In the late 1700s, Russian aristocracy viewed anything “English” as progressive and prestigious. Importing English Toy Terriers became very popular, and ladies of refinement especially adored the dogs for their spunky personalities in a small body. It was not only de rigueur to show up at parties and public events with an English Toy Terrier in their arms, but to have one’s portrait painted that included a “ladydog.” “Real” men of the day owned hunting dogs, but respectable ladies of the aristocracy had a “ladies dog,” the smaller, the better (and the more valuable). 

Over time, the dogs became less rare, though it was still a symbol of prestige. By the early 20th century, the dogs were no longer called English Toy Terrier, referred to instead as the Russian Toy Terrier.

The communist revolution of 1917 set the seeds for the breeding of pure English Toy Terriers to nearly stop. In 1923, only two Russian Toy Terriers appeared in a show in Moscow, and after World War II, the breed was virtually unheard of.

In the mid-fifties, Russian breeders begin efforts to revive the breed, but most dogs used for breeding had no pedigrees, and many of them weren’t purebreds. A new standard drafted for these revived toys differed significantly from the English Toy Terrier in many regards, and it was from that point that the evolution of the breed in Russia went its own way.

It was through the dogged efforts (no pun intended) of these breeders that the Russian Toy Terrier came about. At the time, the majority of Soviet citizens lived in tiny city apartments, and the breed was ideally suited for this space. It was no surprise their popularity and numbers began to increase quickly. Still, until the 1990s, the Russian Toy was almost unknown outside of Russia. As of today, the breed is recognized by a couple of international kennel clubs (in the last FCI standard, the word “terrier” was removed from breed name,) and the Russian Toy is registered in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service. 

Painting by 1911 Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (Russian painter, 1865-1911)