Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Toy Terrier is a decorative breed descended from the English Toy Terrier, which originated in the 19th century as both a ratter and a companion dog. In Russia, the breed developed further in the mid-20th century, when breeders aimed to create a miniature, elegant, and active dog with the temperament of a true terrier. Through selective breeding, the Russian Toy was formed — distinguished by its refined appearance, lively character, and devotion to people. Today, the Toy Terrier is known worldwide as a charming, energetic, and loyal companion, preserving the courage and spirit of its hunting ancestors.
General Appearance
The Toy Terrier is a miniature, elegant, squarely built dog with a dry, light yet strong body. The head is small and proportional to the body, with expressive dark eyes and large, erect ears. The neck is long and slender, gracefully blending into the withers. The body is compact, with a straight topline and a tucked-up belly. The limbs are fine-boned, straight, and provide free, effortless movement. The tail is set high and carried cheerfully. The coat may be smooth or long, glossy, and dense. The overall impression of the Toy Terrier is one of grace, lightness, and expressiveness — an elegant and agile miniature dog.
Important Proportions
The Toy Terrier’s proportions emphasize harmony and refinement. The body is square in format — the length from the shoulder to the base of the tail is approximately equal to the height at the withers. The head is small and proportional, with the muzzle making up about one-third of its length. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows. The limbs are thin but strong, maintaining a balanced and elegant outline. The tail is set high, continuing the topline. All body lines are fine and defined, without heaviness. The proportions reflect elegance, agility, and refinement while maintaining strength and endurance.
Temperament and Character
The Toy Terrier is cheerful, intelligent, and energetic, with a friendly and loyal nature. Despite its miniature size, it possesses the bravery, confidence, and lively temperament of a true terrier. Deeply attached to its owner, it loves attention and companionship but dislikes solitude. Quick to learn, observant, and emotionally responsive, it is cautious toward strangers but not aggressive. Active and playful, it enjoys outdoor walks and games. Its temperament combines tenderness and courage, making it a charming, intelligent, and devoted family companion.
Head
The head is small, light, and dry, with well-defined lines and elegant proportions. The skull is slightly rounded, the forehead moderately wide, and the stop well pronounced. The muzzle is thin and pointed, about one-third the length of the head. The nose is small, black or dark, matching the coat color. Lips are thin, dry, and tight. The jaws are fine but strong, with a scissor bite. Eyes are large, round, dark, and expressive. Ears are large, thin, erect, and set high, enhancing the breed’s alert expression. The overall impression of the head is one of refinement, liveliness, and attentiveness.
Foreface
The foreface is narrow, dry, and refined, with delicate, well-defined lines. The muzzle is straight and tapering toward a small, neat nose. The bridge of the nose is straight. Lips are tight and dry, matching the color of the nose. The chin is small but clearly defined. Cheeks are flat, not protruding. The bite is scissor-shaped, with small but strong teeth. The foreface emphasizes the breed’s noble refinement and intelligence, creating a lively and kind expression characteristic of the Toy Terrier.
Eyes
Eyes are large, round, and expressive, set straight and wide apart but not bulging. The iris is dark and rich, harmonizing with the coat color. The expression is bright, intelligent, and slightly alert, reflecting the breed’s temperament and emotional sensitivity. Eyelids are dry, tight, and darkly pigmented. Light or small eyes are considered faults. The Toy Terrier’s expressive gaze is a defining feature that conveys friendliness, alertness, and vitality.
Ears
Ears are large, thin, triangular, and set high, held upright. They are proportional to the head and enhance its expression. The tips are pointed and directed upward, giving the dog a lively, alert appearance. A slight outward tilt in a relaxed state is acceptable. The skin is thin, and the hair is short and smooth. In the long-haired variety, the ears are adorned with silky fringes that accentuate elegance. Semi-erect or drooping ears are disqualifying faults, as they spoil the breed’s lively and alert expression.
Neck
The neck is long, slender, and gracefully arched, smoothly transitioning into the withers and back. It is set high, giving the dog a proud and elegant posture. The musculature is dry and well-developed, the skin tight and smooth. The neck length harmonizes with the body proportions, enhancing the impression of lightness and grace. The correct neck placement contributes to the Toy Terrier’s elegance, attentiveness, and confidence.
Body
The body is compact, proportionate, and light, with a firm bone structure. The back is straight and strong, the loin short, muscular, and slightly arched. The chest is deep and oval, reaching the elbows but not broad. The ribs are moderately sprung. The abdomen is tucked up, giving the dog a refined silhouette. The croup is firm, slightly sloping, smoothly joining the base of the tail. The topline is level and steady. The overall body structure provides agility, balance, and elegance while preserving the terrier’s characteristic strength and stamina.
Tail
The tail is set high, thin, and elegant, proportional to the body. It is carried cheerfully in motion but never curled over the back or pressed against the body. When relaxed, it may hang slightly downward. The smooth-haired variety has short, sleek hair on the tail, while the long-haired variety has silky fringes. The tail complements the breed’s silhouette and expresses its cheerful, lively disposition.
Forequarters
The forelegs are straight, fine-boned, and parallel when viewed from the front. The shoulders are moderately sloping, closely fitting to the body. The forearms are straight and strong, the pasterns short and nearly vertical. The elbows are directed straight back. The feet are small, oval, with tight toes and elastic pads. Nails are dark and strong. In the long-haired variety, the legs may have light feathering. The forelegs provide freedom, precision, and grace of movement.
Hindquarters
The hind legs are slender, muscular, and well-balanced, with pronounced angulation. The thighs are long and lean, the stifles well defined, and the hocks low and straight. The metatarsi are short and strong. The feet are compact, oval, and well-arched. The hind limbs ensure strong propulsion and stability, contributing to the Toy Terrier’s light, energetic, and expressive gait.
Gait and Movement
The gait is light, springy, and free, with a steady rhythm and harmonious coordination. The front legs extend easily forward, while the hind legs provide a strong, elastic push. The topline remains level and steady. The dog moves confidently and gracefully, expressing vitality and cheerful temperament. Any stiffness, uncertainty, or awkward movement is considered a fault.
Coat
The Toy Terrier comes in two coat types:
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Smooth-haired: Short, glossy, and dense coat, tightly fitting to the body, without undercoat.
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Long-haired: Fine, straight, or slightly wavy hair up to 3–5 cm long, silky in texture, with fringes on the ears, tail, and legs.
In both types, the coat should be clean, well-groomed, and shiny. The absence of undercoat contributes to the breed’s refined, lightweight appearance.
Acceptable Colors
Acceptable colors are rich and pure: black and tan, brown and tan, blue and tan, red, fawn, and isabella. The tan markings must be well-defined and contrasting, located on the muzzle, chest, legs, and under the tail. Solid colors in shades of red or brown are also acceptable. White markings or uneven pigmentation are faults. The coat must be glossy and evenly colored, emphasizing the dog’s elegance and refinement.
Size
The Toy Terrier is a miniature breed with a light, proportionate body. Adult height ranges from 20 to 28 cm (ideal about 25 cm), and weight does not exceed 3 kg. Despite its small size, it should be well-built and sturdy, without signs of fragility. The compact, square build emphasizes the breed’s balance, grace, and mobility.
Faults
Faults include deviations from breed type or harmony: overly light or coarse build, elongated body, weak back, short or crooked legs. Faulty head proportions, light eyes, low-set ears, or poor pigmentation are also undesirable. Coat faults include uneven or soft hair, faded tan markings, or spotted color. Shyness, excessive excitability, or aggression are behavioral faults.
Disqualification
Disqualifying faults include height above 29 cm or below 18 cm, weight over 3 kg, incorrect bite, missing teeth, blue or heterochromatic eyes, depigmented nose, lips, or eyelids. Cropped ears or tail, white markings, spotted or uneven coat color, presence of undercoat, curly or excessively long coat, or crossbred traits are disqualifying. Dogs showing fearfulness, aggression, or instability are also excluded from breeding.
Conclusion
The Toy Terrier is a decorative yet spirited and courageous breed, retaining the agility and boldness of its terrier heritage. Evaluation focuses on square proportions, balance, elegance, and freedom of movement. Artificial alterations, such as ear or tail cropping and coat dyeing, are prohibited. The ideal Toy Terrier embodies health, grace, intelligence, and confidence — the perfect example of a refined and loyal miniature companion.
