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Dog breed group |
Toy Dog |
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Origin of breed |
Australia as a Rat catcher |
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Life expectancy |
Into the teens |
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Color |
Blue and tan, gray, blue and tan with silver-blue top-knot. Tips of hairs should be darker at roots. |
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Coat type |
Straight, fine, glossy. |
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Exercise needs |
He is an energetic dog who enjoys extended play sessions. He needs regular exercise to maintain a well sense of being. |
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Temperament |
Spirited, friendly, self-assured. The keen, alert air of the terrier is characteristic, with shyness or excessive nervousness to be faulted. The manner is quick, friendly, responsive. The Silky is generally a one-family dog. He is also considered to be a keen watchdog, obedient and very trainable. He can be wary of strangers until accepted by a family member. |
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Good with children |
Good with children if handled properly, best if raised with them. Makes an excellent companion for other dogs. Makes a good watchdog. |
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Grooming needs |
Daily combing and brushing and regular shampooing is necessary. After bathing, he needs to be dried completely. Do not let him get chilled. Trim the coat occasionally, keep hair on his legs and knees trimmed short. Remove hair from his eyes by tying a topknot. Puppies should be accustomed to brushing early. |
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Average size (inches) |
9 - 10 |
9 - 10 |
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Average weight (lbs) |
8 - 10 |
8 - 10 |
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Living conditions |
Apartment living is fine as long as he has sufficient exercise. |
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Dog breed description |
Originally known as the Sydney Silky, the Silky Terrier is a breed that was developed in the Sydney area of New South Wales, and was first shown in 1907. He owes his existence to the crossbreeding of Skye and Yorkshire terries, and also of the Yorkshire and Australian terriers. His name was changed to the Australian Silky Terrier in the 1950s. He is moderately low set, slightly longer than tall, of refined bone structure, but of sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. His coat is silky in texture, parted from the top to the tail and presents a well groomed but not sculptured appearance. They are glossy blue-gray and tan, with a silver-gray or tan topknot. They are inquisitive by nature and joy of life make him an ideal companion. Developed as a companion dog, the silky is generally friendly and responsive, with a terrier-like alertness.
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