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General Description
(Sydney Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier, Silky Toy Terrier) The Silky Terrier has a similar look to a Yorkshire Terrier. They have a square flat head and short square muzzle ending with a small black nose. Their eyes are medium sized and usually brown while their ears are triangular shaped and stand straight up. Their body is small but broad for its size. Yet, their legs are fairly long and skinny ending with small hare-like feet. Their tail should be docked so only a stump is left. Their coat is silky and flows down over their whole body. The dogs should have hair falling into their faces and falling down their backs to the floor so it covers their feet. Their coat can come in many variations of blue but will always be blue and tan or blue and red.
The only visible difference between the Silky and Yorkshire Terrier is that the Silky is often longer and somewhat larger than the Yorkshire. This small dog is surprisingly tall for its size.
The Silky does not have fur but hair that falls over its back and has a distinctive split down the middle. It does not shed, although its hair may occasionally fall out. It is considered hypoallergenic.
Character
The Silky Terrier is an energetic and playful dog. They are extremely loyal to their owners. While they like the children in their family, they may bite if they are teased or annoyed. They will also chase and hunt small animals, but they do not get along well other dogs most of the time. They will get jealous easily and will attack another dog. The breed has a tendency to bark and will bark constantly if not corrected. Silky Terriers are also bad about digging.
Silkies make fantastic companions. They are loyal, sweet, friendly and are full of energy. This breed is not known to bark much unless there is a stranger present. They are intelligent and easy to train. They love family time and strive to please. Some Silky Terriers are not easily house trained unlike most other dogs. This breed of dog takes extreme patience while trying to house break and keeping a pattern will work the best in most cases.
Housbreaking can be difficult with this breed but it is smart enough to catch onto new techniques quickly. It responds well to positive reinforcement such as giving treats for good actions, pottying outside.
General Health
The Silky Terrier is somewhat prone to a number of common small breed problems, such as elbow dysplasia, intervertebal disc disease, Legg-Perthes, and paterllar luxation. Additionally, this breed can suffer from diabetes and epilepsy. The Silky Terrier has an average life expectancy of about 12 to 15 years.
The Silky is prone to tracheal collapse. Owners should use a harness when on walks to prevent this type of injury.
Tracheal collaspe is when the dog's tracheal collaspes and makes it difficult to breathe causing constant gagging or honking sounds. This puts unnecessary stress on the dog's heart and lungs and can cause fainting due to lack of oxygen.
History
The Silky Terrier originated in the 1800’s in Australia. Unlike many dogs which were first bred for a job such as hunting or herding, the Silky Terrier has almost always been a companion dog. The breed was most likely created by mixing a number of different terriers, including Skye, Cairn, Australian, and Yorkshire terriers. During World War II, a U. S. soldier in Australia brought one of the dogs back with him to America. Fourteen years later, the breed was recognized by the AKC. By 1967, the modern Silky Terrier standard was established.
The Silky Terrier was bred to hunt vermin and was commonly used to rid houses of rats and other vermin. It is also capable of killing snakes.
Maintenance
The Silky Terrier requires a lot of grooming because of their thick coats. They should be brushed or combed every day to avoid tangles which occur frequently. They should be bathed often and after a bath must be dried well. They also need their hair trimmed occasionally, and the hair on their face should be put up in a topknot. They could also have their hair trimmed short if they are not for show which will make them easier to groom. They do require exercise but will release most of it by just playing games or running around the house.
Although some Silkies have thinner coats than other breeds it is still necessary to groom them almost daily to prevent tangles. When combing, sometimes it is easier to start at the end of the hair to prevent pulling hair out and causing pain to the dog. De-tangling products work well with this breed. Silkies commonly go about 5-7 days before they need another bath. Their skin releases an oil and that makes their coat look as though it is uncared for. It is important to use proper shampoo to prevent their skin from drying out due to excess bathing.
The Silky Terrier is hypoallergenic and rarely sheds. Their hair requires regular grooming.
Ideal Environment
The Silky Terrier is an energetic family dog. They become extremely devoted to their family, but they may bite children if they are teased or annoyed by them. With well-behaved children who show respect for the dog, Silky Terriers are normally calm. The breed is untrusting and standoffish with strangers. They do not do well with small animals or other dogs. In fact, they may attack other dogs when they get jealous. They are also stubborn, so they do not always do well with training. They are good for older people who want an active companion because they do not require much outdoor exercise. They can also easily live in an apartment or a house without a yard. They need to be trained not to bark or they will bark all the time. They also dig often and need to be corrected.
Because of their strong hunting instincts, it is important for Silky Terriers to be introduced to other small animals, including cats, when they are very young puppies. Proper socialization will help them peacefully coexist with other species.
Silkys are known to be escape artist and like to dig. Be sure a fenced yard is secure.
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Silky Terrier Q&AAsk a Question
Breed SizeI just adopted a 2.5 year old with AKC Pedigree as Yorkshire Terrier. He weighs 19.8 lbs. and is clearly not a toy. I can find no information about Yorkies this big. Is he really a Silky Terrier and how big do they get/how else...
Asked by Anonymous - 0 answers
Silky Terrierdo the anal glands need to be expressed monthly once started?
Asked by Anonymous - 1 answers
Is she a Silky or a Yorkie?I have a 6-7 month old female gidget.. I was told that she was a Yorkie but her coat is so different from my friends Yorkie....her male has lots of thick soft silky hair and is black and tan. He has never changed colors, but mine...
Asked by Anonymous - 2 answers
fightingI have a 6-7 month old Silky or Yorkie...I was told that she was a Yorkie, but now not sure. She has very thin hair. She has just gone into her first heat. I also have 2 other dogs and 2 cats. For some reason she has started...
Asked by Anonymous - 0 answers
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