The Silky Terrier originated in the 1800s as a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and Australian Terrier. American soldiers first brought Silky Terriers home with them after World War II and the breed was officially recognized in 1959 by the AKC. This dog was beloved for its ability to catch rodents. Now, it’s mainly a companion dog.
The Silky Terrier grows to a height of between nine and 10 inches, with females being smaller than males overall. They typically weigh between eight and 11 pounds. This small, fine-boned dog has a wedge-shaped head, black nose, almond eyes, erect ears, cat-like feet, high tail and long shiny blue coat with red or tan markings. Hair parts down the middle and needs to be groomed regularly to avoid tangling.
Personality
A loving pet, the Silky Terrier is smart, courageous, alert, affectionate and full of cheer. It forms close relationships with its master. Full of energy, your terrier needs lots of exercise in order to maintain a calm demeanor indoors. This dog is curious and loves to dig. It’s quick and can dart around the yard in search of play. Despite its tiny size, this breed makes a good watchdog. It travels well. Do not mix your terrier with small animals such as rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. It does OK with kids as long as it’s taught who’s boss. Firm discipline is needed to establish dominance. These dogs are easy to train because they love to learn. Make sure you socialize them early on or they could display temperament changes. They can become demanding, willful and protective if not shown their lower status in the pack under you as the human.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12 – 15 years |
| Nicknames: | Sydney Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier, Silky Toy Terrier |
Silky Terrier Build Information
The Silky Terrier grows to a height of between nine and 10 inches, with females being smaller than males overall. They typically weigh between eight and 11 pounds. This small, fine-boned dog has a wedge-shaped head, black nose, almond eyes, erect ears, cat-like feet, high tail and long shiny blue coat with red or tan markings. Hair parts down the middle and needs to be groomed regularly to avoid tangling.
| Size: | Small |
Behaviour and Personality
A loving pet, the Silky Terrier is smart, courageous, alert, affectionate and full of cheer. It forms close relationships with its master. Full of energy, your terrier needs lots of exercise in order to maintain a calm demeanor indoors. This dog is curious and loves to dig. It’s quick and can dart around the yard in search of play. Despite its tiny size, this breed makes a good watchdog. It travels well. Do not mix your terrier with small animals such as rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. It does OK with kids as long as it’s taught who’s boss. Firm discipline is needed to establish dominance. These dogs are easy to train because they love to learn. Make sure you socialize them early on or they could display temperament changes. They can become demanding, willful and protective if not shown their lower status in the pack under you as the human.
| Activity Level: | Very active |
| Affection Level: | Affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Moderately friendly |
Appearance
This breed needs a lot of brushing and overall grooming, as its coat tends to mat and tangle. Bathe your dog regularly to keep the hair looking silky. You’ll need to spend about 15 minutes a day grooming your dog. Completely dry your dog off after bathing so he doesn’t get chilled. You may need to occasionally trim his coat. Good news for allergy sufferers: this dog does not shed.
| Shedding: | None |
| Grooming: | High maintenance |
Silky Terrier Common Health Conditions
This is a generally healthy breed but there are some health concerns, such as intervertebral disc disease, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and Legg-Perthes. It can also contract diabetes, epilepsy and tracheal collapse.
Silky Terrier Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
This dog has a high stamina and loves to get outside to run. It needs daily walks but otherwise does well in apartments and small homes with small yards. The Silky Terrier is also known as the Sydney Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier and Silky Toy Terrier. The life expectancy of the silky terrier is between 12 and 15 years.
| Training: | Easy to train |
