The breed of toy terrier has long been in great demand and respect. In world history, there are many references to these lovely creatures. Thus, the German annals say that at the end of the 8th century AD, the Czech ambassador as a symbol of peace presented Karl the Great with a small dog in black and brown, which was placed in the palm of your hand. And in the middle of the 11th century, the Polish king Boleslav II had several toy terriers at once. In Russia, this breed became popular closer to the end of the 1960s.
How to choose a toy terrier
The first thing when buying a puppy is to ask the breeders to show their mother. It would be useful to see the baby's father, but most of all the males are from other owners. When examining a mother, it is important to pay attention to whether she is a calm and balanced dog with a traditional anatomical build. If she begins to tremble, be afraid or show excessive aggression, then this indicates the instability of her mental state, which can be transmitted at the genetic level.
It is also worth paying attention to the behavior of the puppy itself. The breed of toy terrier is distinguished by its activity and playfulness. Of the external signs, the puppy should have a shiny coat without visible bald patches. It is worth noting that the young toy terrier has several areas where skin can be seen, for example, at the temples and in the chest area. It is important that the ears and eyes of the dog are clean. Any discharge in these areas indicates puppy disease. The nose should be moist and shine slightly.
When choosing a pet, it is recommended to pay attention to his teeth. The toy terrier must have the
correct bite, even if he is only about a month old. It is important that the fangs are not moved forward or backward. By the age of 1.5 months, the puppy should have 12 milk incisors.
When buying a toy terrier, you should also find out his pedigree, which is recorded in a special passport of his parents. After the first vaccinations, the puppy has his own document confirming his main veterinary indicators. In small dogs, many diseases are widespread, which can subsequently be transmitted to other animals and owners. Therefore, when choosing a pet, his
veterinary passport is so important
, in which vaccinations made to him must be noted, and then his pedigree.
Toy Terrier Care
Dogs of this breed are very unpretentious, and special care is not required. Most often, toy terriers do not need haircuts and regular combing. Trimming these pets is also not needed.
If family members are constantly busy and do not have much free time to devote to his dog, then the toy terrier would be the ideal option. Care and maintenance of this breed will require a minimum of effort. This is one of the many benefits of toy terriers. What you need to pay attention to is the eyes, ears, hair and claws.
When bathing a pet, you should definitely use the appropriate shampoo so that the skin does not flake and there is no itching. The claws of toy terriers grow and sharpen very quickly, so they need to be trimmed regularly. This breed has practically no problems with teeth, but once a month it will be useful to clean them with a special paste. Caring for a toy terrier also involves rubbing your eyes and ears with a damp cotton pad a couple of times a week.
Pet content
When purchasing a puppy, you should first take care of its place for sleeping indoors. It should not be in the aisle where the wind will constantly pass through, near heating appliances and radiators. The puppy should sleep in a cozy and warm place, which is a kind of house, that is, an enclosed space so that the baby can safely retire to sleep. Pets often hide toys or food in their "nests".
What should be the place where the toy terrier will rest? Care and maintenance of these dogs is to create for the pet the most comfortable environment for his life and growth. Any puppy in the early stages of development with special zeal learns the world around him, starting from his rightful place. Therefore, it will be useful to choose a suitable litter, which the pet could gnaw on and bury into it with his nose during sleep. The best option would be an old sweater or a large fluffy towel. Pillows or mattresses are strictly excluded, as they contain a stuffing which will subsequently appear throughout the apartment or may become stuck in the airway of the puppy.
The most important points that you need to pay attention to when a toy terrier appears in the house are care and maintenance, as well as an understanding of what the puppy needs and what urgently needs to be weaned from it. You can’t take your pet to bed with you. The temptation is great, but in the end it can lead to disastrous consequences. The skeletal system of such dog breeds is very fragile, so a jump even from the height of the sofa can lead to a serious fracture. There were times when adult toy terriers fell from their beds in a dream and died from their injuries.
Representatives of this breed are always very curious, therefore it is important to limit their access to electric wires. You should also pay special attention to the contents of the toy terrier during vaccination. Within a few days after the injection, the pet's body is very weakened, so it is necessary to exclude its contact with street shoes and dirty floors in the hallway. During this period, the dog’s immune system is especially vulnerable to infections.
In the case of repair or cleaning, there should not be small objects on the floor, since for a toy terrier a small piece of pea-sized wallpaper is enough to choke.
The basics of proper feeding
Despite their tiny size, toy terriers are predators, so they need constant protein food. The daily menu of representatives of this breed must include meat. It is worth noting that pork and lamb are strictly contraindicated for them. The diet of terriers should also contain fermented milk products, cereals and boiled eggs. It will be useful once a day to enrich the pet's menu with boiled vegetables. In turn, it is recommended to protect the dog from sweet and flour products, as well as from legumes and spicy dishes.
Feeding the toy terrier should be scheduled. Up to 4 months, the daily diet of puppies should be divided into 5 parts. From one year, the pet should receive food 3 times a day. With age, the dog itself will begin to dose its daily menu.
Parenting
Toy terrier can be trained much easier than representatives of many other breeds. This is a very quick-witted dog that can easily learn any commands. When raising a pet, it is important that he understand and fulfill the requirements of the owner the first time. Teams are recommended to work out on the street and at home, so that the dog runs them regardless of its environment.
Toy terriers very quickly understand where their toilet is, what things cannot be chewed on, with whose hands you can eat. The main thing is to put the framework of the permissible on time for the pet and explain them clearly.
How to accustom to the toilet
Accustoming a puppy to cleanliness is a priority for its owners. It is best to accustom your pet to the toilet before the age of two months. A special cage with a pallet is well suited for this. Puppies often relieve themselves where they sleep. A few days later, the pallet is saturated with a smell, and it can be removed from under the cage. Subsequently, the puppy will need to be regularly placed on him, so that he understands where to continue to relieve the need.
A toy terrier, the care and maintenance of which does not require special skills, is rightfully considered one of the cleanest and smartest dogs.
Walking tips
There is an opinion that representatives of this breed can not be walked on the street, as they may well relieve the need for a tray, like cats. In the case when there is severe frost or windy rainy weather outside the window, this option is the most acceptable. However, nature always takes its toll, and if you imprison a pet in four walls, whining and barking will not take long.
Caring for a toy terrier involves regular walks in the fresh air. On the street, the dog can stay for a long time, if the weather has it. Upon returning home, you should wash your paws and be sure to wipe dry.
Vaccinations for toy terriers
Traditionally, they are divided into 2 stages: the first is a puppy at the age of 6 weeks, and the second - after a month.
For travel, you need to vaccinate your pet against the plague of carnivores, leptospirosis, hepatitis and enteritis. Rabies toy terriers are vaccinated at the age of 3 months.
Information about all injections made is recorded in the pet's veterinary passport. Each vaccination must be certified with the appropriate seal.