SMOOTH AND LONG: THE TWO COAT TYPES OF THE RUSSIAN TOY
long or short hair on the body of long coat dogs. So, when viewing a mixed-coat group of Russian Toys, it is most important to be aware of what the correct coat is for each variety—and beyond that they can be judged together. The smooth coat dogs should have short, close lying, shiny hair without bald patches or undercoat. The correct coat is similar to the coat of the Toy Manchester Terrier or the Min Pin, and is different than the Chihuahua coat which is usually thicker on smooth coat dogs. The simple beauty of the smooth coat variety allows a good view of the dog’s structure and muscle, and makes it very easy to see any faults. The coat does not require any lengthy grooming or trimming (though trimming is also not allowed on the long either) and does not need to be blown dry after bathing. The smooth coat can be more suscepti- ble to cold and tends to be more interested in wearing a sweater or remaining inside during the winter. Over- all, it is a very easy coat to care for and is an option for an owner who wants a low maintenance coat. The long coat is described in more detail in the standard and starts with stating that the body hair should be moderately long (one to three inches) and straight or slightly wavy. The body hair should be close lying and not hide the natural outline of the body, so one should still be able to assess the struc- ture and proportions of the dog. The hair on the head and front part of the limbs is close lying, while there are feathers on the back of the limbs and the feet have long, silky hair that completely covers the nails. This describes a coat with distinct long and shorter, smooth portions where the outline of the body is visible and the body hair is not tousled but rather close lying. Finally, the standard describes the ears which are to be covered with long, thick hair forming a fringe and should be long enough to com- pletely hide the outer edge and tips of the ears by the time the dog is three years old. While it is not specifi- cally mentioned in the AKC standard, the tail should also have distinct feathering on the long coat dog. While the long coat Russian Toy does require more grooming than the smooth coat, it is still a more low maintenance coat and trimming should not be nec- essary (and is a DQ in the FCI standard). These dogs will require drying time after a bath, unlike their smooth counterparts, and I have observed that they are more tolerant of cool temperatures. Personally, I own dogs of both coat varieties and have trained and shown both coats. I enjoy the flow- ing ear and tail fringe on my long coats, but it is also nice to not have the worry about tangles on the smooth coats, as Russian Toys are quite active little dogs. I enjoy the shiny coat of the smooth variety and how well it shows off the square silhouette of the breed. I do look forward to seeing more smooth coat Russian Toys in the show ring and hope that the coat varieties will become more equally shown in the United States. Above all, I enjoy the companionship and intelligence of the breed and the fact that they are good partners in the conformation ring, perfor- mance sports, or even just as a pet at home.
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