Shetland Sheepdog vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison

Shetland Sheepdog vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed ComparisonShetland Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but Russian Toy Terrier is originated from Russia. Shetland Sheepdog may grow 13 cm / 6 inches higher than Russian Toy Terrier. Shetland Sheepdog may weigh 9 kg / 20 pounds more than Russian Toy Terrier. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Russian Toy Terrier has almost same life span. Both Shetland Sheepdog and Russian Toy Terrier has same litter size. Shetland Sheepdog requires Moderate maintenance. But Russian Toy Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

shetland sheepdog - historyThe Shetland Sheepdog was crossed with working collies and brought to the islands. They were bred on the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom.

These little dogs have always been particularly valuable to farmers who used them to herd their sheep.

During the early 20th century other crosses occurred an in 1909 and the little dog received recognition by the English Kennel Club. The first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was in 1911.

russian toy terrier - historyThe Russian Toy Terrier is one of the dog breeds that hails from Russia in the 20th century. The Russian nobility fancied these little dogs as companions but also as they were useful for catching rats and being watchdog.They would set off an alarm with their barking.

It is believed that the Manchester Terrier and the English Toy Terrier were the foundation breeds for this dog.

They are available in smooth and long-haired varieties. The breed has recently been recognized by the UK Kennel Club but is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Toy dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Russia
Height Male:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
20 - 28 cm
7 - 12 inches
Height Female:
33 - 41 cm
12 - 17 inches
20 - 28 cm
7 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
1 - 3 kg
2 - 7 pounds
Weight Female:
6 - 12 kg
13 - 27 pounds
1 - 3 kg
2 - 7 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
4 - 6
Size:
Small dog
Toy dog
Other Names:
Sheltie
Russkiy Toy
Colors Available:
Mix of colors - golden, black or a steel grey color with white
Solid red, black and tan or greyish and tan., brown and tan
Coat:
Long and thick
Smooth coated
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

shetland sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe small Shetland Sheepdog stands at between 33 to 41cm and weighs roughly between 6 and 12kg for both males and females. The long double coat of this dog sheds consistently, he will need to be brushed regularly.

The coat is golden, black or a steel grey color with white. The ears are erect and the tail long and feathery and the expression on this dogs face is sensitive, alert and gentle.

Temperament:

Shelties make wonderful pets for their human families and are great with children too. They’re protective, making good watchdogs. They are somewhat wary around strangers.

Smart and alert, you can train this little dog plenty of tricks because he is quick to learn. They’re such agile little dogs and are great athletes. It’s always a good idea to keep such a smart little dog busy so he doesn’t become bored.

He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he is kept busy, otherwise he takes to a piercing kind of bark.

russian toy terrier puppy - descriptionThe Russian Toy Terrier is a petite dog and is inclined to be a fragile dog breed. It belongs to the toy group. It is also known as the Russian Toy Terrier or the Russkiy Toy.

The dog’s small size means it is ideal for living in the city or the countryside.

He measures between just 20 and 28cm and weighs between just 1kg and 3kg.

The dog has a small head with big eyes and ears which are large ad erect. The tail was always traditionally docked to give it a cute, compact look, but these days it is left long.

You also get a long-coated dog and the smooth coated dog. The long coated variety has a lot of feathering around the tail, legs and ears. Colors of the coat can be solid red, brown and tan, black and tan or greyish and tan.

Temperament:

This little dog is full of character and is bold and cheerful. He is such a loyal, devoted little dog and small though he is he is territorial, protecting and guarding his owner. It is such a sociable little dog, devoted to his human family, while being wary of strangers.

Even a small dog like this will need training and socialization as he can become yappy and clingy if he is constantly piked up and petted.

Characteristics

shetland sheepdog dog - characteristicsYou’re certainly not going to have one dull moment with the Shetland sheepdog – its such a lively, intelligent, entertaining, playful and also eager to please - that's your Sheltie.

They also have a gentle, quiet side. They love the company of their human family and are able to adapt to life in the city or countryside, so long as he gets lots of attention and exercise.

They’re highly strung dogs, and an excitable child can get them barking in a high pitched way which wont be good if you live close to your neighbors.

Shelties are essentially peaceful dogs who prefer a home where its quiet and orderly. If you give this dog what it needs, just like you would for any family member of yours, you’ll be blessed with an awesome pet and companion.

russian toy terrier dog - characteristicsThe Russian Toy is a small, feisty dog with long legs and huge upright ears. He is intelligent too. Don't let his fine structure deceive you as he is far more robust and tough than he looks.

He is a great playmate for disciplined, respectful children who know how to be kind to animals. Wild, unruly kids could so easily accidentally break one of his tiny little legs during rough play.

He loves his human family though and is guaranteed to make you an excellent little pet and companion.

Health Problems

shetland sheepdog puppies - health problemsEvery dog, no matter how healthy, can succumb to any one of the many dog illnesses there are.Some of the dog illnesses to look out for include cancer, bloat, ear infections, dental problems, hypothyroidism, skin allergies and obesity among others.

Hypothyroidism:

This illness occurs when the dog’s body doesn’t maintain sufficient levels of thyroid hormones. Your pet will be sensitive to the cold, the thick hair will be thinning and there will be weight gain. It will be wise to have your dog checked out by your vet as this is an ailment which can be managed with medication.

Collie Eye Anomaly:

This is an inherited condition that can lead to blindness in some dogs. It can occur in both eyes. It can be diagnosed by your vet but regrettably there is no treatment. Not spaying or neutering your dog will mean that if the have puppies the gene can be carried down to the puppies.

Dermatomyositis:

This is an inherited disorder that can cause skin lesions but also affect the muscles. Skin lesions can appear on the head and the front legs and there can be hair loss.

russian toy terrier puppies - health problemsThere isn’t too much information about inherited health problems with this dog and he can live to be 11, 12 or 13 years of age, maybe even longer.There are one or two health problems to be aware of -

Patellar Luxation:

This condition occurs with the knee caps of the dog and either one or both back legs can be affected. Sometimes surgery will be required to help the dog.

Teeth Problems:

Little dogs always battle with their teeth, and the Russian Toy Terrier can experience problems when the puppy or ‘milk’ teeth don’t fall out. It affects the development of adult teeth. Sometimes the vet even has to have the teeth removed.

Caring The Pet

Exercise:

shetland sheepdog dogs - caringThese little dogs have always been farm dogs and they will need a lot of exercise. Even so, with their small size, they can adapt to life in the city or the countryside, but will always need exercise.They love going for walks and playing games with the kids.

Grooming:

Your Sheltie will need brushing every day because the hair can so easily pick up leaves, twigs and burrs. In the warmer months some people prefer to trim the coat themselves or take the dog along to a professional groomer.

Diet:

It is best to feed adult dogs two meals a day instead of one. One can make your dog want to gobble up his food too quickly and this can result in a life threatening condition known as bloat.

How much any adult dog eats will depend on his size, his age and his activity levels.The quality of dog food you buy also makes a huge difference – the better quality the food, the more satisfied your Sheltie will be.

Some of the best commercially manufactured dog foods are convenient and they can be good if you go with the best brands that have high levels of vitamins and minerals in them. Dry kibble can be made more enticing when you add some homemade food into it.

Boiled chicken, sweet potatoes, brown rice or pasta, carrots and spinach will do him the world of good. Chop it up and add small portions to the kibble about twice a week. His wagging tail and prancing antics will be all the thanks you need.

Some raw meat added in occasionally will also contribute to your pet’s heath. Make sure he is never without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

russian toy terrier dogs - caringThe Russian Toy Terrier is a small breed and isn’t going to need too much exercise. However it will do him good to get out to sniff around, and a walk every day will be recommended.

Grooming:

Your Russian Toy Terrier is a fairly low maintenance dog and isn’t going to require specialist grooming. The little dog will simply require some occasional brushing to remove loose hair.

When you brush him, check inside his mouth for bad teeth as small dogs like this can suffer from pain with overcrowding of teeth.

Diet:

Tiny though he is, the Russian Toy Terrier will need good food. It will be tempting to pop sugary treats into such a tiny little dog’s mouth. This can in fact be seriously dangerous for him, not to mention that he can become obese. This opens up anew set of health problems.

You can feed this little dog commercially manufactured food but it should be the best quality one for small breeds.

Give him some tasty homemade food too. Simply add into one big pot chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This food can all be chopped up, refrigerated and added warmed up and in small portions to your tiny pets dry kibble once or twice a week.

A tiny bit of raw meat can also go a long way to ensuring his skin stays healthy and free of skin infections.

Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Shetland Sheepdog vs Corgi - Breed Comparison
  2. Shetland Sheepdog vs American Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  4. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi - Breed Comparison
  5. Toy Australian Shepherd vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  6. Welsh Corgi vs Shetland Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  7. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pomeranian - Breed Comparison
  8. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltese - Breed Comparison
  9. Shetland Sheepdog vs Pug - Breed Comparison
  10. Shetland Sheepdog vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Shetland Sheepdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  12. Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  14. Shetland Sheepdog vs Bichon Frise - Breed Comparison
  15. Shetland Sheepdog vs Dachshund - Breed Comparison
  16. Shetland Sheepdog vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cockapoo - Breed Comparison
  18. Shetland Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavapoo - Breed Comparison
  20. Shetland Sheepdog vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  21. Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Shetland Sheepdog vs Mal-Shi - Breed Comparison
  23. Shetland Sheepdog vs Papillon - Breed Comparison
  24. Russian Toy Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  26. Russian Toy Terrier vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  27. Russian Toy Terrier vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  28. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  29. Russian Toy Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  30. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  31. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  32. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  33. Russian Toy Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  34. Russian Toy Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  35. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  36. Russian Toy Terrier vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  37. Russian Toy Terrier vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  38. Russian Toy Terrier vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  39. Russian Toy Terrier vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  40. Russian Toy Terrier vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  41. Russian Toy Terrier vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  42. Russian Toy Terrier vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  43. Russian Toy Terrier vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  44. Shih Tzu vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Silky Terrier vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Snorkie vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Toy Bulldog vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Toy Mi-Ki vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds