, which is really convenient.

To be honest, my only other favorite breed besides the Samoyed is the Pražský krysařík (Prague Ratter), but they're a pricey and pretty rare breed. Since there's no clear weight requirement for the breed, you can sometimes find them weighing as little as 5 kg. They have a lot of physical similarities to the Samoyed, but with a stronger bone structure, more muscle, and a better digestive system. I had a Prague Ratter over for a visit recently, and here's a photo of us together:

left: Prague Ratter, right: my Samoyed