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FAQ About Silky Terriers
Q. How big is the Silky?
A. The Silky should be 9 to 10 inches at the shoulder and weigh between 8 to 10 pounds.
Q. What is their coat like?
A. The original coat standard states the should grow about 5 to 6 inches long and should hang about 4 to 6 inches from the ground this was changed in 1989 and states that it should not approach floor length nor should the feet be obscured. It is non-shedding and odorless. The texture is similar to our hair and compared to other coated breeds is easier to keep tangle free if brushed at least 2 times a week.
Q. What is the difference between a Silky Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier, and the Silky Toy Terrier.
A. They are all the same breed but have different names in different countries, specifically in Australia, Canada and the United States.
Q. What is the difference between a Yorkshire Terrier and the Silky Terrier?
A. The Yorkie should not weigh more than 7 pounds, however most pet quality Yorkies are as big as the Silky, and they have a thick coat that drops right to the ground. Yorkies have a shorter muzzle, larger eyes and a domed head. The Silky head is more solid with small eyes and flatter skull. The Yorkies color must be a dark gray with rich tan. The Silky may be almost any shade of gray with tan legs and silver or fawn topknot. An adult Silky will occasionally "Brown out" the coat will become a Champagne or tan color. This doesn't happen very often and there is no way of knowing what puppies will change . The Yorkie topknot is always put up in a bow, the Silky is not. The Yorkie is more common with an average of 68,000 litters and 137,000 dogs registered annually as compared with 1,200 Silky litters and 2,100 dogs. With the heavy over breeding of the Yorkie they have more genetic problems and fewer quality breeders. The Yorkie has a true "toy dog" temperament the Silky more of a low keyed Terrier temperament
Q. Where did the Silky Terrier come from?
A. The Silky originated about 100 years ago in Australia. Their major ancestors were the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. They were bred to be family companions, watchdogs, and to hunt rodents and snakes.
Q. What is the Silky temperament like? Are they good with children?
A. The Silky temperament combines the best of both worlds. They have enough toy dog characteristics to be good lap dogs, but enough terrier temperament to be fun. They generally are not toy-like in disposition with that nervous, yappy, snappy defensive behavior exhibited in many small toy breeds. Nor are they as aggressive as so many terrier breeds. They are happy to play tug of war, chase a ball, play for hours and occasionally rid your house of unwanted rodents. They are not usually excessive barkers but will alert you quite vocally if they hear or see something they feel warrants your attention. They have been known to protect their owner as best they can against unwanted intruders. For their size they have a heart of a dog far bigger than they are. Silkies generally are good with children. However children under 7 years of age should be supervised with the puppy to make sure they do not hurt or play inappropriately with him.
Q. How is the Silky with other pets?
A. They generally adapt very well with other pets as they are not as aggressive as most terriers.
Q. How easy is the Silky to train?
A. They are quite bright, but can also retain the terrier stubborn streak. They will not take repetitive or abusive training, but they do love to learn. If you enjoy training there are very little limits to the types of training they can do. Silkies have obtained Obedience titles and have worked in agility, tracking, herding and as therapy dogs. Silkies have also worked as actors generally playing Yorkies.
Q. How healthy is the Silky?
A. They are very healthy. Their life span is about 14-16 years.
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