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Silky Terrier breed guide
The American Kennel Club calls the Silky Terrier a charming member of the Toy Group and nonetheless a true terrier of energetic high spirits, a native of Sydney, Australia, larger than its cousin the Yorkshire Terrier.
Small but not fragile, feisty but not yappy and pretty but not sculpted, Silky Terriers are dynamos with a straight, glossy blue-and-tan coat that feels and behaves like human hair.
Temperament
More a terrier than a lapdog, the Silky Terrier is intelligent, bold and energetic and needs human partners who can channel that energy into daily exercise and training for sports and work.
Silky Terriers adapt to any living situation but need owners with time, since they do not like to be ignored and prefer fetch or walks with the family and charmed owners may let them get away with undesirable behavior.
Lifespan
Silky Terriers live 13 to 15 years. Breeders test for patellar luxation and eye disease, as the breed may be prone to them.
Care
Brush the Silky Terrier's coat at least twice a week with a pin brush or soft bristle brush and use a long-toothed metal comb to work through tangles that are starting. Left alone, tangles and mats are uncomfortable and can cause skin problems.
The Silky needs more exercise than most Toy Group breeds. The breed does well in the show ring and Silky Terriers have succeeded in sports.
History
A casual observer may be forgiven for mistaking a Silky for a Yorkshire or Australian terrier, since Yorkshire Terriers and Australian Terriers were the main components Australian breeders used to create the Silky Terrier in the early 20th century.
Cairn, Dandie Dinmont and Skye terriers, three of several British terriers English settlers brought to Australia, may also factor in, depending on who tells the story and Silky Terriers are larger than Yorkshire Terriers and smaller than Australian Terriers.
AKC trait ratings
| Trait | AKC rating | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Level | 3 of 5 | Couch Potato to High Energy |
| Trainability Level | 4 of 5 | Self-Willed to Eager to Please |
| Shedding Level | 2 of 5 | No Shedding to Hair Everywhere |
| Barking Level | 4 of 5 | Only To Alert to Very Vocal |
| Adaptability Level | 4 of 5 | Lives For Routine to Highly Adaptable |
| Good With Young Children | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Children |
| Good With Other Dogs | 3 of 5 | Not Recommended to Good With Other Dogs |
| Watchdog/Protective Nature | 5 of 5 | What's Mine Is Yours to Vigilant |