Galina Nikishina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The breed appeared relatively recently: In 1996, zoo technician Julia Lakatosh began breeding it. The founders of “mermaids” were Yorkshire terriers, Shih Tzus, downy variety of Chinese Crested Dog and several other breeds.
Galina Nikishina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The result is a miniature dog (usually from 18 to 28 centimeters tall) with soft long hair and pointy ears. Its most common color is red. Due to the variety of shades - from pale and cream to red - “mermaids” look as if they are bathed in gold. But, there are other colors: black, blue, marbled.
Galina Nikishina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
These dogs make excellent companions: they have a balanced, very pleasant, calm character. At the same time, they are sociable and ready to join in games with their owner.
Galina Nikishina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
In 2013, the Russian Cynological Organization recognized the Russian Salon Dog as a breed group. In 2016, when the World Dog Show was held in Moscow, “mermaids” were represented as a national Russian breed.
Galina Nikishina (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Russian salon dogs are still few in number - there are about a thousand of them worldwide.
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