Furry Diary

Russkiy Toy

Also called Russian Toy, Russian Toy Terrier, Moscow Long-Haired Toy Terrier

Recognised breedFCI group 9Short profile

From Russia, developed from English Toy Terriers kept there.12

A friendly guide, not veterinary advice. For anything about your pet's health, ask your vet.

At a glance the quick version

Weight1.5 to 3 kg12
Height20 to 28 cm12
Lifespanfrom 12 years3
Sizetoy

The FCI standard sets 3 kg as the upper limit (ideal about 2.3 kg); Wikipedia gives 1.5-4 kg.

Cheerful and lively
Very loyal to its family
Eager to please and trainable
132

Coat and looks how to spot one

smooth or long

A tiny, square-built, fine-boned dog with large upright ears. The smooth variety has a short, shiny coat; the long-haired one has moderate body hair with fringed ears and feathered legs and tail. Neither coat is thick enough to hide the outline.132

Coloursblack and tanbrown and tanblue and tanlilac and tanredred sablefawncream12

Personality what they are like

A bright, happy little dog with plenty of curiosity. It is closely attached to its people, keen to please, and neither timid nor snappy; it may be reserved with strangers and will announce visitors.132

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Up to about an hour of exercise a day; it enjoys games, agility and obedience despite its size.3

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The Royal Kennel Club suggests daily grooming attention; the long-haired variety needs its ear fringes and feathering brushed to stay tangle-free.31

Home where they are happiest

Well suited to apartment living, as long as it still gets daily walks and play.3

Company who they like around

A companion breed that wants to be near its owner and does best with plenty of company.31

The story where it all began

Small English terriers were fashionable in Russia from the 18th century, and in the 1950s Russian breeders rebuilt the type into a distinct toy dog. A long-coated variety appeared in 1958 from a puppy with fringed ears, and the breed was twice brought back from very low numbers in the 20th century.12

Fun facts for the dinner table

  1. 1

    The long-haired variety traces back to a single male puppy born in 1958 with fringes on his ears.1

  2. 2

    It is counted among the smallest dog breeds in the world.2

  3. 3

    Eleven of these little dogs were shown in Saint Petersburg in 1907.2

  4. 4

    Finland became an important centre of breeding for the Russian Toy.2

Recognised by the official bits

FCI
Standard no. 352, Group 9 (Companion and Toy Dogs), Section 9 Continental Toy Spaniel and Russian Toy. Provisional 21 February 2006, definitive 11 July 2017; smooth and long-haired varieties.4
The Royal Kennel Club
Toy group, registered as Russian Toy (Imp).3
AKC
Foundation Stock Service since August 2008; eligible for companion events from January 2010.2
UKC
Recognised 2008.2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Russkiy Toy. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Tell me when it launches

Treats they will love homemade and simple

Simple Carrot Crunchies

Carrots are low in calories and high in fibre, making them a crunchy, satisfying treat that won't pile on the pounds.

You need

  • 1 large carrot, washed and peeled

How

  1. Cut the carrot into thin, bite-sized sticks or rounds.
  2. Steam or boil the carrot pieces for 5–7 minutes until just tender, or serve raw for extra crunch.
  3. Allow to cool completely before offering to your dog.

How much: Give 2–3 small pieces per day for a medium-sized dog, adjusting for your dog's size and daily calorie allowance.

Recipe from The Kennel Club

Pumpkin & Yoghurt Pup-Cup

Pumpkin is packed with fibre and vitamins, helping dogs feel full without extra calories, and low-fat yoghurt keeps it light.

You need

  • 1 cooking pumpkin
  • ½ cup lactose-free, low-fat yoghurt
  • ½ cup lactose-free, low-fat whipping cream
  • Cinnamon, to sprinkle

How

  1. Peel the pumpkin and remove all seeds.
  2. Cut the flesh into small pieces and steam for 15 minutes until soft.
  3. Mash the cooked pumpkin until smooth and let it cool completely.
  4. Mix 1 tablespoon of the mashed pumpkin with the yoghurt.
  5. Spoon the mixture into a small paper cup.
  6. Whip the cream until soft peaks form and spoon it on top of the yoghurt mixture.
  7. Sprinkle a tiny pinch of cinnamon over the cream.

How much: One pup-cup is plenty for a medium-sized dog as an occasional treat. Adjust portion size for smaller or larger dogs.

Recipe from Dogs Trust

Homemade Dog Biscuits (Chicken & Rice)

A simple, tasty treat made from gentle ingredients that are easy on sensitive stomachs, perfect for rewarding without upset.

You need

  • 1 egg
  • 170g boiled chicken breast
  • 100g cooked plain rice
  • 60ml chicken stock (homemade or no added salt)
  • 680g plain flour (adjust as needed for consistency)

How

  1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.
  2. Blitz the boiled chicken, cooked rice, and chicken stock in a blender until smooth.
  3. Transfer to a bowl, add the egg and flour, and mix well.
  4. Dust a clean surface with flour, turn out the dough, and knead until no longer sticky.
  5. Roll dough to about 1cm thickness and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.
  6. Place on the tray and bake for 25–30 minutes until golden.
  7. Cool completely before serving.

How much: 1–2 biscuits as an occasional treat for a medium-sized healthy dog. Adjust for your dog's size, age, and activity level.

Recipe from Blue Cross

Not veterinary advice. Check with your vet first if your pet has allergies, a health condition, is on a special diet or is pregnant. Treats should stay a small part of the daily food. Cut to a safe size and supervise.

You might also like

English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)Pražský KrysaříkChihuahuaPapillon
our little thank-you jar

Like what we are building? Buy Archy a bone.

All of this is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show annoying ads. It was a big job to build, so if it helped you, buy Archy a bone. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.

Archy is our Australian Cattle Dog and chief taste tester. Tips go to 4V3D OÜ, the small family studio behind Furry Diary.

Buy Archy a bone

Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

  1. FCI standard no. 352 fci.beused for history, coat, colours, size, temperament
  2. Wikipedia: Russkiy Toy en.wikipedia.orgused for history dates, AKC/UKC recognition, fun facts
  3. The Royal Kennel Club: Russian Toy royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, lifespan, home
  4. FCI nomenclature: Russkiy Toy (352) fci.beused for recognition

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.